Can Sleep Apnea Cause
Restless Leg Syndrome?

My legs have been hurting severely for the last 6 months. I had a sleep study last week and it is abnormal so I will see the doctor on Monday. The nurse did tell me that my legs move a lot during the night.

Answer

It could be helpful to know how many PLM (periodic legs movement) you have arousals per hour. If your arousals are more than 15, as the most specialists require, then you probably have a serious disorder.

People with leg movements in sleep often have other disorders that can cause daytime fatigue or sleepiness, such as sleep apnea or restless legs syndrome.

Restless legs syndrome has almost the same daytime symptoms like sleep apnea, including lack of concentration, mood changes, irritability, and restlessness. The difference is that obstructive sleep apnea can be differentiated from RLS by the symptoms of snoring and, most importantly, by an overnight sleep study.

There is no scientific evidence that sleep apnea can cause restless leg syndrome. The most common causes of restless legs syndrome family history, abnormal dopamine levels, iron deficiency, pregnancy, kidney failure. are However, RLS can aggravate sleep apnea disorder.

You can learn more about restless legs syndrome here.

You can also learn helpful things about treatments for sleep apnea here.