Restless Leg Syndrome - Causes and Treatment

According to medical terminology, restless legs syndrome is called Willis or Ekbom disease, according to the names of scientists who studied pathology at different times. Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) is a pathology in which the patient feels various unpleasant sensations in the legs. In many cases, this does not allow a person to sleep normally, he has to get up, walk, in order to somehow get rid of discomfort. RLS can be primary when the diagnosis develops as an independent disease due to poor heredity. But much more often, Willis disease is a secondary diagnosis that develops against the background of other diseases. In this article, we will try to deal with restless legs syndrome, find out how the disease manifests itself, why it occurs, and how to deal with it with the help of medications and alternative recipes.

How does restless legs syndrome manifest

As a rule, patients do not immediately go to the doctor at the first sign of the development of the disease. RLS most often occurs on average, and especially in old age. How is pathology manifested in the early stages?

The onset of the disease is associated with various manifestations of discomfort in the legs, and all the unpleasant sensations are activated exclusively at rest. As soon as the patient passes or makes light exercises, the discomfort goes away. Patients usually describe unpleasant sensations as tingling, twisting, burning, pulling pains, sometimes a person compares discomfort with convulsions. Most often, the manifestations of RLS is activated in the evening and in the first half of the night. Discomfort can occur even in a dream, preventing a person from sleeping normally. All these symptoms can so increase that often a person is forced to constantly move his legs and feet so as not to feel pain and discomfort. All this seriously depresses the patient's condition - he becomes depressed and nervous, the lack of sleep affects working capacity. To cope with the disease, you need to go to the doctor as soon as possible and get tested. As a rule, restless legs syndrome is consulted by a neurologist, if necessary, the doctor will redirect you to an endocrinologist or other specialist. To diagnose the disease, the doctor collects an anamnesis, may ask for a blood test for general and biochemical analysis, to conduct electroneuromyography and other diagnostic procedures. All this not only helps to confirm or refute the diagnosis, but also to identify the true cause of its appearance.

Why restless legs syndrome develops

In order for the therapy to be effective and adequate, it is very important to know the reason for the development of the diagnosis.

1. Genes. If we are talking about primary RLS, without any neurological and bodily diseases, then the reason lies in the hereditary factor. That is, the disease is highly likely to be inherited. Idiopathic RLS is detected early enough, up to 30 years.
2. Diseases Often the cause of restless legs syndrome is a disease that disrupts the normal functioning of the nervous system - the level of dopamine and iron metabolism in the central nervous system decreases. This may include various injuries of the spinal cord, renal failure, diabetes mellitus. RLS can appear against the background of diseases such as uremia, multiple sclerosis, disorders in the CVS, Sjogren's syndrome, Parkinson's disease, amyloidosis, etc. In all these cases, of course, it is useless to fight the symptom; general therapy against the underlying disease should be carried out.
3. Pregnancy. Restless legs syndrome often occurs in pregnant women, in almost 15-20%. This is due to a combination of provoking factors - hormonal restructuring, a high load due to the woman’s dramatically increased weight, neurological disturbances amid experiences and stresses.
4. Bad habits. Both the primary and secondary syndrome of restless legs are sensitive to the state of the body. That is, there are factors that trigger the development of symptoms. Among them - the use of drinks with a lot of caffeine - coffee, strong tea, energy. Alcohol and nicotine also belong to such factors.
5. Medication. Some groups of drugs can also trigger RLS symptoms. This includes caffeine medications (most often painkillers), antihistamines, antidepressants, medications to lower blood pressure, antipsychotics, the syndrome is especially pronounced after taking antiemetics.

In addition, doctors note that the disease has been spreading more and more recently, modern working conditions affect it - frequent stresses, high physical activity or, conversely, sedentary work. As soon as you notice symptoms of RLS, you need to take action as soon as possible.

How to treat restless legs syndrome at home

Unfortunately, few patients go to the doctor when the first symptoms of the disease appear, due to which the pathology develops more and more. However, there are some very real measures that will help you get rid of RLS yourself, without leaving your home.

