Restless Legs Syndrome - Causes and Treatment

According to medical terminology, restless legs syndrome is called Willis or Ekbom disease, after the scientists who studied pathology at different times. Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a pathology in which the patient feels a variety of 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 may be primary when the diagnosis develops as an independent disease due to poor heredity. But far 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 the syndrome of restless legs, find out how the disease manifests, why it occurs, and how to deal with it with the help of drugs and popular recipes.

How is restless leg syndrome manifested

As a rule, patients do not immediately go to the doctor at the first signs 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 area of ​​the legs, and all unpleasant sensations are activated exclusively at rest. As soon as the patient passes or does light exercise, the discomfort disappears. Patients usually describe unpleasant sensations as tingling, twisting, burning, nagging pains, sometimes a person compares discomfort with cramps. The most common manifestations of RLS is activated in the evening and in the first half of the night. Discomfort can occur even in a dream, making it difficult for a person to sleep normally. All these symptoms can grow so much that often a person has to constantly move his legs and feet, so as not to feel pain and discomfort. All this seriously inhibits the patient's condition - he becomes depressed and nervous, lack of sleep affects the performance. To cope with the disease, you need to go to the doctor as soon as possible and get tested.As a rule, with the syndrome of restless legs refer to a neurologist, if necessary, the doctor will refer you to an endocrinologist or other specialist. To diagnose the disease, the doctor collects anamnesis, may ask to donate blood for general and biochemical analysis, conduct electroneuromyography and other diagnostic procedures. All this not only helps to confirm or deny the diagnosis, but also to reveal the true cause of its occurrence.

Why develop restless legs syndrome

To therapy was 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 in high probability 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. These include various injuries of the spinal cord, renal failure, diabetes mellitus.RLS can appear on the background of diseases such as uremia, multiple sclerosis, malfunction of the cardiovascular system, Sjogren's syndrome, Parkinson's disease, amyloidosis, etc. In all these cases, of course, it is useless to deal with the symptom; general therapy should be conducted against the underlying disease.
3. Pregnancy. Restless legs syndrome often occurs in pregnant women, almost 15-20%. This is due to a combination of provoking factors - hormonal adjustment, high load due to the sharply increased weight of the woman, neurological disorders against the background of experiences and stress.
4. Bad habits. Both primary and secondary restless legs syndrome reacts sensitively 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 large amount of caffeine - coffee, strong tea, energy. These factors also include alcohol and nicotine.
5. Medication. Some groups of drugs can also trigger symptoms of RLS. These include drugs with caffeine (most often painkillers), antihistamines, antidepressants, drugs for lowering blood pressure, antipsychotics, the syndrome is especially pronounced after taking antiemetic drugs.

In addition, doctors note that the disease has recently spread more and more, this is influenced by modern working conditions - frequent stress, high physical exertion, 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 come to the doctor when the first symptoms of the disease appear, due to which pathology develops more and more. However, there are some very real measures that will help you get rid of RLS on your own, without leaving your home.

1. Rejection of bad habits. The first and most important thing that needs to be done when there is discomfort in the legs is to give up cigarettes and alcoholic beverages. Limit consumption of coffee, strong tea, energy drinks, cocoa, etc. In general, you need to reconsider the quality of your life and acquire healthy habits - do not overeat, move more, try to consume only natural and healthy products.
2. Moderate load. This is especially true of people with sedentary work.No high loads, only smooth and moderate exercise. For patients with RLS recommended swimming, Pilates, yoga, body flex. You can do simple leg kicks, exercise "bike". It is very useful to engage in 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 with the feet from the floor, to collect a handkerchief spread out on the floor in a lump, etc.
3. Hobby. Doctors say that in some cases, when the neurological disorders are disturbed, abstract exercises are very helpful for patients. Concentration can relieve stress and get rid of the painful discomfort. You can do what you like - knit, draw, embroider or cut on wood.
4. Stable sleep. To get rid of insomnia, which occurs on the background of RLS, you need to normalize the regime of rest and sleep. Try to go to bed and get up at the same time, ventilate the room before bed, sleep in cool and clean air, sleep in the dark, do not play active games and do not use gadgets before bed - they excite the nervous system.
5. Cold shower. Normalize the work of the nervous system by improving the work of blood vessels by using a cold shower. Every morning, take a douche to get rid of the symptoms of RLS.
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 the disturbing symptoms, you need to take a massage cream or any essential oil with a calming effect before going to bed. Carefully massage each leg from the feet to the knee. This will allow you to sleep through the night.
7. Heat. Try not to get your feet wet, do not overcool. After frostbite, the symptoms of restless legs syndrome are magnified. If anxiety prevents you from falling asleep and forces you to constantly move and move your legs, try lowering your feet into a basin of hot water, which 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 the symptoms. It has been proven that under stress, depression and nervous feelings, symptoms of RLS are enhanced.Also, do not overdo it - it also provokes the development of discomfort. If you have a sedentary job, you need to regularly take breaks and warm up.

