heavy legs

what can give the feeling of heaviness or tightness in the legs?

[sweeterin]

I'm experiencing something similar - my legs sometimes feel hot, tight, heavy, and kind of crampy.  Like they're about to charlie horse haven't gotten there quite yet.  Is this what you're experiencing?  It comes and goes, but is worse at night.

[bhups1]

Hi, this could be muscular fatigue, vascular insufficiency, osteoporosis etc. How old are you? Any history of  diabetes? Do you smoke? Also, venous congestion due to either varicose veins or incompetent valves may also lead to heaviness in legs. Do you have swelling  in legs or feet?

[sweeterin]

I'm 23 years old, history pulmonary embolism (May 07), low lupus anticoagulant, low anticardiolipin IgM, heterozygous for prothrombin factor II mutation.  Chest pain since March of 2007, joint pain since December 07, heavy legs on and off since summer of 07.   No history of diabetes, I do not smoke, and sometimes my ankles and feet are a little swollen.