What is the Difference Between Restless Leg Syndrome and Neuropathy

The key difference between restless leg syndrome and neuropathy is that restless leg syndrome is a disorder that causes a strong urge to move, while neuropathy is a disorder that causes nerve damage.

Restless leg syndrome and neuropathy are two associated medical disorders. This is because though restless leg syndrome is mainly due to genetic changes, neuropathy (peripheral neuropathy) may also trigger restless leg syndrome in patients. However, they are different disorders with different causes and treatment options.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Restless Leg Syndrome 
3. What is Neuropathy
4. Similarities – Restless Leg Syndrome and Neuropathy
5. Restless Leg Syndrome vs Neuropathy in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Restless Leg Syndrome vs Neuropathy

What is Restless Leg Syndrome?

Restless leg syndrome is a sleep disorder. It is also known as Willis-Ekbom disease. It often leads to an irresistible urge to move the legs. The other sensations that can occur include pulling, creeping, tugging, throbbing, itching, aching, and burning. All these sensations normally happen when lying down in bed or when sitting for a long period of time. Restless leg syndrome generally occurs in the evening, thus making it difficult to fall asleep. Moreover, people with this disorder have to walk around and shake their legs in order to relieve these sensations. The symptoms of this disorder may include discomfort in legs or arms, urge to move legs and arms, disruption in sleep pattern, bedtime behavioural problems, sleepiness during the daytime, and problems with behaviour. Restless leg syndrome is caused by genetic changes, medical conditions (iron deficiency, uremia, hypothyroidism, depression, fibromyalgia, Parkinson’s disease, kidney disease, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, pregnancy, and dialysis), and some medications (antidepressants).

Restless leg syndrome can be diagnosed through medical history, physical examination, and neurological examination. Furthermore, treatment options for restless leg syndrome may include getting regular exercises, practising good sleep habits, limiting caffeinated products, applying a heat pad or cold compress on the leg, soaking legs in a warm tub, trying magnesium supplements, iron supplementation, reducing stress, and prescription medicines (dopamine, anti-seizure medicines, benzodiazepines, and opioids).

What is Neuropathy?

Neuropathy is also called peripheral neuropathy. This disorder leads to nerve damage. The common causes of neuropathy may include health conditions such as poorly managed diabetes, idiopathic neuropathy, chronic alcoholism, cancer, HIV/AIDS, vitamin B12 and copper deficiency, excess nutrient consumption, exposure to toxins, and treatment regimes like chemotherapy. The signs and symptoms of neuropathy include temporary or permanent numbness, tingling, prickling, or burning sensation, increased sensitivity, pain, muscle weakness or muscle wasting, paralysis in different parts of the body, dysfunction in the organs or glands, and impairment in urination or sexual function.

Neuropathy can be diagnosed through medical history, physical examination, electrodiagnostic testing, blood tests, skin biopsies, and quantitative sensory testing (QST). Furthermore, treatment options for neuropathy may include medications (antidepressants,  neurotransmitters like norepinephrine and serotonin, over-the-counter pain relievers (acetaminophen), surgery, nerve stimulation, alternative and complementary therapy (cannabidiol (CBD), alpha lipoic acid, carnitine), and proper diet.

What are the Similarities Between Restless Leg Syndrome and Neuropathy?

• Restless leg syndrome and neuropathy are two associated medical disorders.
• Restless leg syndrome can occur due to neuropathy (peripheral neuropathy).
• Both disorders can be caused by underline health conditions.
• They are characterized by pain and abnormal sensation.
• Both disorders are diagnosed through medical history, physical examination, and neurological examination.
• They are treated through specific medications and therapies.

What is the Difference Between Restless Leg Syndrome and Neuropathy?

Restless leg syndrome is a disorder that causes a strong urge to move, while neuropathy is a disorder that causes nerve damage. Thus, this is the key difference between restless leg syndrome and neuropathy. Furthermore, restless leg syndrome is caused by genetic changes, medical conditions, and some medication. On the other hand, neuropathy is caused by health conditions like diabetes, nutritional deficiencies, and treatment regimes like chemotherapy.

The below infographic presents the differences between restless leg syndrome and neuropathy in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.

Summary – Restless Leg Syndrome vs Neuropathy

Restless leg syndrome and neuropathy are two associated medical disorders. Both these disorders are characterized by pain and abnormal sensation. However, restless leg syndrome causes a strong urge to move body parts like legs and arms, while neuropathy causes nerve damage. So, this summarizes the difference between restless leg syndrome and neuropathy.

Reference:

1. “Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS): Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis.” Cleveland Clinic.
2. “Peripheral Neuropathy – Symptoms, Types and Causes.” WebMD.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Blausen 0311 Diabetic Neuropathy” By “Blausen.com staff (2014). "Medical gallery of Blausen Medical 2014”. WikiJournal of Medicine 1 (2). DOI:10.15347/wjm/2014.010. ISSN 2002-4436. – Own work (CC BY 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Restless legs syndrome 2” By the girl with cold hands (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) via Flickr