Sudden twitches in the leg are usually not considered to be a disease and are called fasciculations. Muscle fibers in the leg contract involuntarily and irregularly. A distinction is made between benign (benign) and pathological (pathological) muscle twitches.
Benign jerks are not uncommon and occur frequently when falling asleep. Pathological fasciculations rarely occur and are caused by diseases in which certain nerve cells (motor neurons) are destroyed.
Read more about this at: Twitching when falling asleep
Muscle twitches in the leg are usually harmless and go away on their own. Usually, a muscle receives signals from the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) that cause it to contract. However, these nerve impulses can sometimes overshoot and lead to uncontrolled twitching.
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The muscle twitches can be of varying severity and almost always have harmless causes. Stress and psychological stress in particular lead to internal tension, which can be expressed in uncontrolled twitching. Other causes of the uncontrolled movements are cold and hypothermia or heat stroke. In addition, the use of drugs, alcohol, caffeine, or various medications can lead to the sudden onset of twitching. In healthy people, fasciculations occasionally occur in the leg even after intense exercise or a magnesium deficiency. If a nerve is pinched or irritated, muscle twitching also occasionally occurs.
One of the most common neurological conditions is Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS). It is believed that this is a defect in the transmission of nerve impulses to the muscle. Those affected suffer from unpleasant sensations in the legs, especially when they are resting, such as shortly before going to sleep or when sitting for a long time. In addition to involuntary jerks, there is often a painful tingling and burning sensation in the legs.
$config[ads_text2] not foundIn very rare cases, the muscle twitching is caused by a serious illness. In some neurological diseases (multiple sclerosis or Parkinson's), certain nerve cells, the motor neurons, die. This sends uncontrolled signals to the muscles, which involuntarily contract. Other causes of pathological muscle twitching in the leg can be a brain tumor, inflammation in the brain, or an infection with a virus or bacteria.
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The Twitching in the leg can occur to different degrees and therefore the accompanying symptoms be very different.
There are sudden twitches in the leg usually painlessIn some cases, however, painful muscle cramps are an accompanying symptom. Often it is Calf muscles or the thigh affected by the cramps. When a muscle spasm occurs suddenly involuntary contractions, the muscle contracts painfully and hardened for a few minutes.
The twitches in the leg are often an expression of mental overload, how chronic stress or strong sadness. Every person reacts differently to emotional tension, accordingly the accompanying symptoms range from Restlessness, listlessness and sleep disorders about cardiovascular problems up to depressions and Poor concentration.
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If the Fasciculations It can also be caused by a pinched or irritated nerve in the leg Sensory disturbances and Paresthesia come in the supply area of the affected nerve.
Almost everyone knows it and has already experienced it: while falling asleep, the legs suddenly twitch quickly and uncontrollably. The twitching can even be so strong that it wakes you up again. The phase between waking and sleeping is called hypnagogia. The eyes are closed, the body relaxes and is about to go to sleep.
$config[ads_text2] not foundSo that the body can sleep, the brain is shut down, so to speak. The different regions in the brain are slowed down at different speeds: while some regions are already sleeping, other areas that are responsible for movement are still active. In this intermediate state, the unwanted twitching of the muscles occurs.
Another common neurological phenomenon that can lead to muscle twitching before going to sleep is restless legs syndrome ("restless legs syndrome"). This leads to unpleasant sensations in the legs and the feeling of having to move. Symptoms usually appear before you go to sleep when the body is at rest and go away with movement. In addition to the twitches, those affected also feel tingling, tearing, itching and pulling in the legs.
Please also read our topic: Twitching when falling asleep
Leg twitches can occur in healthy people after exercise. This is mostly about extreme physical exertion, such as sprinting or long jumping.
This leads to a lack of electrolytes, as the body quickly loses electrolytes due to the increased sweat production. As a rule, however, these twitches in the leg are harmless and no further medical examination is required. It is important to drink enough while exercising. If there is a lack of electrolytes, simple magnesium tablets can often be helpful before exercise.
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The twitches in the leg are usually not associated with pain.
Strong twitching can cause muscle cramps in the calf or thigh, which are very painful. Patients with Restless Legs Syndrome experience uncomfortable sensations in their legs. These abnormal sensations can be very painful and are often found unbearable by those affected.
Read more on the topic: Muscle twitching in the calf
In addition to twitching in the leg, involuntary muscle contractions can also occur in the arms. Jerks in the legs and arms are usually temporary and only very rarely an indication of a serious illness.
Benign muscle twitches are particularly common in the face or extremities (arms and legs); the trunk muscles are usually not affected. Individual muscle fiber bundles contract briefly and several times in a row. The involuntary twitches are visible under the skin and often unsettle those affected, although they are completely harmless and have no disease value.
Triggers are often psychological tension, stress or stimulating substances such as alcohol or caffeine.
However, if the twitching in the legs and arms persists for a long time, it is a chronic condition. In such cases, a doctor should be consulted in order to rule out that a serious illness is hiding behind the uncontrolled contractions.
Many expectant mothers experience problems with their legs, especially in the last few months of pregnancy.
More than 25% of pregnant women suffer from Restless Legs Syndrome, in which the legs involuntarily twitch and tingle. The symptoms mainly occur at rest, when the body should actually be relaxed, and can vary in severity. Some patients experience only slight twitching and tingling in their legs, while others experience severe pain that comes from deep inside the muscles and bones of the legs. Sometimes the arms are affected by the unconscious muscle twitching in addition to the legs.
