Posted on: 2024-10-04
Why Do My Legs Feel Heavy And Tired When Walking
Picture this – you have been out for an unusually long walk, or you have been on your feet throughout the day. And now you are concerned about, “Why do my legs feel heavy and weak?” Well, these are commonly occurring symptoms of muscle fatigue. Moreover, the symptoms must clear right when you give your legs some much-needed rest.
However, if you are experiencing neverending pain in your legs for more days than not, and even the slightest amount of workout spurs these symptoms, then there is most likely to be an underlying cause.
As health experts, the team at Jersey Joint, Spine, & Regen knows a lot of ways that these symptoms reveal themselves, and heaviness in legs is on that list. How about you take a look at some of these causes as well? It will help you identify whether your leg ache is normal or whether you need an expert opinion on it. Read on to find out some of the most common reasons behind your leg pain.
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Why Do My Legs Feel Heavy And Tired? - Top 4 Reasons
Chronic Venous Insufficiency
Getting blood back and forth from your legs is way too challenging as compared to any other part of your body. This is mainly due to gravity and the distance. In order to help the return of the blood to your heart, the veins in your legs contain one-way, tiny valves that open and close as your blood flows in the upward direction. Thus, they prevent the blood from spilling backward. However, if these valves weaken, then the blood will not get back up to your heart and lungs to get oxygen efficiently. This condition is known as chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) and affects about six to seven million Americans. A common symptom of this disease is that the patient’s legs feel heavy, tired, or achy. Furthermore, an outward sign of CVI is the occurrence of varicose veins. This sign starts to show when the blood starts to pool and engorges a vein, ultimately forcing it to the surface of the skin
Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)
Now, let us head in the opposite direction, away from the heart. Arteries are responsible for delivering oxygenated blood throughout the body. However, if these arteries are narrowed or blocked, then the amount of blood that flows through them gets restricted.
The impact of this restricted blood flow is mostly felt in the legs, which are not getting sufficient oxygen. If you are dealing with this condition, then any activity that can result in your legs might make you think, “Why do my legs feel heavy when I walk?” this condition impacts about 7 to 12 million Americans, and half develop symptoms in the legs.
Heart Failure
If you are facing heart failure, a condition where your heart is not able to pump sufficient oxygenated blood to your body, it can result in edema. This leads to fluid buildup in your legs. As a consequence, your legs will end up feeling heavy and tired.
Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) is a condition in which you have a clot in one of the veins in your legs. This clot is usually on only one side. When this happens, you can experience pain in your leg, mostly labeled as aching or throbbing. As noted, a lot of potential cardiovascular-related issues can lead to uncomfortable and sluggish legs. That being said, a bunch of other issues, including a compressed nerve in your back, can also result in leg symptoms.
From where we stand, our legs feel heavy and weak, which are mostly the first symptoms of a cardiovascular problem. Thus, we urge you to get it checked if the symptoms continue to persist. In order to confirm or rule out such an issue, you can begin by contacting healthcare experts from Jersey Joint, Spine, & Regen.
My Legs Feel Heavy | How Do I Get Rid Of It?
The only way through which you can get rid of your leg heaviness is to enhance blood circulation and prevent blood from accumulating in your legs. Below, we have shortlisted some of the major lifestyle changes can offer temporary relief from the worst signs of chronic venous insufficiency. So, read on!
- Do not stand or sit still for elongated periods of time
- Wear compression stockings regularly
- Eat lots of fiber and drink plenty of water
- Actively participate in cardiovascular exercises, such as swimming, cycling, and running.
- Prop your legs up on pillows or cushions while sleeping
- Elevate your legs above the level of your heart while sitting down
The above-mentioned lifestyle changes would not treat the underlying cause of the heaviness in legs. However, they might offer mild and temporary relief. The only way to permanently get rid of leg heaviness and related symptoms of vein issues is via minimally invasive treatments. These treatments include ambulatory phlebectomy, radiofrequency ablation, sclerotherapy, VenaSeal, and endovenous laser ablation. Experts at Jersey Joint, Spine, & Regen will diagnose the underlying cause of your venous issues. Moreover, they will curate a personalized vein treatment plan for you.
Potential Deficiencies Leading To Why Do My Legs Feel Heavy
Potassium deficiency in your bloodstream can result in your legs feeling heavy. Hypokalemia is a medical condition where low potassium levels in the bloodstream can result in leg heaviness, frequent leg cramps, and leg weakness. Please consult your vein expert to identify if hypokalemia is the main reason behind your leg heaviness.
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When to Seek Professional Help
If you’ve been dealing with neck pain that lasts more than two weeks, or if the pain spreads down your arms or into your back, it’s important to see a specialist. You should also seek medical attention if you experience numbness, tingling, or weakness in your hands, have severe back and neck pain following an accident or injury, or notice recurring neck pain after sleeping despite making ergonomic changes. These signs can point to more serious underlying issues that need prompt evaluation and treatment to prevent long-term damage.
Advanced Treatments at Jersey Joint, Spine & Regen
At Jersey Joint, Spine & Regen, our goal is always the same: relieve pain, restore motion, and get you back to living without limits, without unnecessary surgery or long-term medication. And, for that, we offer:
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Comprehensive diagnostics
using advanced imaging to pinpoint the exact pain source
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Trigger point injections
To release tight muscle knots
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Regenerative therapies
(like PRP) to heal injured tissues
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Minimally invasive spine procedures
For disc or nerve-related pain
Preventing Neck Pain in Daily Life
Once your pain is under control, prevention becomes the priority. At JJSR, we guide patients to make small, consistent changes that protect their spine health. This includes keeping screens at eye level to avoid tech neck, strengthening the neck, shoulder, and core muscles for better support, and taking regular movement breaks to counteract the strain of prolonged sitting. We also encourage patients to manage stress and to maintain a supportive sleep posture with the right pillow. These daily habits help reinforce treatment results and significantly reduce the risk of future flare-ups.
When To Contact A Doctor
It is crucial to seek medical help if you are persistently or regularly experiencing a heavy feeling in your legs. You must also contact a doctor if the heaviness in the legs occurs accompanied by other symptoms such as swelling and pain. Experts at Jersey Joint, Spine, & Regen are happy to help their patients lead a healthy and pain-free life. They will ask about certain signs and might even order tests to reach a precise diagnosis and suggest a suitable treatment plan. This will help achieve speedy and effective recovery.
Living with pain means missing life
With JerseyJSR, you find the right pain management in NJ, guided by specialists, and finally live without limits.