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Restless Legs Syndrome: 8 Lifestyle Changes That Can Help
Restless leg syndrome can be uncomfortable and reduce your quality of life. Luckily, there are several simple lifestyle changes you can make to ease your symptoms.
Do your calves throb the minute your head hits the pillow? Do you feel a heavy, dull ache that makes drifting off nearly impossible? You're not imagining it! Leg pain that gets worse when you lie down can be a real sign of an underlying problem, not just a side effect of a long day.
For many people, this discomfort isn’t caused by sore muscles or poor sleep posture, but by issues with the veins in their legs. If you find yourself tossing and turning because of aching, pressure, or cramping in your calves or thighs, it could be your body’s way of signaling a deeper circulatory issue, such as venous insufficiency.
Don’t let vein issues keep you up at night any longer. Schedule an appointment with America’s Largest Physician-Led vein center, Center for Vein Restoration (CVR). CVR is where better circulation begins.
When you lie flat, gravity stops assisting blood flow out of your legs. In healthy veins, tiny one-way valves keep blood moving upward. For those with venous insufficiency, also known as vein disease, the valves become weak or leaky, allowing blood to flow backward. Blood then puddles in the lower legs, stretching the vein walls and surrounding tissues. That extra pressure can trigger pain, cramping, tingling, and even burning sensations that flare up precisely when you are trying to relax.
Johns Hopkins Medicine lists aching, throbbing, swelling, and muscle cramping, as well as visible varicose veins, among the most common symptoms of vein disease. The medical institution notes that discomfort often worsens after long periods of sitting or standing, particularly just before bed, for many people.
Struggling with leg pain that keeps you up at night or disrupts your daily routine? Center for Vein Restoration (CVR) is here to help. As the nation’s leader in vein care, CVR offers expert diagnosis and outpatient treatment for vein conditions like varicose veins, spider veins, and venous insufficiency. With personalized care plans and advanced minimally invasive procedures, our board-certified vein specialists are dedicated to helping you find lasting relief.
Take the first step toward healthier legs and better sleep by scheduling your consultation today. Don’t let vein disease hold you back. CVR is where better circulation begins.
📞 Call CVR at 240-965-3915
📅 Or book online HERE
Many factors, some temporary, others more serious, can contribute to leg pain that flares up at night. Here are some of the most common:
1. Muscle Cramps
One of the leading causes of nighttime leg discomfort is cramping, especially in the calves or feet. Cramps can be caused by overuse of the muscles during the day or by prolonged periods of inactivity. Dehydration, low levels of minerals such as potassium and magnesium, or sleeping in awkward positions can trigger painful spasms. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, up to 60 percent of adults report leg cramps at night.
2. Varicose Veins and Venous Insufficiency
Leg pain at night is also a hallmark symptom of vein problems, such as varicose veins or chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). When the valves in your leg veins don’t work properly, blood pools instead of flowing back up to your heart. This leads to pressure buildup, swelling, and a dull aching or heaviness, especially after a full day of standing or sitting.
As the nation’s leader in outpatient vein care, Center for Vein Restoration (CVR) specializes in diagnosing and treating these conditions using minimally invasive techniques. Call 240-965-3915 to speak with a Patient Services Representative or schedule your consultation online at a CVR near you today.
3. Restless Leg Syndrome
Restless leg syndrome (RLS) is a neurological condition that causes an uncontrollable urge to move your legs, especially when you’re trying to relax. People with RLS often describe the sensation as crawling, itching, or pulling deep within the legs.
According to the National Library of Medicine, 86 percent of patients who underwent vein ablation, a minimally invasive procedure to correct venous insufficiency, reported improvement in their restless leg symptoms.
If you’re struggling with restless legs at night, it may be more than just a nuisance; it could be linked to underlying vein problems. Schedule a consultation at Center for Vein Restoration to find out if venous insufficiency is contributing to your symptoms. Our vein specialists offer advanced, minimally invasive treatments that may help you finally get the restful sleep you deserve.
4. Peripheral Artery Disease
Peripheral artery disease (PAD)
is a condition in which the arteries that carry blood to your legs become narrowed due to plaque buildup. When you lie down, reduced blood flow may cause cramping, especially in your calves or thighs. The Cleveland Clinic explains that PAD can cause pain during both rest or exertion and should be evaluated promptly.
5. Pregnancy
Pregnancy increases blood volume and places extra pressure on veins, particularly in the pelvis and legs. As the uterus expands, it can compress blood vessels, leading to poor circulation and aching legs, especially at night. Hormonal changes and weight gain also contribute to leg discomfort and fluid retention.
