Restless legs syndrome causes and treatment

  • 15.01.2022

Restless legs syndrome causes and treatment (RLS) is today's urgent topic for study, it is interesting to those who are concerned about it.

What is this restless legs syndrome, why does it not let us sleep peacefully until morning? Is it possible to get rid of this syndrome forever?

Restless legs syndrome causes and treatment, what kind of disease is it:


Medicine has established that this syndrome is a neurological deviation. The older you get, the higher the risks. Women are more susceptible to this disease than men.

A person just needs to move his legs, he has such an alarming need. The sensation is not very painful, but occurs deep inside the legs. Described as a kind of tension inside the muscles. Sometimes the hands and the whole body are involved in this process.

As soon as the patient moves, all symptoms disappear. The movement stops, everything starts again. Unfortunately, these symptoms only worsen at night, weaken a little during the day, but do not completely disappear.

Restless legs syndrome symptoms:

Patients describe their sensations in the legs or arms, especially at rest before going to bed:

  1. They start to get sick.
  2. It looks like someone is crawling on them.
  3. They start to burn.
  4. It pierces like an electric current.
  5. They begin to itch, mozzhit.
  6. Feeling of tingling, bursting, squeezing.
  7. Climbing worms under the skin.
  8. Coldness in the legs, or vice versa, the feeling of pouring boiling water into the legs.

There is a desire to move the legs, and not only at night, but also during the day, when a person is simply resting. Occur every ten to fifteen seconds at rest.

Sometimes the symptoms in the legs are very difficult to describe. It is good if the doctor knows enough about this disease. Changes on MRI or other examinations are not found. The blood is normal.

Almost a person can not sleep peacefully. Even if the patient fell asleep, the legs continue to twitch, which means that the reaction of the brain does not stop. The person does not rest well.

During the day he is lethargic, tired, arises, sometimes the patient walks with suicidal thoughts. Treatment in this condition is urgent.

It is not uncommon for symptoms to suddenly disappear without a trace. Apparently, the cause of the trigger mechanism of restless legs syndrome disappears.

It often torments women during pregnancy, especially in the second or third trimester.

The culprits are believed to be:

  • Deficiency of vitamins and of course minerals (folic acid, iron).
  • Insomnia.
  • Changed hormonal background of a pregnant woman.
  • Increased sensitivity of the body.

Simple exercises, walks, a calm environment, proper nutrition can help.

  • Assign a complex of vitamins and minerals.
  • Warm baths at night.


Primary or idiopathic:

The onset of its development is usually considered before the age of 40 or even from childhood. The reason is genetics. Continues for the rest of your life. Not associated with any disease.

Secondary or symptomatic:

The cause of restless leg syndrome disease is another, underlying disease in humans. Begins after 45 years, suddenly.

The symptoms of the disease progress.

Restless legs syndrome causes:

The causes of Restless Leg Syndrome in humans are:

  1. Diabetes mellitus (peripheral polyneuropathy).
  2. Acute lack of iron in the body.
  3. Insufficiency in the work of the kidneys, heart.
  4. Joint disease: rheumatoid arthritis.
  5. Pregnancy.
  6. Neuropathy.
  7. Abuse of drinks containing caffeine.
  8. Taking certain medications.
  9. Long and intense physical activity.
  10. Spinal injury.
  11. Disruption of the thyroid gland in a patient.
  12. A state of chronic stress.
  13. Chronic lung diseases.
  14. The use of nicotine, alcohol.

Antidepressants (serotonin reuptake inhibitors) can also provoke restless legs syndrome.

To confirm the diagnosis is carried out:

  • Neurography.
  • Polysomography.
  • Artography (using sensors on the lower leg and foot).
  • encephalogram.
  • Rectromyography.

Restless legs syndrome treatment:


  • Healthy lifestyle: food with lots of vitamins, fiber, greens.
  • Sports (any), but moderately.
  • At night massage or warm baths for relaxation.
  • Good contrast foot baths.
  • A pillow between the legs helps.
  • Classes (asanas for relaxation).
  • When doing physical education, more exercises for the muscles of the legs.
  • Eliminate severe fatigue for a better night's rest.
  • Fight in a well ventilated bedroom.
  • Try to go to bed at night and wake up at the same time in the morning.
  • Less light before the main sleep.
  • Eat foods rich in magnesium (nuts, leafy vegetables, whole grains).
  • After dinner, do not drink coffee, tea, sugar.
  • Break up with the habit of smoking, drinking alcohol.
  • Drink enough pure water.

Medicines:

Dopaminergic drugs:

  1. Bromocriptine.
  2. Levodopa: about an hour before bedtime, two capsules of madopar.
  3. Pramipexole: One hour before bedtime 0.25 mg to 1 mg.
  4. Pergolide.
  5. Rotigotin.
  6. Carbidopa.
  7. Mirapex: at a dose of 0.25 mg in the evening.

Well relieve the symptoms of disturbing leg movements in a dream. But they have side effects: insomnia, swelling of the limbs, bloating, nausea, chest pain.

Usually, these drugs are not prescribed for a long time. When treating, it is impossible to stop taking the drugs abruptly, only a gradual decrease in the dose. There is a drug withdrawal syndrome.

Preparations of iron and folic acid, magnesium:

  1. At night, two tablets of magnerot.
  2. Ibuprofen for mild symptoms.

Anticonvulsants:

  1. Neurontin.
  2. Gabapentin: 300 to 2700 mg at night.

Benzodiazepines:

  1. Restoril.
  2. Clonazepam.
  3. Temazepam.
  4. Klonopin.

Opioids in severe cases:

  1. Codeine.
  2. Propoxyphene.

For neurological causes and symptoms of restless legs syndrome, antidepressants and tranquilizers are prescribed.


It is better to buy at the pharmacy 50 grams of the following herbs:

  1. Valerian root.
  2. Horsetail herb.
  3. Leaves and flowers of meadowsweet.
  4. Hawthorn: fruits.
  5. Rosehip: fruits.
  6. Motherwort herb.
  7. Melissa herb.
  8. Peppermint.

We take two tablespoons (without top) of the mixed collection. We brew 600 grams of boiling water. Wrap, insist up to one hour. We drink 300 grams before dinner and at bedtime.

At exactly 7 pm, take a Mirapex 0.25 mg tablet.

Too many patients simply forget about the symptoms of restless legs. Sleep well, quality of life improves.

In conclusion, I want to add that the causes and treatment of restless legs syndrome depend on the person's attitude to the underlying disease of the body.

If you have diabetes, you need to treat it actively in compliance with all doctor's prescriptions, from diet to physical education.

Only then can negative consequences, and hence restless leg syndrome, be avoided. Sleeping and getting enough sleep is essential for everyone.

Heal and get well.

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Watch a video about Restless Leg Syndrome: