Medically reviewed by David H. Feng, MD, on June 16, 2025
Do you regularly wake up in the middle of the night with painful leg cramps or feel tight, achy legs after standing for long periods? You're not alone. An estimated 60 percent of adults experience painful night cramps, according to the American Academy of Physicians (AAFP). While these symptoms are often dismissed as harmless deficiencies in certain nutrients or merely a sign of aging, they can actually indicate a more serious underlying issue.
Persistent leg cramping, especially when accompanied by heaviness, swelling, or visible veins, may indicate a vascular condition such as chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), the underlying cause of varicose veins. This progressive disorder affects the way blood flows back to the heart from the legs, leading to discomfort that can interfere with daily life and sleep.
The good news? Effective vein treatments are available once you understand what’s causing your symptoms. Don’t let leg cramps control your nights or your life.
For this blog, we consulted Center for Vein Restoration (CVR) vein specialist Dr. David Feng. He is the lead physician at CVR vein clinics in Lakewood, New Jersey, and Northfield, New Jersey.
✅To schedule a consultation with Dr. Feng in Lakewood, New Jersey, CLICK HERE.
✅To schedule a consultation with Dr. Feng in Northfield, New Jersey, CLICK HERE.
✅ Don’t live near Lakewood or Northfield, NJ? Call 240-965-3915 to speak with a helpful Patient Services Representative or schedule your consultation online at one of our 110+ CVR vein clinics near you.
Let’s take a closer look at how vein disease can lead to varicose veins and cramping, and what you can do about it.
Venous insufficiency is a chronic (meaning long-lasting) condition where the veins in your legs don’t allow blood to flow back to your heart like they should. Instead, blood pools in the legs, increasing pressure in the veins. Over time, this pressure stretches the vein walls, exacerbating the symptoms.
The National Library of Medicine (NIH) explains that venous insufficiency affects up to 35% of adults in the United States, significantly reducing quality of life and work productivity.
Diagnosis is primarily confirmed by duplex ultrasound and classified using the CEAP system. The CEAP classification system is a standardized method developed by the American Venous Forum to diagnose and categorize chronic venous disorders. It stands for Clinical (C), Etiological (E), Anatomical (A), and Pathophysiological (P), providing a detailed framework for describing the severity, cause, location, and nature of venous disease. This system allows healthcare providers to uniformly assess patients, guide treatment decisions, and compare outcomes across clinical studies and practices.
Early diagnosis and intervention are critical to preventing complications such as deep vein thrombosis and recurrent ulcers. Common signs of venous insufficiency include:
Management of venous disorders includes conservative approaches like compression therapy and lifestyle modifications, alongside advanced outpatient treatments offered at Center for Vein Restoration.
Leg cramps are sudden, painful muscle spasms that usually affect the calf or thigh. They can last anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes. While there are many possible causes, such as dehydration, low potassium levels, or certain medications, vein problems are often overlooked.
When your veins can’t move blood efficiently back to the heart, fluid builds up in the legs. This can irritate muscles and nerves, leading to nighttime leg cramps or tightness after long periods of standing or sitting.
There’s a reason for your leg cramps. At CVR, there’s a solution.
Vein problems like chronic venous insufficiency often go undiagnosed until symptoms get worse. At Center for Vein Restoration, our experienced team uses duplex ultrasound and other advanced tools to uncover what’s really causing your leg pain and provide targeted care.
CVR accepts most insurances, including Aetna, Amerigroup, Anthem, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Cigna, MultiPlan, Medicaid, Medicare, and more.
Call 240-965-3915 to speak with a CVR Patient Services Representative or schedule your consultation online at a CVR near you today.
You might notice that leg cramps get worse at night. That’s because when you lie down, gravity is no longer helping your veins push blood back to your heart. If you have a vein disease, it can lead to increased pressure and pooling of blood, which can trigger muscle cramps.
Cramping can also be exacerbated by prolonged periods of standing at work or sitting still for extended periods, such as during a long flight or car ride. These activities make it harder for blood to circulate properly in unhealthy veins.
If you’re asking yourself, “What should I do if I have leg cramps?” the most important thing is to take them seriously and not brush them off as a minor issue.
Occasional cramps may not be a cause for concern. But if you have regular leg cramps, especially at night, combined with visible varicose veins, swelling, or skin changes, it’s time to see a vein specialist or vein doctor.
A trained vein expert can evaluate your symptoms and use a simple ultrasound to check how well your leg veins are working. At a Center for Vein Restoration, you’ll find minimally invasive treatment options that can tackle the underlying cause, not just the symptoms.
According to Dr. Feng, treating varicose veins early can help prevent complications such as ulcers, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and chronic leg pain.
Tired of waking up with leg cramps?
Persistent cramping can be more than just a nuisance—it may be a sign of vein disease. Let the vein specialists at Center for Vein Restoration get to the root of your discomfort with expert diagnosis and proven, minimally invasive treatments.
📞 Call CVR at 240-965-3915
📅 Or book online HERE
Thanks to advances in medicine, vein treatment is easier and more comfortable than ever. At CVR, all procedures are done in the office and require little to no downtime. Here are a few common treatment options:
These treatments not only relieve leg pain and cramping, but they also improve how your legs look and feel. With convenient locations and advanced outpatient treatment options, CVR makes it easier than ever to get the answers—and the relief—you deserve.
While medical treatment is the best way to fix the root of the problem, there are also self-care steps you can take:
Living with leg pain, cramping, or swelling can make everyday life harder than it needs to be. If you’re worried that varicose veins or vein disease might be the cause of your leg cramps, you don’t have to wait and wonder.
At Center for Vein Restoration, our compassionate and experienced vein doctors are here to help you understand what’s going on and guide you toward lasting relief. With more than 110 clinics across the U.S., we’ve helped thousands of people just like you get back to feeling their best.
🌙 Don’t wait for another sleepless night. Schedule a consultation with a CVR vein expert now.
Leg cramps are your body’s way of saying something’s wrong
If your legs feel heavy, tight, or painful—especially at night—it could be a sign of a circulation issue like varicose veins or CVI. The experts at Center for Vein Restoration are here to help you find answers and long-term relief.
😴 Ready to take the next step and finally get a good night’s sleep?
About Vein Disease
Spider Veins
Varicose Veins
Vein Disease Treatments
Treating Spider Veins
Treating Varicose Veins
About Us
Patient Resources
Physician Resources