What is the cause of the feeling of ants crawling on my calves?

If you feel like ants are crawling on your calves, you should pay attention to it. There are many causes of this symptom. Many people ignore a disease called restless legs syndrome, which has a relatively high incidence rate and is somewhat hereditary. There are many causes of this disease. For example, patients with uremia, iron deficiency anemia, or people with vitamin deficiency, etc., may all suffer from this symptom.

If you feel discomfort in your legs before going to bed, beware of "restless legs"

Every night before going to bed, I feel like ants are crawling on my legs, making it difficult to fall asleep at night. Getting out of bed and walking around or kicking your legs may make you feel a little better, but once you are quiet, the feeling will reappear. Mr. Zhang said that he often wakes up at night and has difficulty falling asleep again.

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is also known as Ekbom syndrome. The prevalence rate is 0.1% to 11.5%. RLS can be divided into primary and secondary. The cause of the former is unknown, and some are hereditary; the latter can be seen in uremia, iron deficiency anemia, folic acid and vitamin B deficiency, pregnancy, Sjögren's syndrome, Parkinson's disease, small fiber neuropathy, multifocal neuropathy, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, metabolic diseases, drug-induced (such as tricyclic antidepressants, H2 receptor blockers, sedatives), etc.

The following symptoms may be considered restless legs:

1. Leg activities triggered by leg discomfort. Patients often have indescribable discomfort in their legs, such as crawling, ants crawling, itching, burning, electric shock sensation, etc.; the sensory abnormalities are located deep in the limbs, mostly affecting the lower limbs, unilateral or bilateral, and half of the patients may also affect the upper limbs. The above symptoms can be relieved after activity.

2. Symptoms may reappear or worsen after rest (sitting or lying down).

3. Continued activity may provide partial or complete relief of symptoms. For those with mild symptoms, stretching the limbs in bed or on a chair can relieve the symptoms; for those with severe symptoms, pacing back and forth, rubbing the lower limbs, and stretching and flexing the limbs can relieve the symptoms. The above symptoms often reappear a few minutes to an hour after lying down or sitting down again.

4. Symptoms worsen at night. Typically, the symptoms are most severe between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m. the next day, so they often seriously affect the patient's sleep. Symptoms are mildest between 6 a.m. and 12 noon.

Experts: Eliminating the cause is the key to treating "restless legs"

The most typical symptom of restless legs syndrome is uncomfortable feeling in the legs, such as crawling, ants, itching, burning, electric shock, etc.; the symptoms may be aggravated when sitting or lying down. In severe cases, patients may need to pace back and forth, rub their legs, and stretch their limbs to relieve symptoms. Symptoms are worse at night. The causes of restless legs syndrome can be divided into primary and secondary. The cause of the former is unknown, and some are hereditary. The latter can be seen in uremia, iron deficiency anemia, folic acid and vitamin B deficiency, pregnancy, Sjögren's syndrome, Parkinson's disease, small fiber neuropathy, multifocal neuropathy, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, metabolic diseases, drug-induced (such as tricyclic antidepressants, H2 receptor blockers, sedatives), etc. Once the cause of the latter is eliminated and symptomatic treatment is given, the patient's "restless legs" will be relieved soon.