What Might Cause Pain on the Left Side of the Body, Affecting Both the Arm and Leg?

When you feel pain only on one side in both your arm and leg, it might be because of a problem in the brain. A stroke, for example, can hurt a part of the brain that controls feeling and movement on the opposite side of the body. This hurt can cause pain, weakness, or odd feelings in both the arm and leg on that one side. This kind of pain is sometimes called central poststroke pain. In some cases, the body’s nerve signals are warped even after the stroke, so you feel pain even when the arm and leg look normal. Other times, the body or brain might react to stress in ways that cause pain known as conversion disorder, though this is less common. It is important to notice if the pain comes with other symptoms like changes in how you move or numbness. If you experience ongoing pain on one side, it is a good idea to speak with a healthcare provider who can examine you and your nervous system to determine the cause of the pain and suggest the right treatment.