Aching Legs or Sweaty Feet?

Long periods of standing in the one position in certain occupations such has hairdressing, nursing or machinery work can often lead to discomfort in the legs and feet. Symptoms such as a vague aching sensation, itchy legs or burning and sweating feet can be due to poor clearance of venous blood out of the legs. 

People affected with venous disease that causes venous incompetence are particularly prone to these symptoms if they are standing for prolonged periods and not walking around. Walking helps clear the blood out of the lower limbs because contraction of the calf muscles compresses the deep veins and this is the mechanism by which venous blood gets pumped up and out of the legs. It’s known as the “Calf muscle pump”.

If you are experiencing uncomfortable symptoms such as just described and your work involves extended periods of standing on your feet without the opportunity of moving about too much, you might be suffering from venous incompetence and poor clearance of venous blood out of your legs due to venous disease. This can often occur without the presence of visible varicose veins.

A duplex venous ultrasound of the saphenous veins and deep veins in your legs is the appropriate investigation for this problem.