Restless legs and insomnia doctor near Deerfield Beach, FL
Patients from Deerfield Beach, at the northern edge of Broward County, drive about 17 to 20 miles south to Dr. Camilo Ruiz's single office in Fort Lauderdale. Many come for legs that won't settle at night or sleep that has slipped away with age.
Camilo Ruiz, DO · Board-certified in sleep medicine and internal medicine
Who treats restless legs and late-life insomnia for people in Deerfield Beach?
Adults from Deerfield Beach see Dr. Camilo Ruiz at 1319 S.E. 2nd Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, roughly 17 to 20 miles south on I-95. Board-certified in sleep medicine and internal medicine, he can check iron levels for restless legs, go through every medicine you take for anything that may be worsening sleep, and start insomnia care with CBT-I rather than another pill.
Complaints we hear from Deerfield Beach
- As soon as I sit down for the evening news, my legs start crawling and I have to get up.
- I fall asleep fine, then I'm wide awake at three and stay that way.
- I take eight prescriptions, and I wonder if one of them is keeping me up.
- My husband says my legs jerk all night long.
- I've been on a sleeping pill for years and I'd like to come off it safely.
- My feet ache and tingle in bed, and nobody has told me why.
The approach for patients coming from Deerfield Beach
Sorting restless legs from other leg trouble
Cramps, neuropathy and poor circulation can feel similar at night. Dr. Ruiz takes a careful history and examines you to tell restless legs syndrome apart from look-alikes.
Iron and blood work
Low iron stores are a common, treatable contributor to restless legs, so lab testing, including iron studies, is usually part of the first workup.
A line-by-line medication review
As an internist, he goes over prescriptions, over-the-counter sleep aids and supplements, looking for anything that may worsen restless legs or fragment sleep.
CBT-I before more medication
For chronic insomnia, treatment starts with cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia, which addresses the habits and thoughts that keep you awake. Dr. Ruiz also designed Somnera, an online CBT-I program.
A sleep study when the picture is unclear
If leg movements, breathing pauses or both may be disturbing your nights, an overnight study in the practice's own sleep rooms can show what is happening.
Driving down from Deerfield Beach
- Distance
- Approximately 17 to 20 miles
- Typical drive
- Usually 30 to 45 minutes, depending on traffic
1319 S.E. 2nd Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316Directions from Deerfield Beach
- 1.Take Hillsboro Boulevard west to I-95.
- 2.Go south on I-95 for most of the trip, through Pompano Beach and into Fort Lauderdale.
- 3.Exit at Davie Boulevard and drive east.
- 4.Pass Andrews Avenue and look for S.E. 2nd Avenue, where the practice is at number 1319.
- 5.Tap the directions button for the current fastest route from your door.
Landmarks on the way
Deerfield Beach International Fishing Pier, near Hillsboro Boulevard at the ocean · Broward Health Medical Center, a few blocks from the office
From Deerfield Beach to our Fort Lauderdale office
Open in Google MapsWhen your legs keep you up
Restless legs syndrome brings an urge to move the legs, usually with an uncomfortable crawling, pulling or aching feeling, that is worse in the evening and when you sit or lie still. Walking around relieves it, but only for a while. Many people also have periodic leg movements during sleep that a bed partner notices before they do.
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine's guideline on restless legs places checking iron status near the start of care, since low iron stores are common and can be treated. Certain medicines, including some antihistamines, anti-nausea drugs and antidepressants, can make symptoms worse, according to MedlinePlus.
That is where an internist's eye helps. Dr. Ruiz reviews your labs and your full medication list together, then builds a plan that may include iron, changes to existing prescriptions, or treatments aimed directly at restless legs.
Insomnia after sixty without leaning on pills
Sleep changes with age. People often get sleepy earlier, wake more during the night and spend less time in deep sleep. Pain, trips to the bathroom, worry and medicines layer on top of that, and before long a few bad nights turn into a pattern.
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia as a first treatment for chronic insomnia in adults. CBT-I works on sleep timing, time spent awake in bed and the racing thoughts that make nights feel long. Dr. Ruiz uses it first, and patients who prefer to work at their own pace can use Somnera, the online CBT-I program he designed.
If you have taken a sleeping pill for a long time, do not stop it on your own. Coming off some medicines is best done gradually, with a plan from your doctor.
What to expect
- Step 1
Request a visit
Call the office. We'll find a time and tell you what to bring.
- Step 2
First appointment
Dr. Ruiz goes over your sleep, your health history and what you've already tried.
- Step 3
Testing, if needed
A home or in-lab sleep study, or blood work.
- Step 4
Treatment and follow-up
You leave with a plan, and come back to adjust it.
What the practice offers
- Dr. Camilo Ruiz, DO, FACOI, FAASM, board-certified in sleep medicine and internal medicine.
- CBT-I as the first treatment for chronic insomnia, including Somnera, the online program he designed.
- Overnight studies in the practice's own sleep rooms and telehealth follow-ups.
- Visits in English and Spanish, Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Care for patients from Deerfield Beach
- Restless legs syndrome
- Insomnia
- CBT-I for insomnia
- Internal medicine
- Sleep studies
- Concierge medicine
- Office location and hours
Also near the office: Las Olas, Wilton Manors, Dania Beach, Oakland Park, Lauderhill, Plantation, Hollywood, Hallandale Beach, Davie, Sunrise, Tamarac, Pompano Beach, Lighthouse Point, Pembroke Pines, Miramar, Aventura, Coral Springs, Weston, Parkland, Boca Raton, Delray Beach
Common questions
Is there a Deerfield Beach location?
No. Dr. Ruiz sees patients at one office only, at 1319 S.E. 2nd Avenue in Fort Lauderdale, about 17 to 20 miles south of Deerfield Beach.
Should I bring my medicines to the first visit?
Yes. Bring the bottles or an up-to-date list, including vitamins, supplements and anything you take for sleep. That makes the medication review far more useful.
Will I need blood tests for restless legs?
Usually. Iron studies and other labs help show whether low iron or another condition is contributing to your symptoms.
Can I stop my sleeping pill once I start CBT-I?
Talk with Dr. Ruiz first. Some medicines need to be tapered slowly, and he can plan that alongside CBT-I.
Can follow-up visits be done remotely?
Often, yes. After the first in-person evaluation, many check-ins on restless legs or insomnia can be handled by telehealth.
Written by Sleep & Internal Medicine Specialists. Last updated . This page is general information, not medical advice for your situation.
Sources
- Winkelman JW, et al. Treatment of restless legs syndrome and periodic limb movement disorder: an American Academy of Sleep Medicine clinical practice guideline. J Clin Sleep Med. 2025;21(1):137-152
- MedlinePlus: Restless legs
- American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Behavioral and psychological treatments for chronic insomnia disorder in adults: a clinical practice guideline (2021)
Schedule an Appointment
Send a request any time, or call Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. 1319 S.E. 2nd Avenue, Fort Lauderdale.