In medicine, the condition when the legs or arms are shaking is called tremor - an unconscious rhythmic movement of the limbs, which occurs often and with different intensities. Any person can encounter such a phenomenon, regardless of age and gender. What is tremor? It can be observed with strong experience, fear, or after performing power loads. In neurology, such a condition is not considered abnormal, since it disappears after eliminating the cause that caused it, that is, it has a short-term nature. But sometimes this phenomenon can occur with serious pathologies.
Description and description of the problem
Intentional tremor is a condition in which there is a disturbance in the motility of the limbs, which manifests itself in their trembling from three to five Hertz. In this case, trembling occurs only during movement, at rest it is not there, often this condition is accompanied by hypotension and increased fatigue.
Causes of Lower Limb Tremor
Physiological intentional tremor of the legs is distinguished, in which trembling occurs constantly, but it is weakly expressed, therefore it can be detected only under certain conditions. It does not indicate the presence of pathologies and diseases in the human body. Or, trembling can develop with severe nervous strain, when noradrenaline begins to be actively synthesized in the body.
In newborns, tremor occurs as a reaction to any irritant, as they have weak leg muscles. If it does not go away for three months, this may indicate brain hypoxia. Often this condition is observed in premature babies. In adolescence, tremors are associated with hormonal changes.
There is also congenital tremor (Minor syndrome), which is genetically determined. Pathology manifests itself at a young age, most often with excitement, physical stress. At the same time, sedatives and alcohol reduce their amplitude and frequency of manifestations.
Also, trembling of the legs can occur with chronic alcoholism. This is due to the fact that acetaldehyde provokes the oxidation of brain cells, as a result of which they atrophy. Neurons of the hypothalamus, thalamus and midbrain, cerebellum, which are involved in the regulation of muscle tone and human movements, are most susceptible to negative influence.
Often shaking legs due to the use of certain medications. This is especially true when taking antipsychotics and corticosteroids. With this phenomenon, human intelligence does not suffer.
The causes of pathological tremor include:
- Parkinson's syndrome, Konovalov-Wilson;
- pathology of the endocrine system;
- liver and kidney failure;
- intoxication with chemicals, salts of heavy metals;
- overdose of drugs;
- hereditary predisposition;
- TBI, brain tumors.
Encephalopathy
One of the main reasons why legs are shaking after a stroke, head injury, brain tumor and multiple sclerosis is the development of encephalopathy. This is associated with cerebrovascular accident, hypotension, atherosclerosis. Often, circulatory disorders become the cause of chronic discirculatory encephalopathy or cerebral ischemia after forty-five years. Such diseases negatively affect the vessels of the brain and metabolic processes in the cells of its tissues, contribute to the disruption of many functions of the organ, including the cerebellum. This leads to the fact that a person’s legs are shaking, his head is spinning, his balance is disturbed.
Hormonal system
Diseases of the endocrine system, in particular diabetes mellitus and hyperthyroidism, lead to tremor of the extremities. In hyperthyroidism, movement disorder is associated with metabolic disturbances, during which the production of adrenaline, norepinephrine and dopamine, which provide signaling to the central nervous system, is reduced.
Insufficient synthesis of insulin leads to a metabolic disorder; diabetic neuropathy develops, in which motor nerve fibers are often involved.
Also, trembling of both limbs may indicate the presence of Parkinson's syndrome, which develops as a result of the death of nerve cells that synthesize dopamine. A deficiency of this hormone leads to a disorder of the pathways that provide motor activity.
Atactic tremor
Often, trembling of the lower extremities occurs with cerebellar ataxia, which develops against the background of multiple sclerosis. It is the cerebellum that is responsible for the ability of a person to perform precise movements and ensures muscle tone. With ataxia and degenerative processes in the cerebellum, there is a violation of feedbacks with the cerebral cortex, which leads to a disruption of motion acts.
Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS)
Such a pathology is observed at a time when a person goes to bed. He develops tremor of the lower extremities, colic and a sense of anxiety, so sleep is often disturbed.
RLS is a neurological disease that manifests itself in paresis of the legs and their hyperactivity at rest or sleep. Symptoms begin to develop fifteen minutes after the person went to bed. It manifests itself in the form of burning, tingling, trembling, stirring the legs. Such a pathology is diagnosed in 10% of people worldwide. In some, the syndrome occurs once every seven days, in others - twice a week. Doctors associate the disease with the malfunctioning of certain parts of the brain. Also, this condition develops with a lack of iron in the body and renal failure.
Symptoms and signs of pathology
Having considered what tremor is, it is necessary to study the symptoms that can accompany it. In diabetes mellitus, when the concentration of sugar in the blood drops, not only the lower, but also the upper limbs tremble, weakness and sweating appear. When sweets are consumed, the trembling disappears.
With alcoholism, the cerebellum is damaged, so tremor occurs, which intensifies when you try to strain the leg muscles. At rest, this phenomenon is not observed. The same symptoms are inherent in mercury vapor intoxication.
