Restless Legs – Causes & Treatments – Auckland NZ

Restless leg syndrome (RLS) is a common condition that causes an overwhelming urge to move the legs. RLS is often caused by varicose veins, which can be visible from the surface of the leg or hidden beneath it. If varicose veins are causing RLS then treating the varicose veins will also relieve restless leg symptoms.

At Palm Clinic in Auckland, NZ we provide the most effective varicose vein and restless legs treatments, which require no GP referral and no time off work in most cases. Read below for more information on the causes, symptoms and treatments for restless legs.

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What is Restless Legs Syndrome

Restless leg syndrome (RLS) is a common nervous system condition that causes discomfort and an insatiable urge to move the legs. It affects up to 10% of the population and is also considered to be a sleep disorder because restless legs often occur at night or while at rest.

Restless Legs Causes

A leading cause of restless leg syndrome is venous insufficiency, which is the same condition that causes varicose veins.

Venous insufficiency is a vein condition where the valves in the veins are unable to pump blood through the legs as they should. This causes blood to pool in the legs which in turn causes healthy veins to become varicose veins, and restless legs symptoms to occur.

It is proven that treating varicose veins provides relief for restless leg symptoms.

Restless leg syndrome is also associated with a range of health conditions:

Iron deficiency
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Parkinson’s Disease
Diabetes
Peripheral neuropathy
Kidney failure

Varicose veins can be visible on the surface of the leg or hidden beneath it.

Restless Legs Syndrome Symptoms

Restless leg symptoms can vary in severity from day to day. Some days they might be significant and cause sleep disturbances while other days there will be no restless leg symptoms at all. Common RLS symptoms include:

Uncomfortable sensations in the legs that are only relieved by movement
An overwhelming urge to move the legs
Pins and needles in the legs and feet
Throbbing, heavy or aching legs
Itchiness or an unpleasant crawling feeling in the legs and feet
Swelling of the lower legs, feet or ankles
Symptoms feel worse when lying down or at rest
Restless legs are also associated with involuntary jerking of the legs or arms, known as periodic limb movements (PLM)

In severe cases of restless leg syndrome, additional concerns may arise such as problems with mood or memory, anxiety and depression due to lack of quality sleep.

Wearing compression stockings can ease the discomfort caused by restless leg syndrome.

Who Gets Restless Leg Syndrome?

Of those who experience restless leg syndrome, about 2-3% have symptoms that are significant enough to affect their quality of life. Common restless leg risk factors have been identified:

RLS is twice as common in women than in men.
Around 1 in 5 pregnant women experience restless legs in their third trimester. Restless legs in pregnancy usually resolves after birth.
Most people who experience severe restless leg symptoms are middle-aged or older.
There is a genetic link with almost 50% of people who experience restless legs having a family member that also has restless legs.
Restless leg syndrome is relatively rare in children with roughly 2% of school-age children experiencing it.

Restless Leg Treatment

Restless leg syndrome can be relieved by treating the underlying cause – varicose veins. At Palm Clinic we offer leading varicose vein treatments at our clinic in Auckland, NZ. All our treatments are non-surgical walk-in, walk-out procedures that don’t require any down time from work in most cases.

Research has proven that the most effective treatment for varicose veins is Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA). This is a non-invasive treatment that uses radiofrequency heat to seal off the faulty varicose vein. Over time the vein breaks down and is absorbed into the body.

Where RFA isn’t appropriate, the recommended second line treatment for varicose veins is Ultrasound Guided Sclerotherapy (UGS). During this treatment a solution is injected into the varicose vein causing it to close off, break down and be absorbed by the body over time.

In mild cases of restless leg where treatment may not be needed, symptoms can be relieved by initiating lifestyle changes such as:

Regular exercise
Attaining a healthy body weight
Elevating the legs to support blood flow
Wearing compression stockings
Leg massages
Use of hot baths and ice packs
Quitting smoking
Avoiding alcohol and caffeine

If you are concerned about restless leg syndrome or would like more information, please contact our reception team on 09 522 8128 or [email protected]

Vein care for confidence and comfort at every step.

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New Zealand’s Busiest Varicose Vein Clinic

Dr John Barrett, the founder of Palm Clinic in Auckland, introduced Ultrasound Guided Sclerotherapy to New Zealand in 1998 and was one of the first exponents of Endovenous Laser Ablation for varicose vein treatments in New Zealand. We now have a team of phlebologists led by Dr Sam Dunn at Palm Clinic in Auckland which is the busiest Vein Clinic in New Zealand. Palm Clinic has performed over 7000 laser treatments for varicose veins and more than ten thousand ultrasound guided sclerotherapy procedures.

