Restless legs or leg cramps: How can you tell the difference?

Leg discomfort at night time could make it onerous to go to sleep or get again to sleep. However not each unusual or painful feeling within the legs has the identical trigger.

Stressed legs syndrome and leg cramps can each have an effect on sleep, however they have a tendency to really feel totally different and observe totally different patterns. Figuring out what you are feeling, when it begins, and what makes it higher can assist you describe the issue to your physician.

What does stressed legs syndrome really feel like?

Restless legs syndrome, or RLS, causes an urge or want to maneuver the legs. This urge typically comes with an disagreeable feeling which may be onerous to explain or find. The disagreeable sensation can really feel like bugs crawling on the pores and skin or an ache from contained in the legs.

RLS signs often start or worsen if you find yourself resting. Chances are you’ll discover them whereas sitting or mendacity down. Shifting your legs, strolling, or stretching could ease the signs. The aid could final solely whilst you preserve shifting.

Time of day is one other clue. RLS signs are often worse within the night or at night time. They might have an effect on one leg or each legs and could be tough to pinpoint. As a result of the urge to maneuver could return while you relaxation once more, RLS could make it onerous to go to sleep or return to sleep.

What does a leg cramp really feel like?

A sleep-related leg cramp is a sudden, painful tightening, hardening, or spasm of a muscle. The ache is usually straightforward to find, and a cramp often impacts one leg.

Leg cramps can occur at night time and wake you from sleep. Stretching could assist launch the tight muscle. Nevertheless, a cramp is NOT outlined by an urge to maneuver, by getting worse throughout relaxation, or by being extra widespread within the night.

Key variations between RLS and leg cramps

The primary distinction is the kind of feeling. RLS creates an urge to maneuver, typically with an disagreeable feeling contained in the legs. A leg cramp causes a painful muscle contraction.

The sample additionally gives necessary clues:

• Relaxation: RLS begins or will get worse throughout relaxation. A leg cramp is marked by a muscle spasm, not by relaxation.
• Motion: Shifting the legs can ease RLS whereas the motion continues. Stretching could assist launch a cramp, however the issue is the tight muscle reasonably than an urge to maneuver.
• Time of day: RLS is principally a night or nighttime downside. Leg cramps could occur at night time, however they’ll additionally happen any time of the day.
• Location: RLS sensations could also be onerous to pinpoint and may have an effect on one or each legs. A cramp is often felt in a single clear space and infrequently impacts one leg.
• Length: RLS signs could return while you cease shifting and relaxation once more. A leg cramp is often a sudden episode of muscle tightening lasting seconds, up to a couple minutes.
• Impact on sleep: RLS could make it onerous to go to sleep or return to sleep. A leg cramp could wake you with sudden ache.

Can you’ve got each RLS and leg cramps?

Sure. An individual could expertise each situations and might be able to inform the sensations aside.

If this occurs to you, take into consideration every episode by itself. Was there a powerful want to maneuver, or did a muscle out of the blue grow to be tight and painful? Did the sensation begin throughout relaxation? Did motion assist solely whilst you saved shifting?

Questions to think about earlier than speaking together with your physician

Earlier than your go to, take into consideration these questions:

1. Do you are feeling a powerful want to maneuver your legs?
2. Does a muscle out of the blue grow to be tight or painful?
3. Do the signs begin or worsen whilst you sit or lie down?
4. Does strolling or stretching assist?
5. Does the aid final solely whilst you preserve shifting?
6. Are the signs worse within the night or at night time?
7. Is the sensation unfold out, or are you able to level to at least one painful space?
8. Does the issue preserve you from falling asleep or wake you from sleep?

These questions give attention to the feeling, timing, location, and impact of motion, which can assist distinguish RLS from a leg cramp.

Think about conserving temporary notes about when the signs occur and what you are feeling. This may occasionally assist you to give your physician a clearer description.

When to speak together with your physician

Discuss together with your physician if leg discomfort or ache is disturbing your sleep or inflicting concern. Your physician can evaluate your signs and think about whether or not stressed legs syndrome, leg cramps, or one other situation could also be inflicting your signs.

As a result of leg cramps can mimic stressed legs syndrome, an correct prognosis depends upon understanding the sample of your signs and ruling out different attainable causes.

Medical evaluate by Shalini Paruthi, MD

This text was created utilizing a number of editorial instruments, together with AI, as a part of the method. Human editors reviewed this content material earlier than publication.

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