The symptoms are particularly severe if the women sit still for long periods of time (driving a car, going to the cinema) or lying in bed. Movement improves pain, but leads to insomnia and difficulty falling asleep. Those affected therefore sleep much worse and are less often in the restful deep sleep phases. If the body does not get enough sleep, it has serious consequences: constant tiredness is stressful and can lead to concentration problems and depression.
$config[ads_text1] not foundIt has not yet been fully clarified why pregnant women in particular are so frequently affected by restless legs syndrome. However, one suspects a connection between the muscle twitching and an iron deficiency. Iron deficiency during pregnancy is not uncommon, because the fetus also needs more iron than usual. Researchers also suspect a genetic predisposition to restless legs syndrome.
Relaxation techniques and autogenic training can help relieve symptoms. Pregnant women should also make sure they get enough iron. Problems usually get better after the birth, and in many cases the uncomfortable muscle twitching is gone completely.
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Many babies flinch often, this can happen while sleeping, but also when the children are awake. The causes of the sudden twitching are when the baby is frightened or switches from one sleep phase to the next. Sometimes there is also no apparent reason for the sudden muscle contractions.
The so-called Moro reflex (clamp reflex) is behind this sudden jerking of the baby. This is a primitive newborn reflex to a threatening or frightening situation. The reflex is triggered by noises, light stimuli or changes in position and typically runs in a very specific sequence: the child jerks the arms and legs and spreads the fingers, the mouth opens, the arms and legs are drawn back in and the fingers close to a fist.
This primitive reflex gradually disappears by the third or fourth month of life as the baby's central nervous system matures. During the U-examinations, the pediatrician also uses the Moro reflex to check whether the child is developing normally or has neurological disorders.
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The nerve damage from MS can cause twitching in the leg.
The clinical picture of multiple sclerosis results in damage to the myelin sheath, which acts as a protective covering surrounding parts of the nerve cells. This disrupts the transmission of the signals that are transmitted via the neurons and various symptoms occur. This also includes a disruption in the control of muscle activity and twitching in various parts of the body, such as the legs, for example.
More on this: Course of MS
A stroke causes circulatory disorders in the brain. Depending on how long the oxygen deficiency exists, the affected brain area can be damaged to a greater or lesser extent.
In addition to paralysis and loss of sensation, a stroke can also lead to spastic paralysis. The damage in the brain leads to a loss of inhibitory signals and the affected muscle group can no longer relax. The result is an increase in muscle tone and the resulting uncontrolled twitching and muscle tension in the arms or legs. These muscle spasms cause the affected limbs to stiffen and are extremely painful.
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The severity of the damage depends on how severely a certain brain area has been damaged. The muscle twitching caused by a stroke can range from slight restrictions to complete inability to move.
Also read: Healing after a stroke
After a herniated disc in the lumbar spine, the damaged nerves can also cause twitching in the leg. The structural changes in the spine often compress nerves.
Depending on the location and the extent of the nerve compression, failure symptoms can occur in the areas that are supplied by the nerves. In addition to paralysis, tingling or sensitivity disorders, this also includes muscle failures. This can manifest itself in a disruption of the activity of the hip and leg muscles with twitching. A doctor should therefore be confronted if there are persistent twitching of the leg in connection with severe back pain.
A leg vein thrombosis is a blood clot in the leg that is noticeable as an uncomfortable pulling sensation.
The pain gets worse over time and the leg heats up. Typically, you feel a pulling pain in the calf area. Twitching in the leg is not a typical symptom of a thrombosis, but if a blood clot is suspected, act quickly and consult a doctor immediately.
Read more about it: Detect thrombosis
Treatment for leg twitching depends on the cause.
Often no trigger is found for the muscle twitching in the legs and the symptoms go away on their own. In addition, in many people the symptoms are so mild that no special treatment is necessary.
With stress-related jerks, it is important to reduce or minimize the stress and find rest. Relaxation techniques, autogenic training, or progressive muscle relaxation help treat stress. Meditation, yoga and breathing exercises help reduce stress and find inner peace.
Muscle twitching can also occur as a side effect of some medications. If the discomfort becomes too severe, discontinuation of the drug may be considered. In any case, this should only be done after consulting the attending physician.
If the twitching occurs in the leg as an accompanying symptom of certain neurological diseases, muscle relaxants can relax the muscles and thereby alleviate the symptoms. These are substances that prevent muscle contractions and "loosen" the muscles. The use of such preparations can become addictive after a short time and should therefore only be done after consulting a doctor.
In the case of permanent twitches in the leg, such as those that occur in epileptics, surgical intervention in the triggering brain region can improve the symptoms.
If the muscle twitching persists for several weeks or occurs very frequently, a doctor should be consulted.
A neurologist will perform a physical exam and a neurological exam, which will examine muscles and certain reflexes. The doctor often also takes electronic measurements, such as Electromyography (EMG) or electroencephalography (EEG) to make a diagnosis.
In some cases, additional examinations, such as a blood sample or a cerebral fluid test (liquor puncture), are ordered. If the neurologist suspects a disorder in the central nervous system, imaging procedures such as x-rays, computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can confirm the diagnosis.
If the twitching occurs in the leg muscles in the phase shortly before going to sleep, there are sudden contractions that only last for a very short time.
In people who suffer from restless legs syndrome, the symptoms can last for several hours and persist for several nights.
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