Tingling in the legs

instagram viewer

Tingling in the legs can have many causes. It occurs as a symptom of numerous pathological changes and concerns not only the family doctor, but also neurologists, orthopedists, dermatologists and even psychiatrists. What you can do about tingling in the legs depends primarily on the correct diagnosis.

Tingling legs can have many causes.
Tingling legs can have many causes.

Tingling - when the legs do not rest

Tingling in the legs is not just a disorder, but can severely limit the quality of life of those affected and make life hell. Numerous illnesses are possible causes, so that your general practitioner cannot usually present you with a diagnosis straight away. Rather, there are different ways to diagnose Investigations required so you will likely need to be referred to different doctors.

  • The most common cause of tingling and abnormal sensations in the legs are polyneuropathies. These are diseases of the peripheral nerves (peripheral means outside of the brain and spinal cord) that can affect your hands and / or legs.
  • One of the most common triggers of polyneuropathy is diabetes mellitus, especially if you are Diabetics had poor sugar levels for a long time, perhaps also because the diabetes was unknown was.
  • If you do not have diabetes, there are numerous other possible causes of polyneuropathy: liver disease, especially through alcohol abuse, infectious diseases such as mononucleosis, diphtheria, typhoid, HIV, borreliosis and Sexual diseases such as syphilis, in rare cases severe vitamin deficiency (especially B1 and B12), poisoning with cadmium, Lead or thallium (rat poison). Sometimes the polyneuropathy is also a side effect of a drug.
  • To clarify a possible polyneuropathy, you must undergo a thorough internal examination, in which various laboratory tests will play a central role. A neurological examination can clarify whether your tingling sensation in your legs is actually a polyneuropathy.
  • Tingling in the hands - what to do?

    Tingling in the hands can have numerous causes, which must be clarified for the ...

  • As different as the causes of a polyneuropathy can be, so are the therapeutic options. The focus is always on the treatment of your underlying illness. Occasionally the polyneuropathy subsides again, but not in all cases, so that symptomatic treatment of the tingling sensation with medication is in the foreground.
  • Parasitic sensations in the legs can also be caused by vascular diseases. These include venous diseases such as varicose veins or arterial circulatory disorders ("smoker's legs"). In most cases, a harmless ultrasound examination of the blood vessels can clarify whether you have a vascular disease. Venous diseases can usually be treated well if there are arterial vascular diseases Also good therapy options, but depending on the severity and extent of the vascular problem depend.

Parasitic sensations in the legs - is it the spine?

  • Your family doctor may send you to an orthopedic surgeon, as spinal diseases can also be a possible cause. The most common orthopedic cause of paresthesia and tingling in the legs are disc problems and signs of wear and tear Spine such as spinal stenosis. This is a narrowing of the spinal canal, which can cause problems, predominantly for older people. In addition to a physical examination, x-rays, magnetic resonance imaging and / or computed tomography are required. Physiotherapeutic measures can help, and surgery can also be considered for advanced spinal stenosis.
  • You may also suffer from Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS), in which the tingling sensations and painful abnormal sensations typically occur in the evening and at night or at night. occur in periods of rest. Since movement the complaints relieves, the syndrome is associated with a considerable urge to move, which deprives the person of night sleep and almost drives them crazy.
  • The RLS can arise just like that, that is, without an explainable cause. For many people, however, the syndrome can develop in connection with other diseases: Polyneuropathy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, kidney disease, iron deficiency, rheumatism and inflammatory Bowel disease. To clarify a possible RLS, you have to present yourself to a neurologist. The focus is again on the treatment of the offending disease, otherwise there are various drug options to get the RLS under control.
  • You may also need to be examined by a dermatologist, as various skin conditions can cause abnormal sensations in your legs. And if no organic cause at all can be found, psychological problems such as depression or anxiety disorders should also be considered.

How helpful do you find this article?

The content of the pages of www.helpster.de was created with the greatest care and to the best of our knowledge and belief. However, no guarantee can be given for the correctness and completeness. For this reason, any liability for possible damage in connection with the use of the information offered is excluded. Information and articles must under no circumstances be viewed as a substitute for professional advice and / or treatment by trained and recognized doctors. The content of www.helpster.de cannot and must not be used to make independent diagnoses or to start treatments.

click fraud protection