Throbbing in your legs can be very uncomfortable. Depending on whether it\u2019s one leg or both, and whether it\u2019s localized or takes up a lot more space, you might not be sure what\u2019s causing it. The pain can be debilitating, and can also be frightening due to not understanding the cause.<\/p>\n
Exercising can cause legs to throb, and pain in one specific, localized area has the potential to be a blood clot. The most important thing is getting to the bottom of the issue, so you know what\u2019s causing it and can make a plan for treatment or improvement. While there can be several reasons for throbbing legs, one of the most common reasons is varicose veins.<\/p>\n
Varicose veins occur when the one-way valves in your veins don\u2019t work as well as they should. They can become impaired or weak over time, and that leads to swelling and pain in the legs. Blood gets pushed into the tissue, and it can also pool in the area of the valve. A small amount of this generally goes unnoticed or ignored, but a larger amount of it can be more obvious, and that can lead to discomfort.<\/p>\n
There are several reasons you might develop varicose veins. They often come along with aging. Weight may also be a factor, and genetics matters, too. If you have a job or hobby where you stand or walk a lot, and you\u2019re always on your feet, that also raises your risk for varicose veins and the throbbing legs that can come along with them.<\/p>\n
Varicose veins cause throbbing legs because of the blood pushing its way into the tissue and not leaving the area like it should. This creates a swollen area, and swollen areas of tissue often hurt. The pain may be mild, or it may be quite severe. Over time, it can also get worse, because it\u2019s not possible to repair the small valves in the veins. Once they become damaged or weakened, they aren\u2019t going to heal.<\/p>\n
Sometimes varicose veins remain very steady where they are, and other times they continue to get worse. There are a number of factors that can affect this. You may want to monitor your veins and keep track of whether they seem to be worsening, especially if you\u2019re experiencing pain and throbbing in your legs. If the veins continue to get worse or the pain increases, or if you\u2019re just tired of experiencing the pain and throbbing, you may want to seek treatment to see what options you have.<\/p>\n
Once you develop varicose veins you can\u2019t reverse them or make them go away. But you can take good care of your health and reduce the discomfort from your throbbing legs. Elevating your legs can help, and there are compression socks and stockings that can also keep pain at bay. These options are generally short-term help, though, and if you want true relief from your varicose veins you may consider seeking medical treatment.<\/p>\n
In the meantime, over-the-counter pain medications, compression garments, elevating your legs, and weight loss if you\u2019re overweight or obese can help reduce pain and take some pressure off your legs and veins. You may also want to consider changing jobs to one where you don\u2019t stand or walk all day, but that\u2019s certainly not an option, or even a desirable goal, for everyone.<\/p>\n
If your throbbing legs are getting in the way of your daily life or normal activities, or if they\u2019re causing you a lot of discomfort, seeking treatment is the right thing to do. You don\u2019t want to live in pain when there are options to help you feel better. Then you can reduce or eliminate the throbbing in your legs and get back to living life again.<\/p>\n