Have you ever had the unrelenting sensation that you have to move your legs as you are trying to nod off to sleep? If so, you are among the 3 million people in the United States that cope with Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS). This disorder causes an overwhelming desire to move the legs as you are falling asleep or during sleep. If the legs move involuntarily during sleep, then the individual also has periodic limb movements of sleep (PLMS), a condition that goes hand in hand with RLS. Movement of the legs relieves the distressing sensations but can leave you restless and exhausted.

There are two forms of Restless Leg Syndrome, a primary form that is related to a disorder of the nervous system, and a secondary form that is caused by a medical condition, medication usage, and/or electrolyte disturbances. RLS occurs in a third of pregnant women and up to half of those on hemodialysis. Many of the conditions that can cause Restless Leg Syndrome can be improved by a skilled and experienced chiropractor like Dr. Grant Lisetor.

In many cases, RLS has a genetic component and other family members will also experience this disorder. In severe cases, RLS may be a problem when seated and awake, leading to difficulties in the workplace, school, and social events. For many individuals with RLS, sleep is often interrupted, resulting in daytime sleepiness and fatigue. Seeking corrective chiropractic care can restore health quickly and effectively, with no side effects.

Health Conditions That Can Cause Restless Leg Syndrome

• Iron deficiency anemia
• End-stage renal disease
• Diabetes mellitus
• Rheumatic disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis
• Venous insufficiency
• Peripheral neuropathy
• Folate or magnesium deficiency
• Excess phosphate
• Alterations in calcium levels
• Amyloidosis
• Lumbosacral radiculopathy
• Fibromyalgia
• Celiac disease
• Vitamin D deficiency

Medications That May Cause Restless Leg Syndrome

• Antidepressants (tricyclic, selective serotonin, and/or norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors)
• Medications that alter dopamine in the brain
• Diphenhydramine
• Lithium
• Beta-Blockers

Factors That Worsen Restless Leg Syndrome

• Consuming alcohol or caffeine
• Psychological Stress
• Fatigue
• Pregnancy

Chiropractic Care for RLS

If the cause is something that can be changed, obviously that is going to be the first approach to dealing with RLS, but for everyone else, normalizing the function of the nervous system can restore your health and let your sleep well again. Adjustments can correct misalignments in the spine that can impede normal signals to the brain and back to the muscles of the legs. Dr. Grant Lisetor of Charlotte, NC, focuses on helping your nervous system be as healthy as possible so that it can heal itself and resume normal function.

As one can note from the list of conditions that can cause Restless Leg Syndrome, anything that affects the nerves in the legs and spine can have an impact on the function of those structures. Correcting vertebral misalignments and subluxations can reduce the pressure on vital nerves that innervate the lower body, creating a lasting and source-oriented improvement. This is the goal of chiropractic care, to restore health at its origin rather than covering up the associated symptoms.

Reach out to Dr. Lisetor at Greater Life Chiropractic today to get started back on the path to well-being.

Sources

Mansur, A., Castillo, P. R., Rocha Cabrero, F., et al. (2022). Restless Legs Syndrome. In: StatPearls [Internet]. StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430878/