A small percentage of patients also develop symptoms in their arms. The cause of this disorder is unknown. Stress appears to be a factor that can exacerbate symptoms. In the majority of cases, vascular or neurological abnormality can be identified. But in a small number of cases RLS has been associated with peripheral nerve disease, renal failure, anemia, diabetes and malignancy.
Treatment is usually symptomatic as there is no cure.
Reductions of smoking and caffeine may help. Herbal therapy has been used with varying success. Ropinirole is a drug used to treat Parkinson's disease. It may be useful in treating RLS, but controlled studies have not been done. Dr. Jay Sher is a clinical professor of medicine at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, and an assistant program director in the Department of Medicine at Jersey Shore Medical Center, Neptune.