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

Drug treatment of the syndrome

If all the above measures do not help to cope with the RLS independently, then you should consult a doctor. After confirming the diagnosis, he may prescribe treatment. Of course, drug therapy is distinguished by the individual characteristics of each patient, but the general principle of the treatment of RLS is as follows.

1. Dopaminergic drugs. This is a group of drugs that is a stimulant of dopamine receptors. Drugs in 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 a sedative and sedative effect. These funds do not fight with the symptom, but significantly improve the quality of sleep, reduce anxiety, allow to get enough sleep. Among them are Diazepam, Midazolam, Clonazepam, etc. With long-term use of funds can cause dependence, without them, the patient can no longer sleep normally all night. Rarely, there are side effects such as daytime sleepiness.
3. Vitamins. Sometimes twitching of the muscles in the legs and discomfort in the ligaments can be caused by a simple lack of vitamins in the body, especially in the elderly and pregnant women. Patients must be assigned a multivitamin complex, which includes folic acid, magnesium, iron, vitamins C, B, E.
4. Anticonvulsants. They are appointed in difficult cases, when the effect of the main therapy is hardly noticeable.

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

Folk remedies in the fight against restless legs

If you have only registered with a doctor and come to him in a few days, you can temporarily suppress your symptoms with the help of effective home remedies.

1. Soothing compositions. These tools will help relieve tension and fatigue, improve the quality of sleep, relieve cramps during convulsions. Among them are decoctions and tinctures of hawthorn, lemon balm, lime, motherwort, valerian. Many of the presented means may well replace hypnotic drugs. The broth can be prepared from several components - put everything in the container that is in the list, pour boiling water and leave for a couple of hours under the lid. If you use the tool 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, insist in dark dishes for 2-3 weeks, and after cooking they are stored in a refrigerator. Take the medicine at bedtime for half a glass of broth 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 the muscles. Fill a bottle of dark glass with crushed bay leaves, cover with vegetable oil and leave for 5 days in a cool place.When the medicine is ready, you need to drip a little bit of laurel oil on your feet and gently rub it into the skin with massage movements.
3. Vinegar and lemon juice. Patients with this diagnosis claim that acetic acid or citric acid helps to deal with the symptoms. Before going to bed, rub your feet with vinegar or lemon juice, let it soak. This will help to sleep through the night without discomfort in the legs.
4. Hot foot bath. This procedure perfectly softens and soothes the muscles, relieves from cramps and spasms, especially after a long day of work on the legs. Prepare a decoction of any medicinal plants that you have at home - chamomile, sage, oak bark, calendula, coltsfoot, nettle, etc. Water temperature should not be very hot, only comfortable water treatments. Keep your feet in the bath for 10-15 minutes, preferably before going to bed.

All presented means give a temporary effect, but since the symptoms are often aggravated by fatigue and hypothermia, this is enough to cope with the exacerbation of the disease.

Restless legs syndrome is a serious pathology that is aggravated by late treatment.However, a competent and integrated approach can solve your problem. Be sure to contact your neurologist, take the drugs prescribed to you, follow the regime of work and rest, use traditional medicine and you will sleep all night, your legs will not bother you anymore!

Video: Restless Leg Syndrome