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What Is Intractable Left Leg Pain?

Intractable pain refers to a form of pain that does not respond well to typical medical procedures to relieve it. When intractable pain occurs in the legs, it can indicate a larger medical problem. There are two primary treatments that have been developed to try to relieve intractable leg pain.

  1. Sciatica

    • Sciatica occurs when the sciatic nerve becomes inflamed. The pain caused by this inflammation passes through the buttocks and moves into the deep tissue in the thigh. This can be a source of intractable pain in the left leg. Sciatica is usually treated by resting to allow the inflamed nerve to calm down. If this does not work, then more intensive treatments may be necessary.

    Spinal Stenosis

    • Spinal stenosis is a condition that causes the spinal canal to narrow, putting pressure on the nerves. This can cause intractable left leg pain. Spinal stenosis is caused by a variety of other conditions, among them Paget's disease and fluoridosis, caused by too much fluoride in the body. Spinal stenosis can be treated with rest, anti-inflammatory medication, pain-killers, epidurals, a back brace and eventually minor exercise.

    Multiple Sclerosis

    • Multiple sclerosis (MS) can cause intractable pain in the left leg by causing muscle wastage due to lack of use. Also, one of the symptoms of MS is a constant, burning intractable pain that most often occurs in the legs. MS can also cause painful muscle spasms in the legs. The intractable leg pain is usually neurological (to do with the brain, spine and nerves) and is sometimes treated with the use of antidepressants. Drugs such as carbamazepine are often used to treat spasms as well.

    Idiopathic Transient Osteoporosis

    • Idiopathic transient osteoporosis is a form of leg and hip pain usually seen in young to middle-aged patients who are active. It is marked by an intractable pain in the left and/or right leg that worsens when bearing weight or rotating the hip joint. Idiopathic transient osteoporosis is usually treated with painkillers and physical therapy.

    Intractable Pain as a Symptom

    • Intractable left leg pain may also be a symptom of a number of other conditions, such as malignant bone cancers, degenerative scoliosis and osteomalacia. When this is the case, the pain should diminish as the condition causing it is treated.

    Spinal Cord Stimulation

    • If other treatments for intractable left leg pain have failed, your doctor may want to try spinal cord stimulation. In this treatment an electrode is attached to the lower spine. Electrical stimulation sent through this electrode blocks the nerves there from sending pain signals up to the brain. This can help to relieve intractable pain.

    Intraspinal Morphine System

    • Intraspinal morphine is a relatively recently developed treatment used to relieve intractable leg pain that may be used if spinal cord stimulation has not had the desired effect. Morphine is injected into the opiate receptors in the lower spine, again blocking pain signals being sent from the leg to the brain.

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