No longer being an unknown disease, this lets you feel to keep moving and moving. Despite the age, it strikes anyone and starts getting worse once you age. In restless leg syndrome, you’ll tend to feel uncomfortable always, trying to wander around to feel relief for instance but ending up with pain once and as soon you get back to your normal position. So the question here is now, what things can be done to treat it? Well, you’ll find out everything here in the article but first, let’s dive deep right in to find out what exactly this disease is all about!
What is Restless Leg Syndrome?
According to the doctors, it is a condition in which your legs feel very uncomfortable in each position until and unless you move around. Mostly affecting the northern regions, this generally forces you to keep standing and roam. And it has been found that moving provides instant relief but temporarily.
Even sleeping won’t help if you wish for relief, rather the situation may even get worse as this syndrome generally gets worse at night and early morning causing neurological disorders.
The pain rises near the foot region while resting. There’s no age defined as getting struck by this syndrome, it can happen at a very early age as that of an infant and just worsens as you get older.
Women are more prone to getting affected by this syndrome causing irregular sleep. Difficulty in walking etc.
Common Causes of Restless Leg Syndrome
Mostly, the main cause behind suffering from this syndrome remains vague. That’s why named spontaneous neurological disorder. Researchers, who have studied years regarding this disorder say that it can be caused due to the imbalance of brain dopamine chemicals ( that send messages and control muscle movement).
Apart from the exact causes, these are some listed causes for the restless leg syndrome :
– Genetic Factors
See if the problem is already persistent in your family then there are chances that you have genetically hired the problem or in the other way, it may affect your child.
– Pregnant
The symptoms of this syndrome are affected by temporary hormonal changes such as pregnancy. Women experience the first stroke of this syndrome when they are pregnant, in the last three months of their pregnancy but in this case, the symptoms disappear quickly.
– Peripheral Neuropathy
The nerves in the limbs are affected by certain chronic health problems such as diabetes, peripheral neuropathy, Parkinson’s disease, nutritional deficiencies, alcoholism.
– Iron deficiency
Don’t confuse it with anemia, but iron deficiency accentuates the symptoms of this syndrome. Some signs of iron deficiency are internal bleeding, frequent menstrual bleeding or multiple blood donations.
– Kidney Failure
It is related to iron deficiency, as kidney failure means a deficiency in iron levels.
– Lack of Nutrients
If you have a deficiency of vitamins and certain minerals, then there are chances that you might develop this restless leg syndrome.
– Other factors
Lack of sleep, smoking, drinking, stress and some casual problems related to the general lifestyle can also be a cause of developing the syndrome.
Symptoms of Restless Leg Syndrome
-> Itching
-> Cramps
-> Pain in your foot
-> Twitching
-> Strike when you’re sitting idle
-> Relieved by moving
-> You may start extending your legs at night ( this is due to periodic limb movement disorder).
Although we can’t cover all the symptoms that a person suffers from leg syndrome, there may be other symptoms too. If you have any problems regarding the disease then please go consult a doctor.
What are the Risk Factors?
All age people can develop this syndrome. Being more common in older people, this syndrome can be controlled by minimizing the risk factors.
Natural Tips on How To Treat Restless Leg Syndrome Symptoms
1) Practice Breathing Techniques
This is the top listed home remedy in the treatment of restless leg syndrome. Just slow down your breathing and stay calm.
Push your stomach in when you breathe in, and when you exhale put your hands close to your abdomen. Try breathing in through the nose and exhaling through the mouth. Do this 5 times holding the breath for 5 seconds.
2) Take Time to Relax
Stress away all the problems that you’re going through, sleep as much as you can, eliminate all your guilts, try enjoying every moment of your life- go for a night out have fun at night, Schedule out extra time for yourself during the day and let everyone know about yourself.
3) Choose Healthy Diet
Having a healthy diet have a great effect on your condition and can help your body feel balanced and healthy.
Say a big no to refined sugar, carbohydrate contained foods as they can change the glucose levels in your body.
Avoid caffeine as it can make you feel restless hence making the syndrome symptoms appear quickly.
Drink ample amount of water in the whole day to energize your body and giving your brain a chance to think a bit more looking over the situation.
Eat fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-calorie protein, low-fat milk, multivitamins.
4) Warm Bath with Epsom Salts
Epsom salt is a natural anti-inflammatory and soothes the muscles. This helps you get sound sleep and get relief from RLS symptoms.
You need to add two cups of Epsom salt into a warm water bath and sit in the tub for about 30 minutes. Or, alternatively add1/2 cup of Epsom salt to a large pan of water and put your lower legs and foot into the mixture for at least 20 minutes.
5) Essential Oils
Essential oils consist of natural antispasmodic properties forming an easy alternative form of the medical practices.
Massage essential oils like rosemary, cedarwood, frankincense, peppermint, lavender or cypress oils to your affected areas directly.
6) Hot-Cold Contrast Therapy
This contrast therapy helps alleviate the symptoms of Rls and increases blood flow.
