Struggling with a maddening itch, burning sensations, or the overwhelming urge to move your legs when all you want is to relax? Many patients come to the Varicose Vein Center after months of trying every home remedy imaginable. What they discover is that these symptoms aren’t just skin-deep. They’re often warning signs of venous insufficiency, and treating the root cause finally brings the relief they’ve been searching for.
What Are Restless, Itchy or Burning Leg Sensations?
Restlessness, itchiness, or burning sensations are your body’s response to compromised circulation and the inflammatory changes it triggers in your legs.
Restlessness refers to an irresistible urge to move your legs, especially at night or during periods of rest. Many people with restless legs experience this discomfort due to chronic venous insufficiency (CVI).
Often, the restlessness is accompanied by other symptoms — such as tingling, itching, burning, or achiness in the legs — all of which are indicators of underlying vein disease. It’s also possible to experience these symptoms independently.
Whether you have one or several, it’s important to have your veins assessed. These symptoms typically start mild and intermittent but can become persistent and debilitating without proper treatment.
What Leg Sensations Are Linked to Venous Insufficiency?
The sensory symptoms associated with venous problems can include:
- Uncontrollable urge to move your legs, especially at night
- Crawling or creeping sensations beneath your skin
- Intense itching that worsens with scratching
- Burning or tingling that radiates through your calves
- Pins and needles sensation in your lower legs
- Dry, flaky skin that never seems to improve with moisturizer
- Red or discolored patches where you’ve been scratching
- Night cramps or charley horses that disrupt sleep
- Skin that feels unusually warm or hot to the touch
What Causes Restless, Itchy or Burning Legs?
When your vein valves fail to work properly, blood pools in your legs instead of flowing back to your heart. This pooling creates a domino effect that triggers these uncomfortable sensations.
Backed-up blood increases pressure in your veins, causing fluid to leak into the surrounding tissues. This triggers inflammation that irritates nerve endings and releases chemicals that cause intense itching. Reduced blood flow in your legs and feet can also deprive your tissues of oxygen and critical nutrients, while compromising your body’s waste removal processes. The next stage of vein disease, if it is not addressed, may be the development of venous ulcers.
Various factors can trigger or worsen these symptoms:
- Standing or sitting for extended periods
- History of blood clots or deep vein thrombosis
- Family history of vein problems
- Multiple pregnancies
- Being overweight
- Natural aging process
- Previous leg injuries
How Are Restless, Itchy, or Burning Legs Treated?
Finding lasting relief means addressing both your immediate discomfort and the underlying vein problems causing your symptoms.
Immediate Symptom Management
Compression therapy helps push blood back toward your heart and reduces inflammation. Antihistamines may provide temporary itch relief. Note that topical itch-relieving products will not help, as they cannot address itchiness beneath the skin at the vein walls.
VenaSeal
VenaSeal uses a small amount of medical adhesive to seal a faulty vein closed. The body naturally reroutes blood to healthier vessels, and most patients return to normal activity right away.
Varithena
Varithena is a prescription foam that is injected into a problematic vein, causing it to collapse. It can be especially helpful for veins that are twisted or difficult to treat with heat-based methods.
Laser Vein Ablation
Laser vein ablation uses laser energy to close off damaged veins from the inside. The treatment is performed under ultrasound guidance and offers long-lasting relief from unpleasant leg sensations.
Ambulatory Phlebectomy
In this procedure, bulging surface veins are removed through tiny skin punctures using a special hook. This immediately alleviates the pressure that causes tingling, burning, itching, and other leg symptoms.
Book Your Consultation at the Varicose Vein Center
Stop letting restless, itchy, or burning legs steal another day’s comfort or another night’s sleep. Contact the Varicose Vein Center in Port Jefferson Village at 631-474-1414 or schedule your consultation online to discover how treating your veins can finally quiet those unpleasant sensations for good.
Give us a call
Monday - Friday
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
405 E Main Street
Port Jefferson, NY 11777
