Sleep is difficult enough for many people suffering from restless leg syndrome. You feel exhausted, desperate to get just a few hours of uninterrupted sleep; you start to stray off at last, when suddenly your leg starts tingling. Pins-and-needles, then throbbing, then a powerful drive to move your leg, which brings relaxation or maybe a few minutes until the whole burning sensation starts again.
According to studies, restless leg syndrome is prevalent in women than men. It is also more prevalent in older people, meaning a lot of victims are women in menopause. Therefore, it is crucial to go for natural cures for restless leg syndrome.
What exactly is restless leg syndrome?
It is a neurological disorder in which sufferers feel a burning sensation and an uncontrollable urge to move their legs. This condition mainly arises when you are sleeping or lying down in the same position for a longer time. Consequently, your sleep gets disrupted.
RLS symptoms usually occur when the person is lying, resting, or sleeping and usually happen at night. The alterations caused by RLS are called periodic limb movements of sleep. Because of these alterations, RLS can cause severe sleep problems.
Some people have primary RLS, which has no identified cause. Others have secondary RLS, generally associated with nerve problems, pregnancy, iron deficiency, or chronic kidney failure. If your symptoms are mild to severe, RLS can have a significant impact on your life. It can stop you from sleeping enough and trigger daytime focus and thinking, your job, and your social activities.
Restless leg syndrome home treatment solutions
Following are the options that you can try at home to reduce your restless leg syndrome.
- Maintain the same bed timing: going to bed earlier and maintaining the same sleeping pattern can help mild your RLS symptoms. According to studies, going to sleep earlier in the evening and sleeping in later in the morning helps diminish symptoms of restless legs. Low evening cortisol levels are linked with aggravated symptoms. Getting sufficient sleep and maintaining a normal, natural circadian rhythm are healthy habits that help maintain normal cortisol levels.
- Go for baths and Massages: soaking in a warm bath and massaging your legs can ease your muscles. The warmth soothes muscles and helps stop contractions and twitching. Add Epsom salts in your bath to relieve aches and pains. So, consider indulging yourself in the calming comfort with massages and baths. You can use a wand for massaging purposes. It will make it easy to apply oil and jellies for massage on your legs. With a wand, the oil will be absorbed in the skin quickly, which will help you reduce RLS symptoms.
- Exercise and stretching: doing moderate and regular exercise may relieve the symptoms of RLS. However, an intense workout or working too late in the night can worsen your symptoms. Therefore, always go for moderate exercise at the right time. Like other types of exercises, yoga and stretching can also reduce RLS symptoms.
- Use warm and cold compresses: warm or cool pads, commonly used to relieve inflammation caused by burns and other injuries. They have a long history as a home remedy. They can be effective by producing a new sensation for the brain to process, decreasing the burning and tingling sensation formed by restless legs syndrome. You can buy cold or warm compress at any store, but the most convenient way to make one is to soak fabric in cold or warm water and put it against your skin.
- Eliminate the use of caffeine: Avoiding caffeine may help reduce restless legs syndrome. Coffee is caffeine and a big no if you have restless leg syndrome. However, there are plenty of foods and drinks that contain the stimulant. Always keep a check on the hidden sources of caffeine, including tea, energy drinks, soft drinks, and chocolates.
The bottom line
There is no denying that RLS home solutions have their limits. A perfect blend of good lifestyle choices and medications, if necessary, may lessen the symptoms enough to allow you to sleep. If these practices don’t work for you, don’t hesitate to seek a sleep expert’s advice. Everyone with restless legs needs to see a doctor, but severe cases can be enfeebling.