Take a shower 2-3 hours before your bedtime which comprises a continuous change in hot and cold water. This helps to decrease the pain as well as discomfort caused due to the syndrome.
Stay under warm water once you are done with this therapy to relaxing your nerves.
7) Increase Intake of Electrolyte
The depletion of essential minerals like magnesium, iron, sodium, calcium can result in cramps. Try consuming mineral-enriched water, Himalayan sea salts, trace liquid minerals, iron-rich foods.
8) Probiotics
Kefir, live-culture yogurt are food rich in probiotics that aids you to increase gut bacteria, accentuating the absorption of nutrients from food and combating harmful bacterias.
Avoid intaking these if you have any kind of food allergy.
9) Take More Magnesium
Magnesium helps in preventing tightening and twitching. Therefore, calcium and magnesium levels need to be maintained in the body.
10) Peppermint Tea
Yes, drinking peppermint tea can also help you treat restless leg syndrome and aid you in providing sound sleep.
It consists of a large amount of menthol which is helpful in curing the syndrome.
Boil few leaves in two cups of water and let it cool for 5 minutes, strain it and if you want to sweeten the tea then add raw honey. Consume it before you go to bed.
11) Apple Cider Vinegar
Once you consume diluted apple cider vinegar, you’ll get relief from the pain. It also helps you absorb various nutrients and restore the pH level.
Mix 1 tbsp of apple cider vinegar in a cup of warm water. Consume this before going to bed for a few weeks.
12) Black Strap Molasses
Black Strap Molasses consists of a large amount of potassium, calcium, and iron that help transport oxygen from the lungs to the other body cells. It also helps boost metabolism and energise your body cells.
Mix 1tbsp of blackstrap molasses in a cup of water and consume this at least 30 minutes before bedtime. Do it daily.
13) Parsley
This herb contains iron and can help refill the amount of deficiency of iron which in turn is a cause of restless leg syndrome. It also contains vitamin C, calcium, folic acid, and potassium.
You just need to boil 1/4 cup finely chopped parsley in about two cups of water, strain it after five minutes and add raw honey( optional for sweetening ). And consume it before bedtime.
14) Dry Brushing
It helps in boosting blood circulation and build up the immunity in legs to withstand.
This also improves the functioning of your nervous system, boost your immune system and strengthens the immune response.
Combine dry brushing with Epsom salt treatment for tingling bruises and relieving the muscles.
15) Tonic Water
Tonic water is basically a soft carbonated drink containing quinine which helps give relief from symptoms of leg syndrome and settle the nervous system.
It also acts as a relaxant for the muscles. Make sure you do not consume it in large amounts as you may incur some side effects.
Have 1/4 cup of tonic water prior to going to bed.
16) Camphor
Camphor has antispasmodic and therapeutic properties that help in reducing leg syndrome symptoms.
Rub camphor oil on your legs before going to bed every day for the best results.
17) Daily exercise
Apart from all the remedies and medications that you use to reduce the effect of restless leg syndrome, exercising plays a vital role in aiding to your prevalent treatment.
– Exercise moderately for at least 30 minutes every day
– Go for morning or evening walk ( depends on you )
– Opt stairs instead of elevators
– If you know how to swim then bang on! It can help a lot in recovering the leg pain.
– Stretch your muscles.
18) Psychological treatment
You need to do absolutely nothing in this, just follow up some basic requirements to lead a peaceful and happy life such as,
Thinking positive – this can help you feel relaxed and make you comfortable. Try imagining yourself in a quiet harmonious place and stress away all the problems, change the way you perceive things, be careful about the words you use to communicate.
Pamper yourself- don’t panic if you suffer from the leg syndrome symptoms, light the candles all around you, have a lavender bath, listen to your favorite genre music, imagine yourself in your own paradise.
Meditation- Start with meditating for 15 minutes initially and gradually increase the duration to 45-60 minutes. This helps to remove all the negative thoughts out of your mind and to comfort your brain to act positive and it also helps in the relaxation of muscles.
Play with pets- this has a very positive effect on your mind helping you calm down thereby improving the symptoms and discomfort caused by the syndrome.
19) Opioid
Opioid basically is a combination of oxycodone, acetaminophen, codeine, and hydrocodone.
It helps relieve symptoms of leg syndrome.
20) Muscle Relaxant and Sleeping Pills
Although you should not rely completely on the pills, it is an effective way of getting instant relief from the restless leg syndrome. This includes triazolam, eszopiclone, ramelteon, etc.
21) Medication for Epilepsy
One thing that you can use to cure the syndrome is the medication for epilepsy. It includes some epileptic drugs that help in reducing the symptoms but you need to consult your doctor first before opting for this remedy.
Concluding, the pain and discomfort in your legs due to the restless leg syndrome enforces you to move regardless of the time so you need to have a proper nutrient-rich diet and a proper sleep to reduce the effect of this syndrome.
