Relief From Leg Pain Starts Here
Aching, throbbing, or burning leg pain disrupts your daily life and limits what you can do. At Colorado Skin & Vein, we uncover the vascular causes behind your discomfort and create personalized treatment plans that deliver real, lasting relief.
Understanding Leg Pain
What Causes Leg Pain & Discomfort?
Leg pain encompasses any discomfort from your hip to your heel—aching, burning, throbbing, or sharp sensations that disrupt your daily activities. While occasional muscle soreness after exercise is normal, persistent or worsening leg pain often signals an underlying vascular problem requiring medical attention.
Many people dismiss chronic leg pain as “just aging” or attribute it to overuse, but pain that intensifies when standing, improves with elevation, or accompanies visible veins typically indicates venous insufficiency. When vein valves malfunction, blood pools in your lower legs instead of returning efficiently to your heart. This increased pressure causes inflammation, swelling, and the characteristic aching or heavy sensation in your legs. Over time, untreated venous issues progress, leading to skin changes, ulcers, and more severe complications. At Colorado Skin & Vein, our vascular specialists use advanced ultrasound technology to diagnose the precise source of your leg pain and develop targeted treatment plans that address the root cause—not just mask symptoms.
Recognizing the Signs of Vascular Leg Pain
Leg pain from vein disease presents distinct patterns that help identify when discomfort signals a circulatory problem requiring medical attention.
Questions About Your Leg Pain? Ask Ava
Causes & Risk Factors
Why Am I Experiencing Leg Pain?
Vascular leg pain develops when vein valves fail and blood pools in your lower legs, creating pressure that causes discomfort. Certain factors significantly increase your risk.
- Age Over 50 – Vein walls and valves naturally weaken with age, reducing circulation efficiency.
- Family History – Genetic predisposition to vein disease dramatically increases risk of venous insufficiency.
- Prolonged Standing – Jobs requiring extended standing increase leg vein pressure and impair blood return.
- Excess Weight – Additional body weight places extra pressure on leg veins.
- Pregnancy – Increased blood volume and hormonal changes weaken vein valves.
- History of Blood Clots – Previous DVT can cause permanent valve damage and chronic pain.
Proven Treatments for Vascular Leg Pain
Our specialists eliminate leg pain by treating the underlying vein dysfunction, using minimally invasive procedures tailored to your specific condition.
Endovenous Laser Ablation (EVLA)
Laser energy safely seals malfunctioning veins causing pain, allowing blood to reroute through healthy vessels. Performed in-office with local anesthesia, most patients experience immediate pain relief and return to normal activities within days.
Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)
Controlled radiofrequency energy closes problematic veins from the inside, eliminating the source of your leg pain. Minimally invasive procedure offers rapid recovery with most patients resuming regular activities the same day.
VenaSeal™ Closure
Medical adhesive seals diseased veins without heat, providing comfortable treatment with no post-procedure compression stockings required. Excellent option for patients seeking gentle, effective pain relief.
Sclerotherapy
Injectable solution closes smaller veins contributing to leg pain and visible spider veins. Quick office procedure with minimal discomfort and excellent long-term results.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common Questions About Leg Pain
What causes vein-related leg pain?
Vein-related leg pain occurs when damaged valves allow blood to pool in your legs instead of returning to your heart. This increased pressure stretches vein walls, causes inflammation, and triggers aching, burning, or throbbing sensations that worsen throughout the day.
How do I know if my leg pain is from vein disease?
Vascular leg pain typically worsens when standing, improves with leg elevation, and intensifies as the day progresses. It often accompanies visible veins, swelling, or skin changes. Comprehensive ultrasound examination definitively identifies vein-related causes.
Can leg pain from vein disease go away on its own?
No. Venous insufficiency is progressive—symptoms worsen without treatment. While compression and elevation provide temporary relief, only treating the malfunctioning veins eliminates pain permanently. Early intervention prevents complications and requires less intensive treatment.
Is vein-related leg pain dangerous?
Persistent leg pain from vein disease indicates circulation problems that, left untreated, can progress to skin changes, infections, venous ulcers, and blood clots. While not immediately life-threatening, it requires medical evaluation and treatment to prevent serious complications.
What's the difference between muscle pain and vein pain?
Muscle pain typically follows specific injury or exertion, improves with rest within days, and responds to heat or ice. Vein pain follows daily patterns, worsens with prolonged standing, improves with elevation, and persists over weeks or months without treatment.
Will I need surgery for leg pain from vein disease?
Most venous leg pain responds excellently to minimally invasive, in-office procedures requiring only local anesthesia. Traditional vein stripping surgery is rarely necessary. Modern treatments like EVLA and RFA eliminate pain with minimal discomfort and rapid recovery.
Does insurance cover treatment for leg pain from vein disease?
Most insurance plans, including Medicare, cover medically necessary vein treatments when symptoms impact quality of life. Documentation of pain, failed conservative treatment, and diagnostic ultrasound findings support coverage. Our team handles insurance verification and authorization.
Can exercise help leg pain from vein disease?
Regular low-impact exercise like walking improves circulation and can reduce symptoms. However, exercise alone won’t correct malfunctioning valves causing your pain. Combining appropriate exercise with medical treatment delivers optimal results and prevents progression.
What happens if I don't treat my leg pain?
Untreated venous leg pain progressively worsens. Blood pooling increases, pain intensifies, swelling worsens, and skin changes develop. Complications include venous eczema, skin discoloration, ulcers, infections, and blood clots. Early treatment is simpler and more effective.
Does leg pain from vein disease only occur in one leg?
Not necessarily. Venous insufficiency commonly affects both legs, though one side may be more symptomatic. Sudden pain and swelling in only one leg may indicate deep vein thrombosis (blood clot) and requires immediate medical evaluation.
Denver's Trust Vein Experts
For 20 years, Denver-area patients have trusted us for exceptional vascular care. Our combination of medical expertise, cutting-edge technology, and personalized attention delivers outcomes that truly transform lives.
