Chronic Venous Insufficiency Symptoms:

When Back Pain Isn’t Really Your Back

The Surprising Link Between Vein Problems and Lower Body Pain

If You’ve Tried Everything for Your Back Pain — Read This

You’ve done physical therapy. You’ve tried stretching, injections, maybe even chiropractic care. But the pain and heaviness in your lower body won’t go away.

What if it’s not your back at all?

Many patients with chronic venous insufficiency symptoms are misdiagnosed with back issues — even though the root cause is in their veins.

Let’s bust some myths.

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Myth 1: Leg Pain = Sciatica

Not always. While sciatica radiates down the leg, vein-related pain tends to feel:

• Heavy, especially by the end of the day
• Achy, dull, or crampy
• Worse when standing still
• Better with leg elevation or movement

If your symptoms don’t follow the typical nerve pain pattern, it could be venous.

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Myth 2: Swelling and Fatigue Are Just from Aging

They’re not. Swelling, fatigue, and discomfort in the legs — especially one-sided — are classic chronic venous insufficiency symptoms. They happen when vein valves weaken and blood starts pooling instead of circulating upward.

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Myth 3: You’d Know If You Had a Vein Problem

Actually, most people don’t. Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) often develops slowly. Many people dismiss the signs as “just being on my feet all day.”

But over time, CVI can lead to:

• Leg swelling
• Skin discoloration
• Varicose veins
• Itching, burning, or ulcers near the ankles

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Myth 4: Only Older Adults Get CVI

CVI can affect anyone, especially people who:

• Sit or stand for long periods
• Have a family history of vein disease
• Have had multiple pregnancies
• Are overweight or inactive
• Have a history of blood clots

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How to Find Out What’s Really Going On

If your back pain isn’t improving — or if your legs feel tired, tight, or swollen — ask your doctor about a venous ultrasound. This quick, noninvasive test checks how well blood is moving through your veins.

If CVI is found, treatments like endovenous ablation or sclerotherapy can relieve symptoms fast — often without surgery or downtime.

NIH: How vein ablation treats chronic venous insufficiency

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Don’t Let a Misdiagnosis Delay Relief

If you’ve been chasing back pain that doesn’t respond to typical treatments, don’t stop searching.
Chronic venous insufficiency symptoms are easy to miss — but once identified, they’re highly treatable.

Explore more patient-first vascular care insights on our blog.