There you are, going about your day, when you suddenly feel it: that nagging burning sensation in legs below your knees. Burning sensations in your lower legs are not fun and can truly disrupt your daily activities. If you’ve been experiencing a warm feeling in lower leg that comes and goes, it’s important to get to the bottom of the cause—and fast.
Let’s explore four common causes of that burning sensation in legs, what you can do to remedy it, and how our veins specialists can get you back to you.
One possible cause of this burning sensation in the lower legs is venous insufficiency. This happens when the veins in your legs have trouble flowing blood to the heart. As a result, blood pools in the legs—leading to symptoms like a burning sensation on skin, swelling, and aching.
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) can also cause leg burning below the knees. DVT refers to blood clots that form deep within your leg veins. These clots can obstruct blood flow and cause inflammation, leading to discomfort and a burning sensation. If left untreated, the blood clot may become dislodged and thrown into your lungs, causing a life-threatening pulmonary embolism.
Nerve compression—or peripheral neuropathy—can cause discomfort in the lower legs. This happens when nerves are damaged or compressed due to conditions like alcoholism or diabetes. Nerve compression can cause the lower legs to experience tingling, burning, aching, or throbbing.
Those enlarged, twisted veins may be to blame. Varicose veins form when the valves in the veins malfunction, leading to poor blood circulation and increased pressure within the veins. These veins are usually blue, red, or purple. They can cause a burning sensation in legs along with symptoms like throbbing and heaviness. You may even experience this burning sensation in feet.
Even though the occasional bout of burning sensations might not ring alarm bells, it’s still important to get checked by a medical professional. You should seek medical attention if you notice:
The professional vein specialists at Gilvydis Vein Clinic can help diagnose the underlying cause and recommend treatment options.
So what solutions are there to this issue? How to treat burning sensation in legs? If you’re experiencing such burning sensation in legs, there are some at-home remedies you can try in addition to contacting a vein specialist.
Here are some of the best things you can do at home to treat burning sensation in legs:
Elevating your legs can help reduce swelling and improve blood circulation. Whenever possible, prop your legs above your heart level. You can do this by resting your legs on a cushion or pillow to promote blood flow back to the heart.
One of the best ways to beat burning legs is by changing your daily habits. Exercise regularly, maintain a healthy weight, and implement a balanced diet that’s rich in both fiber and nutrients. These changes can help prevent conditions that contribute to lower leg issues.
If your doctor recommends it, compression stockings can help promote proper blood flow. These stockings help prevent blood pooling and reduce symptoms like burning, swelling, and pain.
Those with sedentary lifestyles are at a higher risk of developing leg pain. Remember to stretch your legs, walk around, and perform simple exercises to keep your blood circulating as it should.
You can count on the Gilvydis team to get to the bottom of your lower leg pain. Whether you’re experiencing burning sensations, throbbing pain, or suspicious swelling, we’ll use modern technology to diagnose and treat your vein issues. With treatments like EVLA and sclerotherapy available, leg pain can be a thing of the past. Schedule your free screening today.
Medically Reviewed By:
Dr. Rimas Gilvydis, M.D, is the co-founder of Northern Illinois Vein Clinic (NIVC) in Rockford, Illinois, and the founder of Gilvydis Vein Clinic (GVC) in Naperville, Sycamore, and Geneva, Illinois. A board-certified interventionalist and diplomate of the American Board of Venous & Lymphatic Medicine, Dr. Gilvydis has been treating varicose veins with minimally invasive techniques since they were first introduced.
We’re proud to be one of three vein centers in Illinois with an IAC accreditation. Get back on your feet with a team of vein specialists who help you understand your vein treatment options.
We’re proud to be one of three vein centers in Illinois with an IAC accreditation. Get back on your feet with a team of vein specialists who help you understand your vein treatment options.