Why Do My Legs Feel Heavy?

Why Do My Legs Feel Heavy? So common and yet so many individuals go undiagnosed and untreated.   Your primary physician has many more issues to focus on….high blood pressure, heart disease or diabetes.  It’s easy to have these symptoms dismissed as part of normal aging or muscle fatigue. However, heavy, tired legs are a common symptom of vein disease.  Getting answers to your question is possible and so is treatment.  In this article, we review:

1. What causes vein disease?
2. How does Vein Disease result in the sensation of heavy legs?
3. Treatment options for varicose veins associated with heaviness

Why Do My Legs Feel Heavy?

The sensation of heavy, tired legs has many different causes, however poor vein circulation is important to consider and treat when present.  A doctor will consider several causes during the workup of leg fatigue:

1. Vein disease is the most common cause.  This includes varicose veins.
2. Peripheral arterial disease
3. Pregnancy
4. Aging
5. Medications
6. Hormonal imbalances

Vein Disease and Tired Legs

The veins in our legs work against gravity to return blood to the heart.  If this impaired from underlying venous insufficiency, blood pools in legs and feet causing feelings of heaviness.  You may also experience swelling, restless legs, cramps and/or pain.  The presence of spider veins or varicose veins are visible signs of poor vein circulation.  

What Tests Can Be Done To Diagnose Vein Disease

The most important test to diagnose venous insufficiency is a reflux ultrasound.  Specifically, your doctor will measure the size of your leg veins and response to stress.  If blood flow is impaired, the varicose veins will be mapped and evaluated by your vein specialist for their relationship to symptoms. An individualized treatment plan is made according to the findings of a high-quality ultrasound. 

How Do You Treat Heavy Legs with Vein Disease?

Vein treatment has 2 essential goals: symptom relief and resolution of the underlying condition.

Symptomatic relief begins with a few helpful things you can do at home to help manage heaviness and discomfort.

• Weight loss: A simple step program accomplishes both weight loss and exercising your leg veins to keep blood moving.
• Quit smoking and reduce the inflammation in your body.
• Elevating your legs to reduce blood pooling in the legs.
• Wear compression stockings to promote blood flow.
• With edema or swelling, compression stockings are essential. Additional measures can include physical therapy and compression pumps, if medically necessary.  
• Diosmin is a medical food readily available over the counter.  Its anti-inflammatory properties help reduce discomfort and improve micro-circulation.  

What Can We Do For Vein Disease?

Conservative treatments listed above are beneficial alone and/or in combination with medical vein treatment.  Our doctors at the Vein Specialist Centers specialize in minimally-invasive treatments to improve venous circulation.  Procedures can be done in the office-setting with little disruption to your regular routine.  Best of all, there are no surgical incisions or scars.  Here is a list of our preferred therapies to get your legs  feeling and looking healthier. 

• Sclerotherapy

  We have several ways of doing sclerotherapy depending on the size and location of your veins.  Our doctors use enhanced techniques like foam sclerotherapy and ultrasound guided sclerotherapy to achieve the best results possible.

• Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)

  Vein ablation is the gold-standard for treating underlying vein disease using a small catheter inserted by your doctor into the diseased vein.  The catheter delivers energy to the damaged veins and causes them to collapse. Normal circulation is re-established using healthier veins in your legs.

• VenaSeal

  Another term for this is endovenous adhesive ablation. The doctor performs the procedure by using a small catheter to place a medical adhesive into your damaged vein to close that vein. This is done to redirect blood to healthy veins. 

• Phlebectomy

  A highly-skilled technique to remove large varicose veins at the surface of the skin.  Phlebectomy is often used in combination with ablation and sclerotherapy to achieve the best results.  

Are You Ready to Speak To a Specialist?

The Vein Specialist Centers is committed to educating patients about vein disease and providing individualized treatment plans. 

Heavy, tired legs are a feature of vein disease and early detection is life-changing.  We encourage patients to advocate their symptoms and seek relief when needed.   Symptomatic vein disease is common and well-covered by most insurance plans for vein treatment.

If you would like to learn more about your condition, schedule your appointment today with one of our board-certified vein specialists. 

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Top 4 Reasons To Consider Vein Treatment

1. Everything Else Is Not Working

Let’s be honest! The biggest hold up to seeking vein treatment is a question about whether or not it’s necessary.  Many patients put off treatment and try to manage with exercise, nutritional supplements, lotions and compression stockings.  

If you are in a similar boat, we understand.  Vein treatment really is elective and for individuals with persistent symptoms.  However, if you are doing all the right things including exercise, maintaining healthy weight and using compression stockings with little improvement.  It’s probably time to consider alternative treatment options.  

2. Look Better, Feel Better!

Whether it’s wearing the dress you want or feeling overly conscious, visible veins affect confidence.  This is an all too familiar story.   Fixing the health and look of your veins is easier than you think.  And the rewards are great.  

3. Insurance Coverage

Fortunately, insurance companies have recognized the importance of vein treatment for patients experiencing signs and symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency.  

4. Vein Treatment Does Work

Modern vein treatments are minimally-invasive and extremely effective.  However, it’s important to set the right expectations.  Patients should not feel discouraged with slow progress.  Your abnormal veins did not present in one day and will not cure in one day.  

Just as important, you have to be wise about who will perform your vein treatments.  Vascular surgeons and interventional vascular specialists have the proper training to assess your condition and plan accordingly.  While many doctors and even physician assistants claim expert status, a true vein specialist is not to be taken lightly.