When Your Legs Won’t Settle at Night

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Getting comfortable in bed should be the easy part of the evening. But if your legs develop an uncomfortable urge to move just as you’re trying to settle down, it can be frustrating—particularly when you can’t quite explain what you’re feeling.

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) causes unpleasant sensations in the legs, usually in the calves, along with a strong urge to move them. The symptoms typically appear or become worse when you’re resting and are more noticeable in the evening or at night.

It can feel different from an ordinary leg cramp. Instead of a muscle suddenly tightening, you might experience crawling, tingling, pulling, aching, or an uncomfortable sensation that improves temporarily when you move your legs. For some people, walking around or stretching provides short-term relief.

RLS can interfere with sleep, leaving you tired during the day. It also tends to become more common or severe with age. Healthify notes that possible underlying causes include iron deficiency, kidney disease, and diabetes, although sometimes there isn’t an obvious cause.

Your evening routine may be worth looking at, too. High caffeine intake can contribute to RLS symptoms, and some people find that reducing caffeine helps. Regular physical activity may also be useful, although exercising very intensely close to bedtime isn’t ideal for everyone.

Don’t automatically assume you need a supplement. If restless legs are happening regularly, it’s better to talk to your doctor or pharmacist. They can look at your symptoms, medicines, and health history and decide whether further investigation is appropriate.

It’s particularly worth raising the issue if the sensations are repeatedly keeping you awake or affecting how you function during the day. Sleep problems can have several causes, and treating the underlying issue may make a significant difference.

There’s a tendency to dismiss restless legs as simply being unable to get comfortable. But if your legs seem determined to keep moving when the rest of you is ready for sleep, there’s a name for that pattern—and it’s worth talking about.