What Causes Weakness in Legs and its Homeopathic treatment

Sometimes we feel weak in the legs and we don’t know why. It may be in one leg or both, may arise suddenly or gradually over weeks. The reason may be mild like over-activity/overexertion of leg muscles. In some cases, it is linked to some underlying medical cause (like slip disc, peripheral neuropathy). But in some cases, weakness of legs may point to a serious health issue (especially in case of sudden leg weakness), for example brain stroke which is a medical emergency that needs immediate medical help. Depending on the cause behind leg weakness, some other symptoms may accompany that include pain in the legs, numbness or tingling sensation in the legs, difficulty in standing or walking, pain in the back that may radiate down the legs and inability to move legs (paralysis).

Homeopathic Management

Homeopathic medicines have great scope in managing cases of leg weakness. Use of these medicines is recommended only in cases where leg weakness appears gradually and no serious cause is linked with leg weakness. Homeopathic medicines work naturally to manage leg weakness along with attending symptoms like pain, tingling, numbness in legs. These medicines are free from side effects. As leg weakness can arise due a serious ailment, it is advised to get every case of weakness in legs evaluated by a physician so that the condition can be diagnosed correctly followed by its proper treatment at the right time. Self – medication should be avoided in any case. In case of sudden onset of leg weakness and in case of serious causes like brain stroke, urgent medical help should be taken.

Homeopathic Medicines For Weakness In Legs

1. Gelsemium – Top Remedy

Gelsemium is a very effective medicine to manage leg weakness. In cases needing it, weakness is felt at the slightest exertion. Weakness can be attended with numbness and heaviness in the legs. There may be trembling in legs. Gelsemium is also indicated when all the limbs feel weak. Drawing or cramping pain may be felt while walking.

2. Causticum – For Pain In Legs

Causticum is a very beneficial medicine for leg weakness. Persons complain of drawing and tearing pain in the legs and thighs. One feels cramps in the calf muscles in the morning while still in bed. Legs may be sore to touch on the front side. Intolerable uneasiness or trembling may be felt in the limbs.

3. Alumina – To Manage Leg Weakness Along With Heaviness

It is another useful medicine for managing leg weakness. In cases needing it, legs feel very heavy besides feeling weak. A person may stagger (loss of balance) while walking. There may occur numbness and stiffness in the legs usually at night. Tearing pain may be felt in the legs when lying down or sitting mostly at night. Legs feel tired and exhausted when sitting.

4. Picric Acid – With Numbness Or Pricking Sensation In Legs

This medicine is indicated prominently when along with weakness in legs, there is numbness or pricking sensation as from needles. Crawling sensation in the legs may also attend. Excessive heaviness is felt in the legs especially after exertion. The legs may be as heavy as metal lead that are lifted from the floor with difficulty. The muscles may be sore to touch.

5. Phosphorus – With Missteps On Walking

Phosphorus is beneficial for weakness in the legs that leads to missteps (unsteady walk) while walking. Legs feel tired and heavy. Legs may feel cold along with sweating. Weakness and heaviness is worse when going upstairs. Drawing pains in the legs may occur along with the above complaints. There may be trembling of limbs on exertion. Tingling and formication (crawling sensation) may also be felt in limbs.

6. Argentum Nitricum – For Leg Weakness Along With Trembling

This medicine is helpful when weakness in the legs is attended with trembling. There is difficulty in standing and walking. Legs feel heavy as well. Legs feel as if made of wood. Legs become stiff and rigid. Pain is felt in calf muscles becoming troublesome at night.

7. Aesculus – For Weakness In Legs And Back

This medicine is well indicated when there is weakness in legs as well as back. Persons needing it have great problem in walking and they must lie down. There may be pain in legs and become sore while walking.

8. Conium – With Difficult Walking

Conium works well in case of weakness of legs with difficult walking. A dragging sensation and uneasiness is felt in the legs. Heaviness is also felt in limbs. In some cases, trembling of limbs may occur. Feet may get cold.

What Are The Causes Of Weakness In Legs?

1. Slip disc and Pinched nerve – It refers to a condition in which the gel-like substance in the intervertebral disc protrudes out through a tear in its outer shell. It is common in the lower back at L5 – S1 level. Slip disc in lower back may put pressure on the sciatic nerve that can lead to lower back pain extending down the leg (called sciatica), numbness, tingling sensation and muscle weakness in lower limbs. In mild cases, emergency help is not required. But if there is associated loss of bowel or bladder control, it points to serious issue where one should seek emergency medical help.

2. Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) – In this medical condition, muscle pain is felt after about one or two days of physical exertion. Those who have done leg exercises may feel temporary weakness in their legs for few days.

3. Peripheral neuropathy – It refers to the damage to nerves other than that of brain and spinal cord (means peripheral nervous system). It may happen from an injury, diabetes, hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) or an infection. It usually begins with numbness/tingling in hands and feet. Its other symptoms are weakness, burning sensation, pain and difficulty in walking.

4. Multiple sclerosis – It refers to an autoimmune disease that damages the myelin sheath that protects the nerves. It may show different type of symptoms including muscle weakness, difficulty in walking, muscle rigidity, tremors.

5. Spinal compression – Compression of nerves in spine occur for example from abnormal curvature in the spine (scoliosis), bone spurs (extra bony growths), tumour on spine or broken vertebra.

6. Myasthenia gravis – A disorder that leads to weakness in voluntary skeletal muscles. Its symptoms include drooping eyelids, muscle weakness in arms, legs, hands or feet, trouble speaking/swallowing, double vision.

7. Guillain–Barre Syndrome – An autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks the nerves that cause weakness, tingling, numbness mostly starting in feet and legs. The symptoms eventually spread upwards. If not treated timely it can paralyze the whole body and prove life threatening.

8. ALS (amytrophic lateral sclerosis) – In this condition, the neurons controlling voluntary muscle movement get damaged and stop functioning causing muscle weakness and paralysis. It may cause weakness in legs or arms, muscle stiffness, difficulty in speech or swallowing, difficulty in walking and falling easily.

9. Cauda equina syndrome – In this syndrome there is compression of a bundle of nerves at the end of spinal cord. Its symptoms are numbness in the back of legs, hips, inner thighs, pain in back, sciatica, weakness of legs. It is a medical emergency and if medical help is not given promptly it can cause permanent weakness/paralysis of legs and loss of bladder/bowel control.

10. Beriberi – Deficiency of vitamin B1 can damage nerves, brain and heart. It can cause weakness, nerve pain, memory loss and heart failure.

11. Stroke – It is a medical emergency needing prompt medical help. It refers to interrupted oxygen supply (from blockage / bursting of blood vessel) to brain that causes death of brain cells and loss of brain function. Its symptoms happen suddenly and depend on the part of the brain affected. The symptoms include weakness in legs, numbness/weakness in arms or face, slurred speech, confusion, dizziness, visual disturbance, difficulty in walking and loss of balance.