What causes nerve pain in the left leg?

Left leg nerve pain may result from physiological factors such as exposure of the left leg's nerves to cold wind, or it may be caused by pathological factors such as trauma or lumbar disc herniation. The details are as follows:

I. Physiological Factors

If the weather is particularly cold and clothing worn is too thin, the nerves in the left leg may be stimulated by cold air. This can disrupt normal subcutaneous blood circulation, leading to symptoms such as leg pain and numbness when blood flow becomes impaired. Symptoms generally improve with proper warmth preservation or heat application.

II. Pathological Factors

1. Trauma

When the left leg suffers trauma, surrounding soft tissues and nerves may become compressed, resulting in pain and swelling. Shortly after injury, cold compresses are recommended to reduce swelling; 24 hours later, heat therapy can help promote blood circulation. If necessary, under a doctor’s guidance, medications such as ibuprofen sustained-release capsules, nimesulide tablets, or celecoxib tablets may be taken to relieve pain and improve symptoms.

2. Lumbar Disc Herniation

When protruding nucleus pulposus tissue from an intervertebral disc compresses nerves leading to the left leg, it may cause localized pain, numbness, and leg weakness. Symptoms may be alleviated through treatments such as local acupuncture or heat therapy. In severe cases, minimally invasive surgery at a hospital may be required to decompress the affected nerve root and relieve symptoms.

In addition, diabetic patients who develop peripheral nerve damage may also experience left leg nerve pain. It is recommended to undergo appropriate medical evaluations at a hospital and receive targeted treatment accordingly.