Link between migraine and restless legs

Monday, March 19, 2012Print

A population-based study, for the first time, has found a connection between migraine and restless legs syndrome (RLS).

In a cohort of more than 30 000 women, migraine was associated with a significant 22% increased likelihood of RLS. The link to RLS was seen in migraine with or without aura. The relationship existed only in active migraine patients (not inactive migraine patients).

The study was published in Cephalalgia.

http://www.health24.com/news/Headache/1-1248,73368.asp

My mother suffered from migraines from her teens to until her 50s. She also suffered from RLS during that time. However, since her migraines stopped the RLS has got gradually worse. She's now in her 90s and at times the RSL is so bad that if someone offered to amputate her legs, she'd probably accept.

I do get RLS fro time to time, but just enough to know what it is. I have a sister who gets only occasional migraines but does have moderately severe RSL.

We can identify both migraines and RLS through 5 generations on my mother's side.