How Is Restless Legs Syndrome Diagnosed?

The way that you describe your symptoms is very important in diagnosing restless legs syndrome (RLS). Your doctor will:

• Take a complete medical history
• Do a complete physical examination
• Order other tests

The diagnosis of RLS usually requires the following four conditions be present:

1. An urge to move the legs due to an unpleasant feeling in the legs.
2. The urge to move the legs, or the unpleasant feelings in the legs, begins or gets worse when you are at rest or not moving around frequently.
3. The urge to move the legs, or the unpleasant feelings in the legs, is partly or completely relieved by movement (such as walking or stretching) for as long as the movement continues.
4. The urge to move the legs, or the unpleasant feelings in the legs, is worse in the evening and at night, or only occurs in the evening or at night.

Medical History

Your doctor will take a medical history and ask questions such as:

• Can you describe your symptoms?
• When did your symptoms first begin?
• When during the day or night do the symptoms usually occur?
• When are your symptoms worse?
• Do symptoms interfere with your sleep?

Your doctor will also ask about your sleep habits, such as:

• The time you go to bed and get up
• Your routine before going to bed
• Noise, light, and interruptions in the room where you sleep
• Whether you snore

Your doctor will ask about how you feel during the day, including whether:

• You are tired and sleepy when you wake up and during the day.
• You have trouble concentrating.
• You doze off or have difficulty staying awake doing routine tasks, especially driving.

Your doctor will ask questions to find out if your symptoms are a result of a possible underlying condition. Questions might include:

• Do members of your family have similar symptoms?
• What medicines (over-the-counter and prescription) do you take?
• Do you snore loudly and frequently?
• Do you gasp for air during sleep?
• Do you use caffeine, tobacco, or alcohol?

Physical Exam

A physical exam is done to:
• Identify any underlying condition that may cause RLS
• Rule out other disorders
Your doctor also will pay special attention to:
• The nerves in your spinal cord (especially) and legs and arms
• The blood flow in your legs and arms

Other Tests

There is no test currently available to diagnose RLS.
However, blood tests can be used to look for underlying conditions that can cause RLS. These tests check for:

• Low iron stores or iron deficiency
• Diabetes
• Kidney disease
• Other vitamin and mineral deficiencies