Restless legs syndrome. What exactly is it? How rare is this condition? What are its diagnosable symptoms? What are its causes? What are the available medical treatments? What are the available natural alternative treatments? What are the latest medical research neurological discoveries about this little known and painful condition?

Over recent years restless legs syndrome has become more publicised but still remains one of the least well known physiological and psychological conditions. Because the origins are known to be neurological it is classed therefore as psychological in nature. However the causes of this condition remain perplexing. Until further knowledge is available there is no cure. Only treatment is available.

Also known as Wittmaack-Ekbom's syndrome, restless legs syndrome affects less than 1% of the general population but there are still over 500,000 persons with this condition in the USA alone so it is rare but still has enough individuals afflicted with this condition to warrant intensive scientific research programmes. Each research programme makes further discoveries about dysfunctional genes.

From the medical perspective, the diagnosis for restless legs syndrome is straightforward as the symptoms can be easily classified. When an individual has the persistent urge followed by the compulsion to move their legs due to persistent pain and throbbing for hours on end during the night time the symptoms are known as restless legs syndrome.

Because this condition happens at night, individuals suffer insomnia, fatigue and exhaustion. For many sufferers, this is classed as disability. Even when restless legs syndrome is treated it only goes into remission to return after any short period of time. Many individuals with this condition either sleep during the day time or if they are able to work will choose to do night shift employment if they can.

Not only is there no primary cause of restless legs syndrome because the condition is almost certainly due to some combination of both neurological causes and genetic causes, the exact origins of the condition can't be as yet pinpointed. Despite this, it is known that dopamine neurotransmitters have become dysfunctional leading to critical disruption of nerve signals flowing between nerve cells in the hippothalamus centre of the inner brain.

Interestingly, many individuals with restless legs syndrome have parents with the condition which means that there are genetic and hereditary factors triggering the condition. Some of the recent discoveries in genetic research have begun to identify the characteristics of genes and chromosomes unique to restless legs syndrome. Once the exact gene is identified the condition will be cured.

As with so many ailments and conditions, proper nutrition deficiencies are now thought by medical researchers to be another cause of restless leg syndrome. Early research shows that many individuals with restless legs syndrome have tested positive for iron deficiency and multivitamins deficiency which can be explained by diet. Nutrition therapy for restless leg syndrome could be the eventual cure.

Either medical treatments or homeopathic treatments can provide pain relief. Only sleeping pills such as Zopiclone can relieve the pain of leg jerk and constant readjustment. If the individual changes sleeping posture to sleep on their side with the pillow placed between the knees and cold compressions tied to the painful area of the legs they should be fine before taking required sleeping pill medication.

To be able to have weekly press leg massages is really to the benefit of anyone suffering from restless legs syndrome. Once this has been administered then the individual with restless legs syndrome is able to start to walk around their room. Each individual can now begin to practise very frequent stretching exercises. Because stretching and walking immediately relieves pain it should be done every evening.

Another short-term treatment is soaking your feet in any bowl of cold water or instead have a cold bath before you sleep. Interestingly the expected evening pain associated with restless leg syndrome does not materialise. However, you have to be prepared to become used to your cold bath or cold shower.

Surprisingly, there are distinctive gender differences in the occurrence of restless leg syndrome as more women than men remain suffer the condition. In particular, the over 50 age group are the most susceptible to having restless leg syndrome. Almost certainly this is an area for further medical research. Explaining these gender differences in the occurrence has so far eluded scientific research.

More research will reveal the exact causes of the motor skills coordination dysfunction that triggers restless leg syndrome.