Leg fatigue can be normal, especially if you’re very active. However, if you find that your legs feel tired more often or more quickly than usual, it could be a sign of underlying venous disease, even if you cannot see visible varicose veins, spider veins, or leg swelling (lymphedema). For Rachel, she also had visible veins before coming to Vein Specialists of the South for help.
In my mid-20s, my veins became more visible. My legs would tire quickly, and I became embarrassed to wear shorts or skirts. After my treatment, the results were awesome! My legs look great…my endurance returned, my legs have energy, and I don’t have to hide them anymore.
If Your Legs Feel Tired, It Could Be Venous Disease
If it’s leg day at the gym and your legs feel tired afterward, that’s completely normal. However, if you’re active and notice your legs feel tired, achy, or heavy after very little exertion, you may want to visit with a vein specialist for an evaluation. If you have visible veins like Rachel did, you definitely want to schedule an appointment at Vein Specialists of the South in Downtown Macon or Warner Robins, GA.
Why Your Legs Feel Tired With Venous Disease
Leg fatigue, pain, and heaviness are common with venous disease such as varicose veins. With varicose veins, the veins and valves within them are weakened. This creates difficulties with blood circulation back up to the heart. As the veins struggle, blood pools in the affected vein. This causes bulging, heaviness, and soreness. Varicose veins are sometimes visible but not always, as the deep vein may be affected. Invisible symptoms such as leg fatigue may be present, but visible symptoms like spider veins can also give clues about underlying varicose veins.
How Varicose Veins Affect Overall Health
Varicose veins are more than bulging veins that make your legs feel tired, and Rachel’s story shows how it can affect other aspects of your life. Rachel has played sports her entire life, but varicose veins and the discomfort that came with them negatively affected her endurance. This is very common among our active patients. Varicose veins can get in the way of your game, keeping you from the activities you enjoy the most.
Visible veins also have an impact on confidence. Rachel was embarrassed to wear shorts and skirts. Many patients who come see us tell us, “I just want to be able to wear shorts again.” Confidence to show off your legs while also feeling comfortable during the summer months are both very important for your well-being.
Varicose veins are also linked to Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), as shown in a study published in JAMA. We recently published another blog article chronicling Tony’s experience with varicose veins and DVT.
How We Help Patients Like Rachel
Venous disease requires a multi-faceted approach. At Vein Specialists of the South, we screen every patient to determine the extent of their venous disease. With this knowledge in hand, we create a “Better Veins, Better Life” treatment plan, which includes lifestyle changes and non-surgical, minimally invasive in-office treatments.
Lifestyle Changes
If you live an active lifestyle like Rachel, you likely follow many of our Better Veins for Life® principles as part of your healthy lifestyle. That being said, we encourage all of our patients to:
- exercise regularly
- maintain a healthy weight
- avoid high-heels and restrictive clothing
- wear compression hosiery
- practice leg elevation every day
To the surprise of many patients, these lifestyle changes improve symptoms and quality of life to a large degree.
Walk In. Walk Out.® Treatments With Little-To-No Downtime
We offer many non-surgical, minimally invasive procedures to treat and remove varicose veins, spider veins, and leg swelling/lymphedema. With many advances in technology just in the last 20 years, you have options, helping you avoid the vein stripping procedures your parents and grandparents told you about. Our procedures include methods such as:
- endovenous thermal ablation, catheter based radiofrequency (RF) or laser energy (EVLT) is used to heat and close the vein
- ambulatory phlebectomy, minimally invasive gentle removal of bulging varicose veins under local anesthesia
- Venaseal medical grade glue is injected in the saphenous vein sealing the vein shut
- Varithena the saphenous is closed with ultrasound guided foam sclerosant
- sclerotherapy, a sclerosing agent is injected to painlessly irritate and close spider veins
- Cutaneous laser for facial spider veins and difficult to treat spider veins on the legs
All of the above treatments are performed in our office under local anesthesia. Oral sedatives may be used to help you remain at ease during the procedure. General anesthesia is not required, nor is a costly surgical suite or hospital stay.
What Is The Best Way To Begin Today For Leg Fatigue Relief?
First, book an appointment at Vein Specialists of the South in Downtown Macon or Warner Robins, GA, or check out Virtual Vein Specialists for a digital consultation.
We also recommend you implement our Better Veins for Life® principles prior to your first appointment, unless otherwise instructed. If you are already active, adding compression and leg elevation to your daily routine can help improve your symptoms greatly. Contact us about purchasing graduated compression through our Compression Coalition loyalty and savings program. We also invite you to read our guide to leg elevation for healthy circulation and relief from unwanted leg and vein symptoms.
Don’t Miss Our Next Vein Education & Evaluation Event In Downtown Macon
Do you live or work in Downtown Macon? RSVP for our next Vein Education & Evaluation event, conveniently located in our Downtown Macon practice. This popular health event offers attendees education related to venous disease, including a highlight of risk factors which lead to the development of varicose veins, spider veins, and blood clots. Check our calendar for upcoming events, or contact us for details.
