Restless legs syndrome, also called Willis–Ekbom disease, causes an urge to move the legs during rest. Symptoms are often worse in the evening or at night and temporarily improve with movement. Not every crawling sensation or painful leg is restless legs.
The pattern matters
Describe whether discomfort starts while sitting or lying down, whether movement helps and how sleep is affected. A clinician also considers other explanations. Cramp, altered sensation and pain may need a different assessment.
Iron deficiency is a treatable contributor that may need investigation. Iron assessment in restless legs is not always the same as checking for anaemia alone. Do not start high-dose iron based on a target you selected yourself.
A short evening diary
| Observation | Question to answer |
|---|---|
| Onset and rest | Does it start on the sofa, at bedtime or during the day too? |
| Movement | What happens when you walk briefly? |
| Sleep | Does it delay sleep or wake you? |
| Changes | Any new medicine, pregnancy or previous iron deficiency? |
What can you try?
Regular sleep routines, suitable physical activity and reducing things that appear to worsen symptoms can be starting points. Note whether caffeine, alcohol or nicotine matter. Following one clear change is more informative than starting several supplements together.
Review your medicine list
Some medicines can worsen symptoms. Do not stop prescribed treatment yourself. Ask whether anything in your list should change and how its effect will be assessed.
If you already take restless legs medicine and symptoms start earlier in the day or spread, contact the prescriber. Some treatments can worsen the symptom pattern over time. Increasing the dose on your own may make that problem harder to manage.
Where to seek care in Sweden
Contact a vårdcentral, a primary care centre, for recurring symptoms or disrupted sleep and daily life. A suddenly swollen, warm, painful calf needs prompt assessment rather than being assumed to be restless legs. Call 1177 if you are unsure how urgently to seek help.
Sources and further reading
- Läkemedelsboken: Restless legs syndrome (in Swedish)
- Region Skåne: Restless legs syndrom Willis-Ekbom sjukdom (in Swedish)
- 1177: Blodpropp i benet eller armen (in Swedish)
- 1177: Willis-Ekboms sjukdom, restless legs (in Swedish)
Sources and links checked on 22 October 2026. Editorial team: Hagakliniken. General information; individual assessment may differ.