How Is Restless Legs Syndrome Diagnosed?
Your doctor will diagnose restless legs syndrome
(RLS) based on your symptoms, your medical and family histories, and the
results from a physical exam and tests.
Your doctor will use this information to rule out
other conditions that have symptoms similar to those of RLS.
Specialists Involved
Your primary care doctor usually can diagnose and
treat RLS. However, he or she also may suggest that you see a sleep specialist
or neurologist.
Symptoms
You must have the
four key signs of RLS to be diagnosed
with the condition.
Your doctor also will want to know how your symptoms
are affecting your sleep and how alert you are during the day.
To help your doctor, you may want to keep a sleep
diary. Use the diary to keep a daily record of how easy it is to fall and stay
asleep, how much sleep you get at night, and how alert you feel during the day.
For a sample sleep diary, see the National Heart,
Lung, and Blood Institute’s
“Your
Guide to Healthy Sleep.”
Medical and Family Histories
Your doctor may ask whether you have any of the
diseases or conditions that can trigger RLS. These include kidney failure,
Parkinson disease, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, pregnancy, and iron
deficiency.
Your doctor also may want to know what medicines
you take. Some medicines can trigger or worsen RLS.
Because the most common type of RLS tends to run in
families, your doctor may ask whether any of your relatives have the disorder.
Physical Exam
Your doctor will do a physical exam to check for
underlying conditions that may trigger RLS. He or she also will check for other
conditions that have symptoms similar to those of RLS.
Tests
Currently, no test can diagnose RLS. Still, your
doctor will likely order blood tests to measure your iron levels. He or she
also may order muscle or nerve tests. These tests can show whether you have a
condition that may worsen RLS or that has symptoms similar to those of RLS.
Rarely,
sleep
studies are used to diagnose RLS. A sleep study measures how much and how
well you sleep. Although RLS can cause a lack of sleep, this sign isn’t
specific enough to diagnose RLS.
Researchers continue to study new tests to diagnose
RLS.
Drug Therapy Trial
If your doctor thinks you have RLS, he or she may
prescribe certain medicines to relieve your symptoms. These medicines, which
are used to treat people who have Parkinson disease, also can relieve RLS
symptoms. If the medicines relieve your symptoms, your doctor can confirm that
you have RLS.
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