Restless legs at night: how to stop them

Restless legs cause an uncomfortable urge to move, often with crawling, pulling, tingling or aching sensations. Sitting or lying still can bring it on, while walking or stretching may give temporary relief. Symptoms commonly build in the evening, but frequent daytime symptoms deserve attention. Restless Legs Syndrome is a recognised condition; similar sensations can also occur with Iron Deficiency Anaemia, Peripheral Neuropathy or Chronic Kidney Disease. A symptom does not identify its cause by itself.

Try a warm bath, a heat pack or a cool pack before bed, then move through gentle calf and thigh stretches. Keep the bedroom comfortable and use a consistent bedtime and wake time. Moderate activity earlier in the day may help, while strenuous exercise close to bedtime can aggravate symptoms. Review caffeine, nicotine and alcohol with a clinician if they appear to worsen your sleep. Do not start iron tablets without advice; a clinician may check iron levels first and recommend Iron Supplementation only when appropriate.

Book an appointment if the sensations repeatedly delay sleep, wake you, affect concentration, or are becoming more frequent. Seek urgent help for a leg that is suddenly swollen, hot, red or very painful, especially with breathlessness or chest pain. A clinician can review medicines, examine your nerves and circulation, and decide whether blood tests or another assessment is needed.

Could my symptoms relate to low iron, kidney disease, nerve irritation or a medicine? Which tests are suitable? What can I safely use to improve sleep, and how should I track changes after treatment?