My legs hurt after standing on them all day. After seeing a heart specialist, he said that the valves in my legs aren't opening to allow the blood to return back up my legs. This is not life threatening but the legs do hurt a lot. I have opted to not have surgery ( veins stripped). Is it possible for the valves to recover? Perhaps if I loose weight or exercise?

Yes, the condition is called CVI or chronic venous insufficiency, chronic meaning, it doesn't go away, you are stuck with it, so the only thing you can do is damage control. Plenty of exercise, keep legs and feet up when relaxing, yes, lose weight. There are massages you can do, like running your hands up both sides of your leg, doing it several time, as in pulling the bloodback up your leg is the only way I can describe it.

The downside is of course, if you don't control it, stay active, as I mentioned above, legs become ulcerated from lack of blood.

Not many people have the surgery for this condition. Rosie, it is a not uncommon condition. Did you doctor suggest a mild blood thinner, as a 8lmg aspirin pe day? You may want to ask him if that will help.

Good luck and regards

Ms tickle

Here is a great site. I don't know what the
Doctor has recommended for you but I do know that angioplasty can be used.

VascularWeb: Chronic Venous Insufficiency (http://www.vascularweb.org/patients/NorthPoint/Chronic_Venous_Insufficiency.html)