1. Rejection of bad habits. The first and most important thing to do when discomfort occurs in your legs is to give up cigarettes and alcohol. Limit your intake of coffee, strong tea, energy drinks, cocoa, etc. In general, you need to review the quality of your life and acquire healthy habits - do not overeat, move more, try to consume only natural and healthy foods.
2. Moderate load. This is especially true for people with sedentary work. No high loads, only smooth and moderate exercise. For patients with RLS, swimming, Pilates, yoga, body flex are recommended. You can do simple swings with legs, exercise "bike". It is very useful to do stretching - it perfectly strengthens the muscles. Various exercises are especially effective for the development of joints and muscles of the feet, the simplest thing is to lift small objects from the floor with your feet, put a handkerchief spread across the floor into a lump, etc.
3. Hobby. Doctors say that in some cases, in cases of neurological impairment, patients are very interested in abstract classes. Concentration of attention allows you to relieve stress and get rid of excruciating discomfort. You can do what you like - knit, draw, embroider or cut on wood.
4. Stable sleep. To get rid of insomnia, which occurs against the background of RLS, you need to normalize the mode of rest and sleep. Try to go to bed and get up at the same time, ventilate the room before going to bed, sleep in cool and clean air, sleep in the dark, do not play active games and do not use gadgets before going to bed - they excite the nervous system.
5. Cold shower. Normalize the functioning of the nervous system by improving the functioning of blood vessels with the help of a cold shower. Take a douche every morning to get rid of RLS symptoms.
6. Massage. Massage is very useful for RLS, it improves blood flow in the vessels, normalizes the work of nerve endings, kneads muscles and joints. To get rid of troubling symptoms, you need to take a massage cream or any essential oil with a calming effect before bedtime. Massage each foot thoroughly from the foot to the knee. This will allow you to sleep peacefully all night.
7. Heat. Try not to wet your feet, not to chill.After frostbite, the symptoms of restless legs syndrome intensify many times. If anxiety does not allow you to fall asleep and forces you to constantly move and move your legs, try lowering your feet into a basin of hot water, this helps some patients.
8. Calm Since the cause of the syndrome is still related to the functioning of the nervous system, our emotional state also affects the course of symptoms. It has been proven that with stress, depression, and nervous experiences, RLS symptoms intensify. Also, do not overwork - this also provokes the development of discomfort. If you have sedentary work, you need to regularly take breaks and warm up.

Every night before going to bed, take a short walk, this will help to saturate the body with oxygen, relieve insomnia, and suppress the symptoms of RLS. But remember, no overwork!

Drug treatment of the syndrome

If all of the above measures do not help to cope with RLS on your own, then you should consult a doctor. After confirming the diagnosis, he can prescribe treatment. Of course, drug therapy differs in the individual characteristics of each patient, however, the general principle of the treatment of RLS is as follows.

1. Dopaminergic drugs. This is a group of drugs that stimulates dopamine receptors. Medicines of this group act on the peripheral nervous system. The main drug of this group, which is used to treat Willis disease, is Levodopa. The drug may have side effects, such as nausea, dizziness, muscle spasm, etc., however, such manifestations rarely occur.
2. Benzodeazepines. This is a group of drugs that have sedative and sedative effects. These funds do not fight the symptom, but significantly increase the quality of sleep, reduce anxiety, and allow you to get enough sleep. Among them are Diazepam, Midazolam, Clonazepam, etc. With prolonged use, drugs can cause dependence, without them the patient can no longer sleep normally all night. Side effects such as daytime drowsiness rarely occur.
3. Vitamins Sometimes muscle twitching in the legs and discomfort in the ligaments can be caused by a simple lack of vitamins in the body, especially in older people and pregnant women. A multivitamin complex is mandatory for patients, which includes folic acid, magnesium, iron, vitamins C, B, E.
4. Anticonvulsants They are prescribed in difficult cases, when the effect of the main therapy is not noticeable.

Remember that only a doctor should prescribe treatment and select certain medicines of the presented group. Self-medication in this case is extremely dangerous.

Folk remedies in the fight against restless legs

If you just made an appointment with a doctor and get to him in a few days, you can temporarily suppress symptoms with effective home treatment recipes.

1. Soothing compounds. These funds will help relieve stress and fatigue, improve sleep quality, relieve cramps during cramps. Among them are decoctions and tinctures of hawthorn, lemon balm, linden, motherwort, valerian. Many of the funds presented may well replace sleeping pills. The broth can be prepared from several components - put in the container everything that is from the presented list, pour boiling water and insist a couple of hours under the lid. If you use the product often, it is better to prepare an alcohol tincture, because it is stored for much longer. To do this, the raw materials are poured not with boiling water, but with alcohol or vodka, insisted in a dark dish for 2-3 weeks, and after cooking, stored in the refrigerator. Take the medicine before bedtime in half a glass of decoction or 20-25 drops of tincture.
2. Bay oil. This is an excellent treatment for restless legs syndrome. It gently relieves spasms, warms and soothes muscles.Fill a bottle of dark glass with chopped bay leaves, fill with vegetable oil and leave for 5 days in a cool place. When the medicine is prepared, you need to drip a little laurel oil on your feet and gently massage it into the skin with massage movements.
3. Vinegar and lemon juice. Patients with this diagnosis claim that acid - acetic or citric helps to cope with the symptoms. Before going to bed, you need to rub your legs with vinegar or lemon juice, allow to soak. This will help to sleep through the night without discomfort in the legs.
4. Hot foot baths. This procedure perfectly softens and soothes muscles, relieves cramps and cramps, especially after a long working day on the legs. Prepare a decoction of any medicinal plants that you have at home - chamomile, sage, oak bark, calendula, coltsfoot, nettle, etc. The water temperature should not be very hot, only comfortable water procedures. Keep your feet in the bath for 10-15 minutes, preferably before going to bed.

All the remedies presented provide a temporary effect, but since the symptoms often worsen with fatigue and hypothermia, this is enough to cope with the exacerbation of the disease.

Restless legs syndrome is a serious pathology that worsens with untimely treatment. However, a competent and comprehensive approach can solve your problem. Be sure to contact a neurologist, take the prescribed medications, observe the regime of work and rest, use traditional medicine and you will sleep all night, your legs will no longer bother you!

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