After 28 Years on My Feet, My Evenings Belonged to My Aching Legs. This Is What I Tried Next.

I never thought of tired feet as a “proper” problem. Then I realised I had stopped doing the things I enjoyed after six o’clock. Here is the whole story, including what didn’t work.

Half past six, and the same routine

Every evening, as soon as the tea things were cleared, I would kick off my shoes and head straight for the sofa and the footstool.

My feet felt heavy and hot. My calves were tight. I would sit there rubbing my feet through my socks, telling myself it was “just part of getting older.”

My husband Alan would ask if I fancied a walk round the block. I always said, “Not tonight.” After a while, he stopped asking.

It wasn’t dramatic. It was constant.

I was a care assistant for 28 years. I was on my feet from seven in the morning, up and down corridors, lifting, helping, rushing. I loved the job, but my legs paid for it.

I retired last spring and thought the aches would simply melt away. They didn’t, quite. Even a busy day at home, with the garden, the shopping and the grandchildren, left me with the same tired legs at night.

• EveningsHeavy, achy feet and legs, and no energy left for anything.
• BedtimeRestless legs and a lot of fidgeting. Alan said I “kicked about like a footballer.”
• WeekendsCancelling walks with my sister because I knew I’d pay for it later.
• MorningsStiff and sore for the first few steps.

Everything I tried first

Like most people, I started in the chemist and worked my way through the shelves one product at a time.

• Compression socksSome people swear by them. I found them a battle to get on, and my legs still ached by teatime.
• A foot spaLovely for twenty minutes. Then I had to empty it, and the aches came back.
• Creams and gelsPleasant and cooling, but the effect didn’t last through the evening.
• Footstool and cushionsAlan’s suggestion. Comfy, but it didn’t change how my legs felt.
• Heat padSoothing on a cold night, but I could only use it for a short time.

None of these are bad ideas, and any of them might be right for you. They just weren’t the answer for me.

My daughter’s suggestion

It was my daughter Claire who mentioned it, over Sunday lunch. She uses a small TENS machine for her back and swears by it.

“Mum, they do ones for your feet now,” she said. “You put your feet on it while you watch telly.”

I laughed. Electricity, on my feet? But I did my homework, and here is what I found out.

TENS and EMS, in plain English

TENS stands for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. A small device sends gentle electrical pulses through pads on the skin. It is widely used at home for aches and pains, and many people find it soothing, though the evidence is mixed and it doesn’t work for everyone.

EMS stands for electrical muscle stimulation. The pulses make the muscles tighten and relax, a bit like a very gentle workout. Many people describe it as a rhythmic, tingling, pulsing sensation.

Neither is a cure for anything. They are comfort devices you can use at home, and they are not suitable for everyone, which I’ll come to in a moment.

The one I decided to try

I settled on the Medi-Boost, sold by a UK retailer called Med-Fit. A few things stood out to me:

• TENS and EMS in one deviceYou put your feet on the platform, and the pulses come through it. Electrode pads can also be used on other areas such as the calves or back.
• Remote controlYou adjust the programme and intensity from the sofa, which matters when you are comfy.
• RechargeableIt comes with a charging cable and adaptor. Note that it can’t be used while it is charging.
• Everything in the boxPlatform, remote, a 180 cm lead, a large back electrode, two 12 x 8 cm electrodes, charger and a carry bag.
• A UK retailerOrders placed before 2 pm are dispatched the same day, and the page lists a 28-day return window.

The retailer describes it as a certified medical device. I’d suggest reading the instructions and checking the details yourself, as I did.

Who should NOT use it

This is the section I read twice. According to the product page, you should avoid using it if you:

• Are pregnant
• Are being treated for deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
• Have a pacemaker or other implanted electrical device
• Have epilepsy

TENS devices are also generally not advised on broken or irritated skin, and people with diabetes, reduced feeling in the feet, or other health conditions should speak to their GP or pharmacist first. When in doubt, ask. I did.

My first week

I won’t pretend it was love at first pulse. The first evening felt odd. I started on the lowest setting and turned it up one step at a time until it felt like a strong but comfortable tingle, never painful. That is the standard advice for TENS and I think it’s the right one.

I used it for about half an hour in the evening with my feet on the platform, a cup of tea in my hand and the telly on. By day four or five it had become part of the routine, like putting the kettle on.

What Alan said

About two weeks in, I was getting my coat on after tea. Alan looked up from the paper and said, “Where are you off to?”

“Round the block,” I said. “Fancy it?”

I wouldn’t say it fixed everything. Some evenings my legs still feel tired, especially after a long day in the garden, and everyone’s experience is different. But my feet felt more relaxed in the evenings, and I was glad to be going out for a walk again.

Is it right for you?

I’m not a medical professional and I can’t answer that for you. Here is the checklist I wish I’d had.

My advice, from one tired pair of feet to another

If your feet and legs are making your evenings smaller, don’t just put up with it like I did. Speak to your GP or pharmacist first, especially if anything about your symptoms worries you. Then, if a gentle at-home device suits you, it can be a comfortable way to wind down.

For me, it was the difference between a night on the sofa and an evening walk with Alan, and I’ll take the walk.

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