Restlessness due to restless leg syndrome

Unusual symptoms in his legs appeared even during the day, causing Mr. Cuong discomfort, headaches, and drowsiness due to lack of sleep but difficulty sitting still. On December 16, Dr. Nguyen Huu Khanh, Department of Neurology, Neuroscience Center, Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, said the results of polysomnography determined that Mr. Cuong had vacuum syndrome. yen, level 30 on the IRLS scale.

Restless legs syndrome is a chronic movement disorder. IRLS is a scale to assess the severity of restless legs syndrome, including a set of 10 questions with a total score of 40. The higher the patient’s score, the more severe the disease.

“Many people have restless legs syndrome but don’t know how to go for examination and treatment,” Dr. Khanh said, adding that each month the hospital receives more than 100 patients who come for examination due to insomnia and symptoms of this syndrome. .

Restless legs syndrome can be secondary (iron deficiency anemia, folate or magnesium deficiency, kidney disease, diabetes, lumbosacral radiculopathy, pregnant women…) or primary due to Genetic disorders, disorders of dopamine – a neurotransmitter. In some cases, the cause is unknown.

Mr. Cuong suffered from impaired liver function, elevated liver enzymes, hepatitis, third-degree fatty liver due to alcohol and many other problems. The doctor diagnosed secondary restless legs syndrome. Patients with prolonged insomnia can affect their physical and mental health. If they do not receive timely treatment, they risk leading to complications such as high blood pressure, arrhythmia, and stroke.

Mr. Cuong was treated according to a multimodal, individualized regimen. Doctors combine internal medicine methods to control the underlying disease, improve restless legs syndrome, and at the same time improve sleep quality, reduce stress, depression, and anxiety disorders. The patient was also treated with transcranial magnetic stimulation. This technique uses strong and short-term magnetic waves capable of passing through the skin and skull to directly impact the M1 cortical area. From there, it inhibits nerve transmission that causes headaches and stress, helping patients have better sleep quality.

After two weeks of treatment, the patient’s health improved significantly, he slept 6-8 hours a night, the feeling of restlessness, discomfort, and itching in his legs decreased. Patients need to maintain treatment with transcranial magnetic stimulation technique over a course of 4-6 weeks, each treatment lasts 20-40 minutes, do not need to be hospitalized, and take medication as prescribed.

People with restless legs syndrome have unusual sensations in their legs such as itching, restlessness, pain, like pins and needles or crawling. The result is stimulation, an irresistible urge to move the legs. Symptoms often begin when the patient is at rest and are worse at the end of the day and at night.

Dr. Khanh recommends that people with symptoms of sleep disorders or unusual discomfort in their legs should be examined and treated promptly at a neurology specialist.

Information from the Vietnam Neurological Association shows that the incidence of restless legs syndrome in Asia (including Vietnam) is about 1% of the population, or one in 100 people. This condition occurs more in women than men, and tends to increase with age.