Leg Pain At Night

Answer 1

Leg pain at night can make sleeping tough. These night time leg pains are commonly referred to as restless leg syndrome or RLS and are caused by a variety of underlying conditions. Many treatments are available to alleviate and increase the severity of this type of leg pain.

Restless leg syndrome (RLS)

Although restless leg syndrome is not well understood, it is a common cause of night time leg pain. These pains are not noticeable until lying still. The pain worsens over the course of the night and is sometimes very painful. RLS is not the only thing that causes pain while sleeping. In less severe cases, these pains are the result of overworked muscles cramping up. This does not produce night after night effects like RLS.

Causes of RLS

The causes are restless leg syndrome are not known at this time, but correlations exist between RLS and features found in certain populations of people. It is often associated with pregnancy, obesity, anemia, smoking, Diabetes and nerve disease. Caffeine and alcohol use also have correlations to RLS. In some cases, RLS is even genetically inherited from your parents.

Certain Demographics of people are at higher risk for night time leg pain and restless leg syndrome, including diabetics, anemics, smokers and pregnant women. Treatments

When attempting to treat restless leg syndrome, doctors first treat possible underlying disorders that may cause it. Blood testing can detect syndromes such as anemia. Varicose veins also can cause RLS and need correction by surgery to repair leg circulation. Eliminating or cutting back on alcohol and caffeine consumption often reduce the symptoms of RLS. Increased activity and exercise help diminish the effects of RLS. There are medications for RLS available and many are extremely effective. Natural supplements such as iron are helpful, but prescription drugs are recommended for more extreme cases. These include Valium, Neurotonin, Restoril and Klonopin.

If you are experiencing night time leg pain and symptoms of restless leg syndrome consult your doctor. Diet changes, exercise and medication are proven effective at treating and alleviating this type of leg pain.