Jimmy legs, the heebie jeebies, the creepy crawlies. Over the years, it has been known as many things, but until recently restless legs syndrome (RLS) was not recognized as a specific illness, and sufferers-an estimated five to 10 percent of the U.S. population-had to struggle with this movement disorder alone.

Many of those with RLS are undiagnosed because they don’t realize that their condition is a specific, treatable disorder. Untreated RLS can significantly affect patients’ sleep, their work and their quality of life.

Those suffering from RLS usually report feeling unpleasant or uncomfortable sensations in the legs (and occasionally arms), accompanied by an overwhelming urge to move the legs. These symptoms usually occur when the person is inactive or fatigued, typically in the evening before or after the person has gone to bed. As a part of RLS, patients also frequently experience jerking of the legs, also known as periodic limb movements of sleep (PLMS). PLMS and the other symptoms of RLS can cause difficulty in falling or staying asleep for both the patient and the bed partner, leading to daytime fatigue.

While no cause for the disease has yet been identified, heredity, impaired iron acquisition in the brain and problems with dopamine systems in the brain appear to play a role. In primary RLS, there appears to be a genetic link. Secondary RLS is due to an underlying condition, with anemia, end-stage kidney disease, pregnancy and nerve damage being common factors. RLS is also more common in women and in those with Parkinson’s disease.

Certain drugs have been found helpful in treatment of RLS. One class of drugs that is showing great promise are dopamine agonists. These drugs bind to dopamine receptors in the brain, and significantly improve sleep and the symptoms of RLS. These drugs are also used in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease.

Other treatments include gabapentin (an anti-seizure drug), cabidopa/levodopa (used in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease), narcotics and benzodiazepines. Non-medical therapies such as relaxation techniques, massage and gentle stretching have also been found to help the symptoms of RLS.

Although no cure has yet been found for RLS, the disorder is very treatable. Help and effective treatment are out there for those with this disorder.

MCG Health System will host a free Restless Legs Syndrome Seminar on Saturday, December 10, at the Augusta Towers Hotel (formerly the Sheraton Augusta Hotel), 2651 Perimeter Parkway, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The event is open to patients, families and friends of those affected by RLS and will provide information on how RLS affects sleep, how it is diagnosed and advances in RLS treatment. A concurrent session on Parkinson disease and RLS is also available for primary care physicians, nurse practitioners and RNs. A continental breakfast will be served. To register, call 706-721-2798 by December 9 or register online at RLS On-Line Registration.

MCG Health System is composed of three separate organizations -- MCG Health, Inc. and the clinical services offered by the faculty employees of the Medical College of Georgia and the members of the MCG Physicians Practice Group Foundation. The physicians of MCG Health System are community physicians, faculty employees of the Medical College of Georgia, or employees of the MCG Physicians Practice Group Foundation, not employees of MCG Health, Inc. MCG Health, Inc. is a not-for-profit corporation operating the MCG Medical Center, MCG Children’s Medical Center, the MCG Sports Medicine Center, MCG Ambulatory Care Center, the Georgia Radiation Therapy Center and related clinical facilities and services. MCG Health, Inc. was formed to support the research and education mission of the Medical College of Georgia and to build the economic growth of the CSRA, the state of Georgia and the Southeast by providing an environment for faculty employees of the Medical College of Georgia and the MCG Physicians Practice Group Foundation and community physicians to deliver the highest level of primary and specialty health care. For more information, please visit MCGHealth.org.