Which Came First: Restless Legs Syndrome or Restless Genital Syndrome?

Like the lifelong chicken or egg question, it is the same for a lot of people with restless legs syndrome (RLS).

For many people with RLS, restless genital syndrome (RGS) is part of the package. It is not certain if one is the side effect of the other or if they are two separate conditions that have somehow become intertwined. Having spoken to tons of people with RLS, I've realized that about 40 percent of them have accompanying RGS, me inclusive. RGS isn't as rare as the medical community thinks, most sufferers just do not want to talk about it.

Explaining restless genital syndrome

As difficult as it is to explain restless legs syndrome, explaining restless genital syndrome is even harder. Once your legs start acting up, you find yourself in an almost constant state of arousal. Here's the gag: even though you find yourself in that state, it is not sexual in any way.

A lot of people with RGS have been known to avoid sex and intimacy as they now associate an orgasm with pain alleviation. For most people, the only way to feel temporarily better is by falling back into childhood habits like biting their nails, sucking their tongues, pulling their hair, moving their legs, and for some people, masturbating.

Double the stress and discomfort

I noticed both my RLS and RGS before puberty and even though I have been taught sex education since I was 6, I couldn't bring myself to tell my mother or anyone else what I was experiencing. This was partly because I didn't understand it myself and also because I didn't want anyone thinking there was something wrong with me. Even when I finally told my mom about the weird constant discomfort in my legs, I left the RGS out.

RLS accompanied by RGS is twice the stress and discomfort. This can make you very distracted, very sleep-deprived, and very angry; and because there's no known cause yet, there's no cure.

Tips to relieve RLS and RGS symptoms

Here are some relief tips that I recommend:

• A warm soak. This just feels good and takes your mind away from the chronic discomfort. This can also loosen some knotted muscles and aid in better sleep quality.
• Do not cover your legs with a heavy blanket. RLS loves free legs.
• Wear cotton and loose underwear to bed.
• Place a safe, hot water bottle under your legs.
• Take some iron supplements (speak to you doctor first).
• Drink loads of water in the day and less at night. You want to keep your bladder empty at night time.

I know how frustrating having accompanying RGS can be when you already have restless legs syndrome to battle with. It doesn't make you a nymphomaniac or a freak and it is in no way your fault. You don't need to hide; having RLS/RGS is hard enough without the burden of shame.

Hopefully one day, there will be a cure but until such a time, all we can do is speak out and hold each other up.