Alpha EEG anomaly occurs when sudden bursts of brain activity occur during a time when the brain should be in deep sleep. These periods of intense activity are measured as alpha waves on an EEG monitor. People with alpha EEG anomaly do not have difficulty falling asleep, but once they reach deep sleep, their brains begin to act like they are awake. Deep level (or stage 4) sleep is constantly interrupted by bursts of awake-like brain activity. Patients appeared to spend the night with one foot in sleep and the other one out of it.This leaves sufferers feeling tired and drained.

Restless Leg Syndrome:

Many people with fibromyalgia suffer from restless leg syndrome symptoms. RLS causes unpleasant sensations in the lower limbs, so much so that the limbs have to be moved in order to reduce the pain. RLS occurs mostly at night, between the hours of 10:00 pm and 4:00 am, though it can also occur throughout the day in severe cases. It is thought that somewhere between 20% and 40% of fibromyalgia sufferers also have RLS.

RLS is exacerbated by long periods of rest, particularly nighttime sleeping, long car rides, or airplane travel. People with RLS describe crawling, itching, burning, or aching sensations beneath the skin in their legs. These sensations are so uncomfortable that they must move their legs, either by getting out of bed, or by exercising or stretching. Many find that if they do not move around, their legs will twitch involuntarily. Typically, RLS affects the calves and lower legs, though it can also affect the thighs, feet, and arms.

RLS causes major disturbances to sleep patterns. Because you are constantly being woken up or forced out of bed, many FM sufferers find that they just cannot get adequate rest. Many feel drained and sleepy during the day.

Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (PLMD)
Periodic limb movement disorder often occurs alongside RLS. In fact, 80% of those fibromyalgia sufferers who have RLS also have PLMD. PLMD is very similar to RLS, however it only occurs during nighttime sleep. It can also become quite exacerbated and even violent, unlike RLS.

PLMD causes intermittent movement of a person’s limbs while they are in deep sleep. A person with PLMD may move their feet, knees, or thighs rhythmically without even realizing it. Most movements occur at intervals of between 5 and 60 seconds. For example, a person with PLMD might suddenly flex their knee, and then 60 seconds later, flex it again. These flexes tend to last for 10 seconds or more. The most common movements seen in this sleep disorder are flexes of the big toe, fanning of the toes, and flexion of the knees.

PLMD can be quite annoying when you are already suffering from widespread pain and other fibromyalgia symptoms. Sometimes people with PLMD can become quite violent, kicking and flailing while they are in bed. People with PLMD often report bouts of insomnia or daytime sleepiness, which can exacerbate their symptoms.