The aches and pains of the legs may keep you from getting the restful sleep you need. But if your leg pain at night is stuttering, throbbing or feels like it’s burning, it’s time to consult a medical professional. Your legs carry the weight of your body throughout the day, so they’re expected to hurt a bit when you lay down at the end of a long day, but that doesn’t mean you should let it go untreated. If you’re experiencing a dull or throbbing sensation in your legs that doesn’t improve when you move or stretch them, it could be an early sign of peripheral artery disease (PAD) or other serious health problems.
If your leg pain is accompanied by a cool or bluish color, it’s likely due to blood clots and requires immediate attention. The clots can break off and move up to the heart, brain or lungs if left untreated. Other signs of a blood clot include unusual redness, a warm feeling and swelling in the affected leg and pain that doesn’t disappear when you lie down.
Other causes of leg pain at night may include diabetes and its side effects, osteoarthritis, kidney, liver or thyroid conditions and other chronic illnesses that cause damage to the muscles, joints or nerves in the legs, feet, hips or knees. The good news is that most of these conditions are treatable or manageable. For instance, if your ache is caused by varicose veins, the team of doctors at USA Vascular Centers can perform an ultrasound or angiography test to check for blockages in your arteries and determine how best to alleviate your pain.