Varicose Vein Treatment Process

Initial consultation

With one of Palm Clinic’s Phlebologists (vein doctors). He/she will assess your varicose veins and recommend whether treatment is required. Varicose vein treatment options include: a definitive treatment such as radiofrequency ablation and/or ultrasound guided sclerotherapy or a conservative approach if treatment is not warranted, such as wearing compression hosiery.

Ultrasound Mapping

An ultrasound of your varicose veins will be performed at Palm Clinic by a vascular sonographer and a “map” of your veins will be created. This will be assessed by your Palm Clinic Doctor and a varicose vein treatment plan, optimised for you, will be formulated. You will then book for the relevant treatment sessions at a time that suits you.

Treatment Plan

An information folder will be given to you with copies of the treatment plan, possible risks and side effects, requirements for post treatment care and a quote. We have this information in French and Mandarin if required.

Medical Insurance for Varicose Veins

Palm Clinic is an affiliated provider to Southern Cross for varicose veins and a First Choice Provider for NIB. Medical necessity criteria apply.

For Southern Cross and NIB you do not need prior approval. Palm Clinic is able to authorise this online if you bring your member number. Varicose vein treatments are generally covered by other medical insurers such as Sovereign, Unimed and others when meeting ‘medical necessity criteria’.

Pain free legs our patients are proud to show off.

At Palm Clinic, you won’t have to keep suffering from painful, achy and unsightly Varicose Veins when the solution can be simple. We will provide you with effective non-surgical treatment that will help to give you back pain free legs you’ll be proud to show off.

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Vein Treatment Video

The Palm Clinic vein treatment/pre-appointment video introduces you to the Palm Clinic veins team, explains what to expect during treatment, what you need to do to prepare for treatment, post-treatment instructions for when you get home as well as potential side effects.

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FAQ

Do all varicose veins require treatment?

Although varicose veins are not a life-threatening condition, most people with symptoms (such as aching) notice an increased quality of life after vein treatment. Or if you are symptom-free but dislike the appearance of the veins, you may choose treatment for cosmetic reasons.

For more serious complications such as varicose eczema or varicose ulcers it would be wise to have the varicose veins treated in order to improve the eczema or ulcers.

If you have ankle swelling caused by varicose veins it is sensible to treat the varicose veins as this will often improve the swelling.

Which treatment is right for me?

The two main treatments are Ultrasound Guided Sclerotherapy (UGS), and Radio Frequency Ablation (RFA). You can find out more about these two procedures above – but generally speaking, UGS tends to be used for smaller, twisted veins; while RFA is used for larger, straighter veins. RFA is considered the gold-standard approach to treat Varicose Veins currently. Surgical stripping is an option but this is not considered the gold-standard due to increased risk and recovery time compared to RFA.

As the first step in your varicose vein treatment, we will take a vein map of your leg using ultrasound. This will help us plan the most effective and safest treatment for you.

Will I need time off work?

One of the advantages of non-surgical treatment is that there’s no ‘down time’, other than the actual treatment session. You can get back to your normal routine virtually straight away. There are some exceptions – such as playing sport, heavy lifting and flying. You’ll be given easy-to-follow instructions for your post-treatment care. Those whose work involves repeated heavy lifting (>10Kg) will need to be on light duties for two weeks.

What will it cost?

We will give you a cost estimate at the initial consultation depending on the extent of the problem and what treatment will be best for you. Check with your medical insurance provider, to see if they will cover the cost. (Palm Clinic is an affiliated Provider to Southern Cross Healthcare, and a First Choice Provider to NIB Medical Insurance). If you don’t have health insurance, or your treatment is not medically necessary, you may wish to pay for the treatment yourself.

Do I need a referral from my GP?

It’s a good idea to discuss any future treatment with your GP. However you do not need a referral to visit Palm Clinic – you can make an appointment directly with us. We will always write to your GP advising our management recommendations.

What investigations are needed?

After the initial consultation where your Palm Clinic vein physician will examine your varicose veins you will then proceed to an ultrasound mapping of your deep and superficial veins which will provide an accurate diagnosis and help to define the best technique for your treatment.