WATERLOO - The creepy, crawly feeling in her legs just would not go away.

Each night when Marge Knoploh of Sumner sat down to relax her legs would feel like they were walking away.

"You just have to keep moving them. You have to get up," said Knoploh, 67. "You can't just sit. Walking is the only thing that relieves it. And it's the same way when you go to bed. It's almost like mini cramps, you can't hold them still."

Knoploh understood her condition right away. It was the same one that already plagued her mother and her sister - restless leg syndrome. RLS is a neurological condition characterized by a disturbing, unpleasant and sometimes painful sensation in the legs, said Dr. Hetal Patel, a family practice doctor with Covenant Medical Center. The syndrome usually affects older Americans, though there are higher incidents of RLS among pregnant women.

"I don't think anyone knows the cause," Patel said.

About 2 to 15 percent of the general population are affected by RLS, however that number jumps to 20 to 57 percent for those on dialysis, Patel said. Some researchers estimate RLS affects as many as 12 million Americans, but others say that number is much higher because so many cases go undiagnosed or are misdiagnosed.

"People just don't know much about it. A lot of people live with it and think it will go away. Once they started seeing the ads (for medication), they realized their problem and began seeking help. There needs to be more awareness," Patel said.

Knoploh noticed the symptoms about five years ago. Her sister, Becky Bullerman of Denver, has dealt with the problem for even longer. An accident about 25 years ago left her legs feeling restless at a much younger age than most.

Bullerman, with the help of her doctor, thought she had found the perfect solution in a prescription drug called Permax.

"It helped immediately. It was like God answered my prayers," said Bullerman,

When that drug was later pulled from the shelves after it was determined to cause problems with a person's heart valves, Bullerman was once again left with legs that woke her two to three times a night.

Now, both Bullerman and Knoploh are on a medication regimen, which includes a prescription drug and vitamin B-complex and iron supplements. Patel said iron deficiency is common in those with RLS, but all patients should consult with a doctor before taking supplements.

"I can sleep through the night now. I used to wake up a couple of times, if I could even get to sleep. I would lie down and my legs would get that creepy feeling," Knoploh said. "You have to move and it exhausts you. Sometimes, I didn't get to bed until 2 or 3 in the morning."

In addition to medication and supplements, Patel said avoiding stimulants like alcohol, caffeine and nicotine will diminish symptoms, as will keeping regular sleep habits and avoiding exercise right before bed.

"It's a paradox really. People with RLS struggle with sleep deprivation because they are up so many times in the middle of the night, but that is something they really want to avoid," Patel said.

More information about the syndrome and its symptoms can be found at www.rls.org and www.wemove.org.

Contact Emily Christensen at (319) 291-1570 or emily.christensen@wcfcourier.com.