Periodic Limb Movements & Restless Legs Syndrome

Periodic Limb Movements During Sleep (PLMS)

Periodic Limb Movements during Sleep occurs when the sleeper's legs and or arms jerk during sleep. People with this disorder experience the jerking an average of at least 5 times per hour. The twitches, which usually occur during light sleep (stages 1 and 2), cause arousal.

In some cases, those patients who have PLMS and don't know it may experience sleep onset insomnia. Each time they begin to fall asleep, they will be awakened by the twitches, or they will at least shift into a much "lighter" sleep. They may not even be aware of what is keeping them awake. The disorder is approximately five times more common in the aged than among young or middle-aged adults.

Cause: The cause of PLMS is unknown. Some speculate it is related to the circulatory system or the nervous system.

Treatment: PLMS can subside when taking medication such as pain killers, sleeping pills, and dopaminergic drugs (which are also used ot treat Parkinson's Disease). Different medications help different patients.

Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) (1)

Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS), is a disorder in which patients have uncomfortable sensations in their legs. They feel an irresistible urge to move or rub their legs frequently, even more so when they are still or resting (whether day or night). This hereditary illness fluctuates in symptoms in extreme temperatures, fatigue, and consumption of alcohol or caffeine. Many patients with RLS also have PLMS. At least 5% of the U.S. population is estimated to have RLS, overlapping with similar numbers with PLMS. However, since many people with these do not seek medical attention or are not diagnosed properly, the figures are not precise.

Cause:As with PLMS, the cause is unknown. It can be linked with neurological conditions, such as brain malfunction, peripheral neuropathy, or some central nervous system disorder or with anemia or diabetes.

Treatment:Medications prescribed for individual patients can greatly relieve the symptoms, providing a great improvement in their ability to sleep.

(1)To learn more about RLS, contact the Restless Legs Syndrome Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping the public, patients, families, and physicians better understand RLS. http://www.rls.org. They also provide information about PLMS.

IN GERMAN: http://www.rls.org/mbgerman.htm