What’s really causing your leg pain?

When our legs are tired, achy or swollen, we may come up with all kinds of reasons to explain it away:

“I’m just tired. I need to rest.”

“I’m getting older, it’s natural.”

“It’s my arthritis acting up.”

“I’m out of shape; I should exercise.”

“I ate too much salt. All I need is a water pill.”

Worrying and wondering about the source of our symptoms can be stressful and negatively affect our quality of life. If your legs have been tired, sore or swollen for a while, it may be time to stop wondering why.

The holidays are the time of year when I remind people to give themselves a gift: the gift of knowledge, the gift of peace of mind.

Symptoms are often linked to chronic venous insufficiency, a condition that includes varicose veins. These damaged veins hinder blood from effectively leaving the legs and returning to the heart. The result is a buildup of toxins in the lower legs, leading to swelling and discomfort.

Left untreated, chronic venous insufficiency can lead to permanent skin discoloration and ulcers.

So give yourself the gift of understanding the true cause of your symptoms. Everyone is busy right now, so take just a minute to call and schedule your initial consultation for January, and begin your journey toward an active summer 2026, free of symptoms like these: leg pain or swelling • heaviness or fatigue • itching, tingling or burning • inflammation • skin discoloration

• restless legs syndrome.

Dr. Sonja Stiller is a diplomat of both the American Board of Emergency Medicine and the American Board of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine and the UIP 2023 lead chair for scientific abstracts. She is the founder of the Center for Advanced Vein Care and Elite Vascular Wellness, a Tier 1 provider with Lake Health Hospital System. The center is at 7200 Mentor Ave. in Mentor. For an appointment, call 440-710-1140 or visit YourHealthyVeins.com.