Restless Legs Syndrome While Pregnant - How to Treat?

First described in the 17^th Century by English Physician Thomas Willis, Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) is now considered a neurological disorder. Almost 10% of the adult population is affected by this condition during their lifetime. As the name suggests, Restless Legs Syndrome, the symptoms first involves the legs, however rarely it can involve the arms as well. The patient often defines the symptoms as follows:

• An irresistible urge to move the legs, which is often accompanied by an unpleasant sensation of the legs.
• The symptoms often worsen while resting
• Some amount of relief from symptoms is achieved by movement of the legs
• More troublesome after sundown, that is during the night.

The unpleasant sensation of Restless Legs Syndrome is often described by sufferers as a creepy-crawling sensation or burning sensation in the legs. Restless Legs Syndrome can be of two types. We Primary RLS which is usually due to a genetic defect and is heritable and on the other hand we have Secondary RLS which is an acquired condition and have some underlying cause like anemia, ferritin (iron) deficiency, kidney failure, neuropathy and of course Pregnancy. Now, before we talk about treatment for Restless Legs Syndrome while pregnant, let’s first briefly go through why Restless Legs Syndrome occurs during Pregnancy.

Restless Legs Syndrome And Pregnancy – What’s the Relationship?

Many women experience Restless Legs Syndrome while Pregnant, but there is an underlying cause that leads to it. Pregnancy is a physiological state, which increases the demand for many minerals in the body, to support the self as well as the growing baby. One such mineral is Iron. Iron is needed for the formation of Red Blood Cells of the body or to be more precise the Hemoglobin that sits inside the Red Blood Cells (RBCs). The iron demand increases during pregnancy, and if not supplemented adequately can lead to iron deficiency anemia as well as RLS. Even non-pregnant people who suffer from iron deficiency can develop RLS.

How to treat Restless Legs Syndrome during Pregnancy?

From the above discussion, I hope it is clear that how the iron deficiency in Pregnancy can cause Restless Legs Syndrome. Coming to the treatment for Restless Legs Syndrome during Pregnancy, it is first pertinent to find out if iron deficiency is the underlying cause. For this certain blood tests like Complete Blood Count, measurement of Serum Iron, Ferritin (the storage form of iron in the body), and Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC) can help in diagnosing the deficient state. Once the diagnosis is confirmed Iron replenishment is to be done and can be treated even at home with Iron-Folic Acid Supplement Tablets.

So, if you or someone you know is suffering from Restless Legs Syndrome while Pregnant, book an appointment with an obstetrician or physician for finding out the underlying cause and getting it treated accordingly. If you ever experienced the eerie sensations of RLS, tell us about it and how you dealt with it in the comments!