In Parkinson's disease, legs and arms shake at rest, but when a person performs any action, the trembling is not so noticeable or even stops. Also, the disease is accompanied by hypokinesia, stiffness, stupor. When walking, a person puts his feet parallel to each other, he moves in small steps, while shuffling his legs, the body is tilted forward.
Diagnostic measures
A phenomenon such as tremor can be observed in people of different ages and sexes. If symptoms occur, contact a neurologist. He will first study the medical history, conduct an examination, during which he will evaluate motor activity, muscle condition and tone, reflexes, possible deviations during reflex movements, as well as the possible absence of reflexes.
If a person has Parkinson's disease, then the above activities will be quite enough. In other cases, an additional examination is possible to identify the causes of the pathology. In medicine are used:
- Electrocardiogram.
- Electroencephalogram.
- MRI and CT of the brain.
- Ultrasound angiography.
- Laboratory tests of blood and urine.
- The study of thyroid hormones.
- Ultrasound of the thyroid gland.
Based on the results of the examination, the cause of the disease is determined and appropriate treatment is prescribed. In this case, what to do if the legs are shaking, the attending physician will tell in detail.
Therapy
Tremor treatment will depend on the causes of its development. With single manifestations of pathology, medications are not prescribed. In this case, it is recommended to exclude the consumption of coffee and strong black tea, alcoholic beverages and drugs, reduce physical activity, relax, and avoid stressful situations and emotional stress.
If your legs are shaking when a person is standing, and this happens due to strong experience or stress, then the doctor prescribes sedatives to him. For the treatment of newborns, funds are prescribed that help to improve the flow of oxygen into the blood and body tissues.
Parkinson's syndrome, intoxication, pathology of the thyroid gland, sclerosis require long-term therapy. Your doctor may prescribe the following medications: Clonazepam, Xanax, or Primidon. Self-medication in this case is unacceptable, only a doctor can correctly choose the dosage of drugs and determine the duration of therapy.
It is also important to normalize blood pressure with antihypertensive and antiarrhythmic drugs. The drug “Ginkgo Biloba” will help normalize cerebral circulation, it is an antioxidant, it increases vascular tone, improves blood flow, and synthesis of neurotransmitters. Since this drug is of plant origin, it must be taken for at least three months. Also in this case, "Piracetam", "Pyroxyl", "Phenibut" can help. Treatment with such drugs should be carried out within a month and a half.
If the thyroid gland is disturbed, the endocrinologist develops the appropriate treatment. In severe cases, surgical removal of the gland is performed.
With congenital Minor disease, treatment is usually not expected. Sometimes doctors may prescribe vitamin B6 as an intramuscular injection for one month. The course of such therapy should be carried out twice a year.
Symptomatic treatment
To eliminate unpleasant symptoms, beta-blocker drugs are used in medicine. They are also used in the treatment of hypertension, arrhythmia and heart attack. These drugs block the connection of adrenaline with other hormones, reduce the reaction to stress. The propranolol drug is usually used. Anticonvulsant medications may also be prescribed. But such medications can not be taken while bearing a baby and breastfeeding. In addition, there are some contraindications. Therefore, only a doctor can prescribe the appropriate drug.
Medicines can be supplemented with alternative medicine. Your doctor may advise you to take sedative herbal teas, valerian, or motherwort. Ginseng tincture has proven itself well. It is recommended to use twenty drops three times a day, this will help reduce the manifestation of pathology. All traditional medicine that is supposed to be used must be approved by a specialist.
Parkinson's Syndrome Therapy
With this disease, symptomatic treatment is carried out using many drugs. The main one is Levodop, it is able to eliminate tremor of limbs. You need to take it half a tablet per day or every other day. This remedy has adverse reactions.
Pramipexole is also effective; it stimulates dopamine receptors. One tablet is prescribed once a day. The doctor may increase the dosage once every seven days. But this drug has many adverse reactions, including the appearance of suicidal thoughts. Therefore, treatment should be carried out under supervision.
Virtually no side effects Cyclodolum. It eliminates trembling in the legs and is used not only in the treatment of Parkinson's disease, but also in other pathologies. The drug is not prescribed for hypertension.
Forecast
The prognosis of such a condition when the legs are shaking is good. With the help of drug therapy, it is possible to get rid of trembling in the legs. But to eliminate the cause of this condition is often not possible, so some people take pills all their lives.
Prevention
With Parkinson's syndrome, multiple sclerosis, preventive measures are useless. But some doctors say caffeine can reduce tremor.
With tremor due to alcohol, stress, physical exertion, prevention is quite possible. It consists in rest, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, avoiding emotional stress, moderate physical activity.
Diseases of the endocrine system must be treated in a timely manner so that tremor of the limbs does not develop. In this case, only a doctor should prescribe drugs, self-medication is unacceptable. It is important to eat properly so that a sufficient amount of all the necessary elements and vitamins is ingested.