Why Do My Legs Feel Heavy During Perimenopause?

“Are extremely heavy legs normal in perimenopause? My legs feel like as if I’m wearing an exercise weight on each of them!”

Although this might not get talked about as much as hot flashes or brain fog, heavy legs are absolutely a normal symptom of perimenopause. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to address this issue and feel better again.

Why do our legs feel heavy in perimenopause?

Estrogen helps to keep blood vessels flexible throughout the body. With the hormone fluctuations that come with peri, and the overall drop in estrogen levels as women go through the menopausal transition, blood vessels tend to become stiffer. This can make it more difficult for blood to move through the veins and back to the heart. Blood can easily become trapped and stagnant, and this often creates a sensation of heavy legs.

Estrogen also helps to maintain muscle tissue. As estrogen levels begin to drop, women tend to lose muscle mass and strength. With less muscle strength available to help support the weight of your legs, they may start to feel heavier.

It’s also important to recognize that it’s not just hormonal changes that can lead to a feeling of heavy legs. Spending a long time without moving also interferes with blood flow, which can cause your legs to feel heavy. Sitting is generally the worst position for blood flow, but long periods lying down can still cause this issue.

Exercise is also important for moving blood and other fluids through the legs. Not getting enough exercise can cause fluid buildup, which leads to heavy legs. Peri sometimes robs us of energy, and we may not get the exercise that we used to, which can lead to heavy legs. 

At the same time, getting too much intense exercise can also cause heavy legs. A strenuous workout causes muscle damage and inflammation, and it takes time for the body to repair this. If you don’t get enough rest in between workouts, then the inflammation can cause your legs to feel heavy. Sometimes, we may get so worried about not getting enough exercise that we push too hard – this can damage the body, and can lead to a feeling of heavy legs.

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How do I manage heavy legs in perimenopause?

There are a few things that may help to relieve the feeling of heavy legs:

When should I go to the doctor?

Although lifestyle changes often make a big difference, they aren’t always enough to get rid of the feeling of heavy legs. There are certain medical conditions that can cause this symptom, and it’s possible that you’re experiencing one of these. Various conditions of the blood vessels, nervous system, or muscles can potentially cause heavy legs. 

If you try the lifestyle tips listed above, but you just can’t shake the feeling of very heavy legs, then it’s a good idea to discuss this with your doctor. You should also consider talking to your doctor if the sensation of heavy legs becomes severe enough to interfere with your life. Tell them exactly what you’re experiencing. After learning more about what you’re feeling, examining you, and considering your medical history, your doctor will be able to determine if any additional testing is needed to rule out serious medical conditions that may be causing your heavy legs.

Main takeaways

Sources

• Hormonal effects on blood vessels | Hypertension Research
• Prolonged sitting leg vasculopathy: contributing factors and clinical implications | American Journal of Physiology
• Menopause and the Loss of Skeletal Muscle Mass in Women | Iranian Journal of Public Health
• Auricular Acupuncture Versus Progressive Muscle Relaxation in Patients with Anxiety Disorders or Major Depressive Disorder: A Prospective Parallel Group Clinical Trial | Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies
• How to do progressive muscle relaxation for anxiety | Anxiety Canada