Living With Restless Legs Syndrome

The key to living with Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) is to control your symptoms. A few lifestyle changes and treatment may help you control the urge to move your legs, so you can turn your attention back to your family, friends, hobbies, and daily activities.

Managing Your Symptoms

Try these tips to help manage your symptoms:

• Consider ways you can control situations, in which you feel you might have symptoms. For example, ask for aisle seats at the movies or on an airplane so that you can get up easily. Break long trips up into shorter segments so that you’re not forced to sit for long hours at a time
• Use a raised desktop that will allow you to stand while you work. Many people find symptoms less troublesome when standing
• Get up and move around, go for a walk, or find an activity that takes your mind off your legs. Suppressing the urge to move can make RLS worse
• Write down the things you have done to cope with your symptoms and whether you feel they have worked
• Get busy. Some people with RLS find that keeping their minds busy with activities like reading, crafting, playing games, or having an active conversation helps

Lifestyle Changes

Here are more tips for managing Restless Legs Syndrome:

• Get active. Walking, jogging, stretching, taking a hot or cold bath, or massaging your legs can help reduce or relieve your symptoms
• Exercise. Many people with RLS think exercise before bedtime is helpful. Always talk to your doctor before starting any exercise program
• Reduce the caffeine you consume from products like coffee, soda, and chocolate
• Reduce the amount of alcohol you consume
• Stop smoking
• Reduce stress

For more information on living with RLS, try these resources.