Do I have restless leg syndrome?

Question

When I stand up in one place for more than 5 minutes or so, my lower legs start to burn and itch and it only goes away when I move my feet continually (like if I walk in place). This happens when I stand up longer than 5 minutes in one place, like when I'm brushing my teeth, washing dishes, or brushing my hair in the mirror.
It's very annoying! Is this restless leg syndrome? I'm confused because this happens for me when i STAND up.

Answer 1

That does not sound like Restless leg sydrome.
Restless leg Syndrome is a condition which usually affects people when they lay down to sleep at night. It is a ticklish sensation which is felt deep inside the legs . A person experiencing this will usually feel the need to move their legs to aleviate the feeling.
I have had Restless leg Syndrome and I have also had the feeling that you describe which i attributed to the change in blood flow in the legs. I am not a professional so of course this is only my opinion.

Answer 2

Restless legs syndrome (RLS, or Wittmaack-Ekbom's syndrome) is a condition that is characterised by an irresistible urge to move one's legs. It is poorly understood [citation needed], often misdiagnosed, and believed to be a neurological disorder.

It is sometimes mistakenly called "Ekbom's syndrome," but that is an entirely different condition that shares part of the Wittmaack-Ekbom syndrome eponym: delusional parasitosis, as both syndromes were described by the same person, Karl-Axel Ekbom. [1]

Many doctors express the view that the incidence of restless leg syndrome is exaggerated by manufacturers of drugs used to treat it.[2] Other physicians consider it a real entity that has specific diagnostic criteria. [3]

Many people tap their feet or shake their legs resulting from a nervous tic, consumption of stimulants, drug side-effects or other factors; this is usually innocuous, unnoticed, and does not interfere with daily life, quite distinct from Restless Leg Syndrome.


Symptoms

* "An urge to move, usually due to uncomfortable sensations that occur primarily in the legs."

The sensations are unusual and unlike other common sensations, and those with RLS have a hard time describing them. People use words such as: uncomfortable, antsy, electrical, creeping, painful, itching, pins and needles, pulling, creepy-crawly, ants inside the legs, and many others. The sensation and the urge can occur in any body part; the most cited location is legs, followed by arms. Some people have little or no sensation, yet still have a strong urge to move.

* "Motor restlessness, expressed as activity, that relieves the urge to move."

Movement will usually bring immediate relief, however, often only temporary and partial. Walking is most common; however, doing stretches, yoga, biking, or other physical activity may relieve the symptoms. Constant and fast up-and-down movement of the leg, coined "sewing machine legs" by at least one RLS sufferer, is often done to keep the sensations at bay without having to walk. Sometimes a specific type of movement will help a person more than another.

* "Worsening of symptoms by relaxation."

Any type of inactivity involving sitting or lying – reading a book, a plane ride, watching TV or a movie, taking a nap - can trigger the sensations and urge to move. This depends on several factors: the severity of the person’s RLS, the degree of restfulness, the duration of the inactivity, etc.

* "Variability over the course of the day-night cycle, with symptoms worse in the evening and early in the night."

While some only experience RLS at bedtime and others experience it throughout the day and night, most sufferers experience the worst symptoms in the evening and the least in the morning.

Answer 3

I am not sure. My husband has it, and it only kicks in when he lays down and tries to sleep. Better check with your dr.

TX Mom
Not an expert

Answer 4

I sincerely doubt you have RLS. You have not described the syndrome.

Answer 5

I recommend that you see a doctor. If its not RLS, it might be something else!

Answer 6

I think so but it normally occurs when you sit. I would try a doctor or try this site...

Answer 7

Ask your doctor. All I knw is that it is hardly over diagnosed?