Introduction
Sudden twitches in the leg usually have no disease value 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 twitches are not uncommon and occur frequently, especially when falling asleep. Pathological fasciculations occur rarely and are caused by diseases in which certain nerve cells (motoneurons) are destroyed.
Causes
Muscle twitches in the leg are usually harmless and stop by themselves. Normally, a muscle receives signals from the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) that lead to contraction. However, these nerve impulses can sometimes overshoot and lead to uncontrolled twitches.
The muscle twitches can be of varying intensity and almost always have harmless causes. Especially stress and psychological strain lead to inner tension, which can manifest itself in uncontrolled twitches. Other causes of the uncontrolled movements are cold and hypothermia or heat stroke.
In addition, the intake of drugs, alcohol, caffeine or various medications can lead to the sudden onset of the twitching. In healthy people, fasciculations in the leg occasionally occur even after intensive sport or magnesium deficiency. If a nerve is pinched or irritated, muscle twitches also occur occasionally.
One of the most common neurological disorders is restless legs syndrome (RLS). It is believed to be a defect in the transmission of nerve impulses to the muscle. Those affected suffer from unpleasant sensations in the legs, especially during rest phases, such as shortly before falling asleep or when sitting for long periods.
In addition to involuntary twitches, painful tingling and burning sensations in the legs often occur. In very rare cases, a serious illness is behind the muscle twitches. In some neurological diseases (multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease), the death of certain nerve cells, the motor neurons, occurs. This sends uncontrolled signals to the muscles, which contract involuntarily. Other causes of pathological muscle twitches in the leg can be a brain tumor, an inflammation in the brain or infections with viruses or bacteria.
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