Fibromyalgia and Restless Legs Syndrome

Restless legs syndrome is far more prevalent in people with fibromyalgia, according to a new study that will appear in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine in October.

What is restless legs syndrome?

Restless legs syndrome (RLS), as the name suggests, is a disorder in which a person experiences odd (not necessarily painful) sensations in their legs, such as pins and needles, tingling, or an overwhelming desire to move their legs. It is caused by a problem in the central nervous system that controls leg movements. RLS interferes with sleep, sometimes to a severe degree, and thus RLS is sometimes classified as a sleep disorder. Patients with RLS may have their sleep interrupted numerous times during the night or may be unable to fall asleep, causing excessive daytime drowsiness. The condition is often worse at night when a person is resting.

Restless legs syndrome and FMS

The study mentioned above, conducted at Loyola University Medical Center, found that persons with fibromyalgia were 11 times more likely than the people in the control group to suffer from RLS. It is known that fatigue is a huge component of FMS, and the researchers speculate that RLS is likely one of the major reasons that people with FMS suffer from fatigue. Treating RLS might improve fibromyalgia symptoms, according to the researchers.

Interestingly, antidepressants are commonly used to treat pain and depression in FMS, and antidepressants also worsen RLS, state the researchers. There may be a large number of people being treated with antidepressants who experience the onset or worsening of RLS.

One treatment that may improve symptoms of both conditions is exercise. Some forms of exercise may improve RLS, and exercise is known to improve muscle pain in fibromyalgia. It may be difficult for people suffering from both RLS and FMS to be motivated to exercise, however, when they feel overwhelmingly fatigued and also hurt all over. If you suffer from one or both of these conditions, speak to your doctor or physiotherapist about exercises that may relieve symptoms.

Sources: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/10/101015091454.htm
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/restless_legs_syndrome/article_em.htm