Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Causes Severe Leg Pain In A Bed Ridden Person With Paraplegia?
Question: I have been bedridden for 6 months .i have bags for urine and bowel. Cancer in remission
And I am a paraplegic . My left leg is giving me terrible pain it's seems to be coming from the
Actual thigh bone . I am now in hospital but they can't find anything . I am on line receiving
Potassium and sodium chloride plus strong pain control . The leg will suddenly left up
I have had X-ray. MIR and cat scan
My name is XXXXXXX and I am sending this on behalf of the patient
And I am a paraplegic . My left leg is giving me terrible pain it's seems to be coming from the
Actual thigh bone . I am now in hospital but they can't find anything . I am on line receiving
Potassium and sodium chloride plus strong pain control . The leg will suddenly left up
I have had X-ray. MIR and cat scan
My name is XXXXXXX and I am sending this on behalf of the patient
Brief Answer:
several possibilities.
Detailed Answer:
Cannot say in your particular case without direct examination AND. "the leg will suddenly lift up" implies muscle cramping--rather severe muscle cramping. This can be due to not having the normal controls from the brain in paraplegia OR from increased reactivity of the nerves and muscle due to not having the right ionic balance (low potassium). So... there's the current diagnoses that will do this in most people who have these diagnoses, then there are other possibilites. Decubiti, or other breakdowns in the skin can lead to infections or direct tissue destruction. These are painful. The damage causing paraplegia usually also causes pain. The infections usually are found on exam and/or MRI's. The damage from paraplegia can be defined better by MRI's. But muscle cramps/discontrol won't be found on imaging studies but would be found on labs. Besides potassium, magnesium would be usually also abnormally low in any context in which the potassium was low.
several possibilities.
Detailed Answer:
Cannot say in your particular case without direct examination AND. "the leg will suddenly lift up" implies muscle cramping--rather severe muscle cramping. This can be due to not having the normal controls from the brain in paraplegia OR from increased reactivity of the nerves and muscle due to not having the right ionic balance (low potassium). So... there's the current diagnoses that will do this in most people who have these diagnoses, then there are other possibilites. Decubiti, or other breakdowns in the skin can lead to infections or direct tissue destruction. These are painful. The damage causing paraplegia usually also causes pain. The infections usually are found on exam and/or MRI's. The damage from paraplegia can be defined better by MRI's. But muscle cramps/discontrol won't be found on imaging studies but would be found on labs. Besides potassium, magnesium would be usually also abnormally low in any context in which the potassium was low.
Note: For further queries related to kidney problems Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
