Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)

Your legs move. They tingle. You might feel unable to settle in and find a comfort zone. Millions of people live with an undiagnosed sleep disorder, but that doesn’t have to be your path. The dedicated sleep centers at AdventHealth provide a haven in which sleep disorder specialists review your symptoms, medical background, and family history to get to the root of your struggles to achieve full rest. If it’s right for you, we even provide overnight sleep studies, where we'll closely monitor your sleep patterns, heart rate, and breathing. Our diagnosis of RLS is based on International Restless Legs Syndrome Study criteria that specify several defining factors including:

• A Strong Urge to Move Regardless of Experiencing Uncomfortable Sensations
• Discomfort Relieved by Movement and Recurs When Movement Ends
• Symptoms Activated by Rest And Relaxation and During Sleep
• Symptoms That Become Worse at Night and Subside in The Morning
• Testing to Eliminate Other Disorders

By providing the most in-depth neurological and physical exams, we can get you an accurate assessment of your sleep disorder and provide the best solutions. Let us give you a roadmap for rehabilitation so you can stop wondering what’s wrong, and start feeling rejuvenated.

When you suffer from RLS, your bed can feel like a torture chamber. There's no reason to suffer through another restless night. The sleep disorder specialists at AdventHealth are here, dedicated to you, connecting the dots, and factoring in every complexity and possibility of your condition. Our goal is to treat the cause of your RLS, not just the symptoms, so it's important to know what's causing your pain. RLS can be attributed to several related conditions including:

• Diabetes
• Iron Deficiency
• Kidney Failure
• Peripheral Neuropathy
• Pregnancy

Once we get to the cause of your RLS, we'll give you a plan to help you sleep better and more peacefully. Our goal is to help you rediscover the comforts of your bed, so you can wake feeling rested and ready for the day.

It’s not just your legs. When you suffer from RLS, your whole being can feel like it’s not your own. RLS affects everyone in specific ways, so your team of dedicated sleep disorder specialists will work to find the treatment for restless legs syndrome that will provide you with uninterrupted quality sleep.

Studying the lifestyle factors that cause movement disorders. Staying on top of the latest medications. Researching the latest surgical innovations like deep brain stimulation. We’re always leading the charge towards better sleep disorder solutions and can help you manage important lifestyle factors, including:

• Eliminating Alcohol, Caffeine, and Cigarettes
• Getting Moderate Exercise
• Getting Therapeutic Massages
• Maintaining a Healthy Sleep Schedule
• Taking Helpful Nutritional Supplements (Iron, Magnesium, or Folate)
• Taking Hot Baths
• Using Heated Pads and Ice Packs

We can also explore the best medications available to treat restless legs syndrome, including:

• Anticonvulsants (such as pregabalin) to control convulsions by suppressing the excessive rapid firing of neurons.
• Benzodiazepines, which affect the neurotransmitters in the brain to provide anxiety relief.
• Opioids, for powerful pain relief.
• Pramipexole or Ropinirole, which replace dopamine, a natural substance in the brain to help control movement.
• Rotigotine, a once-daily patch that provides a slow and constant supply of dopamine over a 24-hour period.