Restless leg syndrome (RLS) is a neurological condition that triggers uncomfortable sensations in your leg or legs. These triggers can occur at any time when you aren’t physically active but are most noticeable at night when you’re trying to rest. To make matters worse, the discomfort doesn’t subside until you move your legs, giving the syndrome its name.
According to the American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine, as many as twelve million Americans live with RLS every day. Unfortunately, RLS can be difficult to diagnose despite its prevalence, with physicians relying on patients to report symptoms to detect it. However, just because it’s challenging to recognize doesn’t mean it’s hard to treat. You can reliably treat RLS at home with a simple pair of compression socks.
While the medical community has conducted a great deal of research into the source of RLS, no tell-tale cause has been proven for sure. One leading theory is that a dopamine imbalance could be the culprit. Others have proposed that a build-up or lack of folic acid could cause involuntary muscle movements.
However, it has been shown that restless leg syndrome is prevalent in pregnant women and thought to result from hormonal changes. In these cases, RLS is observed to end after childbirth in most cases. Restless leg syndrome can also be hereditary, primarily when it occurs in a younger person.
The strange sensations that RLS causes usually don’t occur while you’re active. Instead, they strike when you’re resting, forcing you to move your legs to curb the bizarre feeling. RLS attacks are most common at night when you’re trying to sleep. Even though RLS isn’t harmful itself, its disruption to your sleep cycle can be detrimental to your physical and mental health.
Restless leg syndrome treatment comes in many forms, including medication. However, there are many conservative vein treatments you can perform at home to treat symptoms without disrupting your lifestyle. One such treatment is wearing compression socks.
Compression socks are specially made footwear that applies extra pressure evenly throughout your lower leg. They can be found and bought in stores or be recommended (and even provided) by physicians. Compression socks are sold in ranges with increasing pressure and can successfully treat several ailments, including poor circulation.
Compression socks rank high among restless leg syndrome treatments because of how simple they are. You wear them like you would your regular socks. The applied pressure serves to offset the discomfort caused by RLS. However, it’s a gentle squeeze that itself shouldn’t make you uncomfortable. If it does, you can try a pair with a lower pressure range. Patients who find the right fit often report that they don’t even notice the extra pressure after a short while.
Here is how compression stockings can help with this condition:
Other treatments for restless leg syndrome range from home treatments like massage to prescription medication. Compression socks are a great option because they don’t require wear and carry no side effects. Regardless of what may be causing your RLS, compression socks are a viable option for finding relief.
While compression socks have worked for many patients with RLS, they may not work for you. Should you discover that to be the case, let Bass Vein Center help you. If you want professional, personal help exploring potential treatments for restless leg syndrome, our staff at the Bass Vein Center can guide you through the options and make recommendations based on your medical history. Visit our office today or contact us to schedule your first appointment.
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