6. Nerve Issues
Nerve conditions like sciatica, diabetic neuropathy, and spinal stenosis can cause sharp or burning pain that radiates down the legs. These symptoms may worsen when lying flat or at rest. If you experience numbness, tingling, or shooting pains in your legs, nerve involvement may be the cause.
7. Gout or Arthritis
Gout, a type of inflammatory arthritis, occurs when uric acid crystals build up in the joints, often affecting the big toe but sometimes causing pain in the knees or ankles. Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis can also trigger nighttime pain, especially if joints become stiff while you sleep.
8. Blood Clots (Deep Vein Thrombosis)
A DVT blood clot in a deep vein can cause sudden leg pain, swelling, redness, or warmth, usually in one leg. If you suspect a clot, especially after a long trip or surgery, it’s critical to seek emergency care. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), untreated blood clots can lead to serious complications like pulmonary embolism (PE).
CVR offers a DVT rule-out service for same-day or next-day diagnosis and treatment plans. For more information or to schedule, call our hotline number at 877-SCAN-DVT (877-722-6388).
9. Medications
Some medications, such as statins, diuretics, and blood pressure drugs, may cause muscle cramps or leg pain as a side effect. If your symptoms started after beginning a new medication, it’s worth discussing with your healthcare provider.
10. Other Causes
Other possible culprits include kidney disease, thyroid disorders, and even poor bedding or sleep posture. Sometimes, leg pain has no apparent cause—this is referred to as idiopathic leg pain.
At Center for Vein Restoration, diagnosis typically begins with a thorough medical history and a brief in-office examination. Your CVR vein expert will examine your skin for visible veins, swelling, and changes in skin color. The gold-standard test is a duplex (vascular) ultrasound. This painless scan shows real-time blood flow and pinpoints leaky valves or hidden blood clots.
Step 1: Lifestyle Tweaks
Step 2: Medical Management
Over-the-counter pain relievers can ease discomfort, but they do not fix faulty valves. The Mayo Clinic notes that compression therapy, daily exercise, and leg elevation may slow progression but will not eliminate damaged veins.
Step 3: Minimally Invasive Vein Treatment
You don’t have to live with uncomfortable leg pain, swelling, or visible veins. At Center for Vein Restoration (CVR), the nation’s leader in outpatient vein care, minimally invasive procedures can help restore your leg health and quality of life.
CVR is a physician-led network with over 110 accredited vein centers across the U.S., staffed by board-certified vein specialists who treat veins all day, every day. Whether you’re dealing with mild symptoms or advanced vein disease, CVR offers safe, effective treatment options tailored to your needs.
Here’s a look at the most common vein outpatient treatments available at CVR:
Thermal Ablation (Laser or Radiofrequency)
One of the most effective treatments for larger varicose veins, thermal ablation uses heat to close off damaged veins. At CVR, your vein doctor will insert a thin catheter into the vein and apply either laser or radiofrequency energy to collapse the vein walls. Once sealed, the body naturally redirects blood flow to healthier veins.
Ultrasound-Guided Foam Sclerotherapy
For veins that are hard to see or have a winding path, foam sclerotherapy is a highly effective option. Using ultrasound guidance, a CVR physician injects a specialized foam solution into the affected vein. This foam irritates the vein lining, causing it to collapse and be reabsorbed by the body.
Micro-Phlebectomy
If you have large bulging veins near the surface of your skin, microphlebectomy, or ambulatory phlebectomy, can provide immediate relief and cosmetic improvement. At CVR, your provider makes tiny punctures in the skin to remove damaged veins in small sections.
VenaSeal™ Closure System
VenaSeal is a cutting-edge option that uses a medical adhesive—rather than heat or medication—to close off diseased veins. It’s ideal for patients who prefer not to wear compression stockings after treatment or want a faster recovery.
When it comes to treating vein disease, experience matters. Center for Vein Restoration is the largest physician-led vein care network in the country, known for:
You do not have to live with throbbing legs or endless tossing and turning. A board-certified Center for Vein Restoration vein specialist can pinpoint the exact cause of your discomfort, tailor a vein treatment plan, and monitor your progress. Look for a dedicated vein center staffed by fellowship-trained physicians who treat veins all day, every day.
Sleeping should be effortless, not an exercise in endurance. With the right guidance and modern, minimally invasive care, you can trade late-night leg pain for deep, restorative rest—and wake up ready to move through your day pain-free.
📞 Call CVR at 240-965-3915
📅 Or book online HERE
Restless leg syndrome can be uncomfortable and reduce your quality of life. Luckily, there are several simple lifestyle changes you can make to ease your symptoms.
