Tingling in the legs

The Tingling in the legs, also known as sleepy legs, is very uncomfortable. Most people are particularly familiar with this symptom if they have recently sat in an uncomfortable position for a long time. The tingling usually disappears when the sitting position has been changed. However, there may be other reasons behind the tingling sensation in the legs.

What is tingling in the legs?

Medically, the tingling sensation in the legs is classified as a sensory and sensory disturbance. The tingling sensation itself is a sensation that occurs only on the surface of the body.

Medically, the tingling sensation in the legs is classified as a sensory and sensory disturbance. The tingling sensation itself is a sensation that occurs only on the surface of the body. The tingling sensation can only be uncomfortable or painful.

The feeling is conveyed by the nerves and nerve endings that are in the skin. The tingling sensation is then passed on to the brain via the nerve tracts. It is therefore not surprising if increased nerve activity or sensitization is considered to be the cause of the tingling sensation in the legs.

External stimuli, on the other hand, as they are known from many other sensory disorders, are less important when it comes to tingling in the legs.

root cause

Various causes are responsible for the tingling sensation in the legs. The simplest cause is still the "falling asleep" of the legs after an unfavorable sitting position.

Pressure damage and inflammation in the spinal cord are also possible causes of the tingling sensation in the legs. A smoker's leg, multiple sclerosis or a stroke can be other causes. As soon as the tingling sensation in the legs does not subside within a short time, a doctor should be consulted for clarification.

If the tingling sensation only affects one leg, a herniated disc could be responsible. This is usually associated with severe pain and must be clarified by a specialist.

If, on the other hand, a tingling sensation occurs in both feet, this could be an indication of polyneuropathy. In this case, the nerve tracts are diseased and can only give weak commands to the muscles. The triggers for the neuropathies can include drugs or alcohol abuse, which also lead to tingling in the legs.

You can find your medication here

➔ Medicines for paresthesia and circulatory disorders

Diseases with this symptom

• multiple sclerosis
• Fibromyalgia

• stroke
• Restless legs syndrome (restless legs)

• disc prolapse
• Polyneuropathy

Diagnosis & course

The family doctor is the first point of contact for the correct diagnosis of tingling in the legs. He will examine the patient's perception using various tests.

Cold and warm stimuli are used as well as touch or the investigation of reactions to pressure exerted. In particular, the vibration sensation in the feet is examined in order to be able to identify and treat possible consequential damage early on in the event of a diabetes disease. The exact cause can hardly be determined from the tingling sensation in the legs alone.

Therefore, further complaints of the patient are assessed for the correct diagnosis. These can be cramps, disturbances in movement and skin discoloration, but also pain. It is also important that patients provide precise information about the time at which the tingling in the legs occurs and whether certain situations precede it. Any side effects that occur together with the tingling in the legs should also be indicated.

Complications

There are various complications that may arise in the case of tingling in the legs, with the trigger of the sensory disorder being the most important factor. The tingling sensation in the legs is often harmless and does not cause serious complications even without medical treatment. If the tingling sensation in the legs is caused by a temporarily reduced blood supply or too much pressure on the nerves, for example when sitting for too long, the symptoms usually resolve quickly on their own.

This is because the relief of the nerve and the normalizing blood supply quickly dispel the tingling sensation in the legs. If the tingling in the legs occurs regularly and develops into a chronic symptom, complications are possible. If there is an underlying disease, such as a disease of the nerves, this usually progresses without treatment. In the worst case, the patients suffer from paralysis of the affected leg and are then affected by significant mobility restrictions.

Tingling in the legs is sometimes caused by a stroke, which is already indicated. Without therapy, patients are exposed to an acute risk of death. In addition, the likelihood of serious permanent damage, such as motor and mental abilities, increases. However, such complications are also possible during treatment. This leaves some people with paralysis or walking difficulties.

When should you go to the doctor?

A doctor should be consulted if the tingling sensation in the legs occurs unexpectedly and there is no reason to determine. The same applies if the tingling sensation is very intense and persists over a long period of time. If the tingling sensation is accompanied by the first numbness, a doctor should be consulted.

