Leg Pain Keeping You Up at Night? It Might Be a Vein Problem

Are restless, aching legs keeping you from a good night’s sleep? Nighttime leg pain can interfere with your rest, affecting your health, mood, and ability to take on daily activities.

While there can be various causes, nighttime leg pain – especially when accompanied by feelings of heaviness, throbbing, or itchiness – could point to a vein issue.

Vein-related leg pain can worsen when you’re at rest or trying to elevate your legs, often disrupting sleep. Here’s what to know about how vein health might be affecting your nighttime comfort.

Common Vein-Related Causes of Leg Pain at Night

For many, nighttime leg pain stems from underlying vein issues that aren’t immediately obvious. Here are a few common vein-related causes that may be to blame:

Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI)

CVI occurs when the valves in your veins become weakened or damaged, causing blood to pool instead of flowing back to the heart effectively. This pooling can lead to feelings of heaviness, discomfort, and throbbing, especially when you’re lying down or elevating your legs, as blood struggles to circulate properly. Over time, this can create a cycle of worsening symptoms, particularly in the evening hours.

Varicose Veins

These enlarged, twisted veins are often more than just a cosmetic concern – they can cause significant discomfort, especially after a long day. Varicose veins can lead to symptoms like aching, swelling, and fatigue in the legs, which tend to intensify at night. People with varicose veins often find that their legs feel particularly sore or swollen by the evening, and nighttime can bring even more discomfort.

Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) vs. Vein Problems

While it’s easy to assume that nighttime leg discomfort is due to Restless Legs Syndrome, venous disease is often mistaken for RLS. The two conditions share some similar symptoms, but vein-related issues usually come with additional signs, like visible veins, heaviness, and swelling, especially with prolonged sitting or standing. If you’re unsure, a specialist can help identify the true cause.

Treatment Options for Vein-Related Leg Pain at Texas Vascular Institute

Texas Vascular Institute offers minimally invasive procedures to relieve leg pain and address underlying vein issues, with a focus on effective, lasting results. Here are some of the treatments available:

Endovenous Radiofrequency Ablation: Endovenous radiofrequency ablation is a state-of-the-art treatment that uses heat to close and seal varicose veins.  This approach not only reduces symptoms but also improves the appearance of the affected veins. It’s quick, effective, and has a short recovery time.

Sclerotherapy: Often used for smaller varicose or spider veins, sclerotherapy involves injecting a special solution into the affected vein, causing it to collapse and fade over time. This treatment can significantly reduce discomfort and is a common choice for those with visible veins or discomfort from smaller veins.

VenaSeal Vein Closure: The VenaSeal system consists of a dispenser gun that delivers a specially formulated medical adhesive to the inside of the vein through a very small catheter. The adhesive solution safely seals the diseased vessel shut, rerouting blood flow to healthy veins.

Our board-certified specialists also emphasize lifestyle recommendations as part of a comprehensive approach to managing vein health, including staying active, wearing compression stockings to support circulation, and elevating legs when possible.