4Rheumatic Disease
Rheumatic disease is another possible cause of restless legs syndrome. This is a group of many conditions that cause inflammation in the supporting or connecting structures of the body, especially the joints. Fibromyalgia, Sjogren’s syndrome, and rheumatoid arthritis have been shown linked to symptoms of this disorder. However, the exact relationship is still unknown. In a study, up to 25 percent of people with rheumatoid arthritis develop symptoms in comparison with only 4 percent of those with osteoarthritis. Other research found that the risk of restless legs syndrome was much higher in those with fibromyalgia. Scientists have still not fully understood this link.[4]