In most cases, those affected take a magnesium preparation from the pharmacy or position themselves differently at night while sleeping. Since the symptoms of tingling legs can also hide other - sometimes life-threatening - diseases, self-treatment is not always advisable. Other warning signs - about the tingling sensation in the legs - are: persistent headaches, visual disturbances, dizziness, nausea and skin reactions. Tingling in the legs with associated numbness could also be signs of a stroke. If there are any further symptoms, the emergency call must be called immediately.

In addition, the symptom must always be related to existing diseases: In diabetes, changes in the skin surface are typical and should be reported to the treating doctor or diabetologist. Neurological disorders or damage to the skeleton that trigger the tingling sensation can also lead to greater symptoms if left untreated. Due to this multitude of causes, it is advisable to consult a doctor if symptoms exist. Above all to increase your own quality of life again and not to take unnecessary risks.

Doctors & therapists in your area

Treatment & Therapy

In order to properly treat the tingling sensation in the legs, it is necessary to know the causes. Then the underlying disease (cause) should first be treated, which ultimately also leads to an improvement in the tingling sensation in the legs.

Drugs are often the treatment of choice, and in some cases surgical measures are also used. These are particularly useful in the case of existing tumor diseases or herniated discs to eliminate the tingling sensation in the legs. When administering medication, check how the patient tolerates them. Some medications only trigger the tingling sensation in the legs, so the treatment here involves changing the administration of medication.

If circulatory disorders are the cause of the tingling sensation in the legs, the problem can be alleviated by increased exercise, which stimulates the blood circulation. In this case, not using nicotine is also a sensible measure to treat the tingling in the legs. Special sporting exercises and posture training can also help to relieve the tingling sensations in the legs.

Outlook & forecast

In most cases, the tingling sensation in the legs only occurs for a short time and disappears on its own without causing any further discomfort or restrictions. Although the feeling can be very uncomfortable, the sufferer has to wait as the nerve has been pinched. The tingling sensation in the legs usually disappears after a few minutes.

However, if the symptom persists and occurs often, there may be a serious illness behind it. In many cases, the symptom occurs after a stroke and also leads to paralysis and thus to restricted mobility. The patient's everyday life is strained and made more difficult by the tingling sensation in the legs. In some cases, walking aids are necessary to ensure mobility. After a stroke, walking difficulties can mainly occur. The treatment itself depends on the cause.

If the tingling in the legs occurs due to the consumption of cigarettes, the person concerned must refrain from nicotine. It is also necessary to quit alcohol consumption. In many cases the symptom can only be treated partially and not completely. Physiotherapy and sporting exercises are mainly used.

You can find your medication here

➔ Medicines for paresthesia and circulatory disorders

prevention

If you want to prevent tingling in your legs from the outset, you should make sure that you strengthen your arm and leg muscles, back muscles and the entire body with special training measures. This then also has a positive effect on the nervous systems and blood circulation is also stimulated.

A balanced diet should also be observed and stress should be avoided as far as possible. Patients with diabetes should keep a particularly close eye on their blood sugar levels in order to avoid permanent vascular and nerve damage, which in turn could lead to tingling in the legs.

You can do that yourself

The most common causes of tingling in the legs are poor circulation or nerve damage. Numbness caused by a temporary lack of exercise is harmless. They arise when a person has remained in the same position for a very long time. If another position is taken, the tingling disappears again. If diseases are the trigger, they must be combated. If the tingling occurs on one side, the doctor should always be consulted. It could indicate a stroke.

Caution is particularly advised if the tingling sensation is accompanied by visual disturbances, headaches and disturbances of balance. A stroke is an emergency and does not require immediate treatment in a hospital. Illnesses in the spine can also radiate and cause numbness. These complaints are typical of herniated discs, which must always be treated by a specialist.

Acute circulatory problems can sometimes be relieved with exercise. Often the cause lies in the peripheral nervous system and the numbness is caused by a polyneuropathy. Here the neurologist is the right contact. Metabolic diseases such as diabetes often lead to impairment of nerve and vascular function. Skin diseases and nerve infections can cause the same symptoms and must be treated by a specialist. These symptoms are less common due to alcohol abuse or poisoning. Medicines can also have these side effects. In order to initiate therapy, the cause must be found out.