Most weeks I share a light hearted, even funny “celebration” day but this week is little different becuase today I’m highlighting Restless Leg Awareness Day.
I’m doing this because Restless Leg Syndrome (also known as Willis-Ekbom disease) is something that runs in my mother’s side of the family and I have it as well. While it’s not something that can kill you like cancer or heart disease, RLS can make you miserable, affect sleep, and decreace your quality of life.
Simplu put, RLS is the sensation that you MUST move a part of your body and/ or that a body part is tingling or has a “pins and needles” sensation. Most commonly it affects the legs, but it can affect arms or almost any part of the body. It usually occurs in the evenings but can happen at any time. While that doesn’t sound like much, I promise you it is miserable. I have an aunt who cannot go on long trips because she gets it anytime she has to be still for an extended period of time even with medication. Thankfully I don’t currently need medication personally, but given what my aunt and late grandfather went through it wouldn’t surprise me if down the road I would.
So, if you have no idea what I’m talking about, thank your lucky stars. If you do, but thought you were the only one who felt that way, you aren’t! Talk to your doctor! If I can help one person with RLS today I’ll be very happy. At least until I go to bed…..