Weird feeling in knee is primarily caused by many things can be due problems with the nervous system, which is often associated with one or more additional symptoms, like tingling, and pain, or swelling in the knee.
There is sensation in the knee like other parts of the body, including the ability to feel light touch, vibration, pain and temperature. Signals from peripheral nerves are carried to the spinal cord which runs through the back, and from there on sent to the brain.
There are Sensory signals from the knee which in particular are carried by the femoral nerve. Problems at any point in the pathway from the knee to end point can cause a feeling of numbness and pain.
In this article down below you can read more to learn what may be causing weird feeling in knee and how a doctor may help you treat the issue.
what you will read next :
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- What can be the characteristics of weird feeling in knee?
- What are the causes of Weird feeling in knee?
- What the ways of prevention for weird feeling in knee?
- What are the At-home treatments for weird feeling in knee?
- What are the Professional treatments for weird feeling in knee?
- When to see a doctor for weird feeling in knee?
- Outlook
What can be the characteristics of weird feeling in knee?
Depending on the underlying cause, one or many more of the following symptoms will likely be present :
- Tingling
- Pain in the knee ,and in other parts of the leg
- Numbness in knee and in other parts of the leg
- Numbness in the arm or face
- Swelling
- Weakness
- Muscle atrophy
What are the causes of Weird feeling in knee?
Weird feeling in Knee like numbness is primarily caused by problems with the nervous system, like any damage to the femoral nerve. But, these sensation in knees or other sensation is complex and can be affected by conditions which don’t directly interfere with the sensory pathway from the knee, that include psychological conditions and chronic pain syndromes
Neurological dysfunction
Causes of weird feeling in knee in the form of pain can be related to neurological dysfunction that may include the following:
Injury to femoral nerve and its branches: This can contribute to weird feeling in knee like numbness directly. It takes place through a direct injury; like or example a reduced sensation in the knee is a common direct complication of knee replacement surgery. The femoral nerve may also be affected by compression due to some anatomical abnormality, due to the positioning of the leg during the surgery, or due to tight clothes . Less commonly, abnormal functioning of the femoral nerve can happen due to diabetes Miletus.
Arthritis: This is a medical condition that can cause abnormalities in the sensory receptors of the knee, causing altered sensations including numbness, tingling, and pain in the knee.
Damage to the nerve root: Nerves of the lower extremity region originate from nerve roots that emerge from spinal cord so any damage to the nerve root which receives sensation from the knee can lead to weird feeling like numbness along with other sensory abnormalities. Muscle weakness, knee pain, and loss of the knee reflex will likely also be present if nerve roots are damaged. Nerve root damage often happens due to abnormalities in the spine, like degeneration caused by arthritis
Injury to spinal cord: This injury can lead to loss of sensation just below the site of damage, that can include the knee. Particular types of sensation will be lost on one or both sides of the body depending upon the extent of damage to the spinal cord.
Brain damage or stroke: weird Knee numbness can also occur due to damage at the highest level of the sensory pathway that is at the brain. A stroke that is damaged brain tissue due to loss of blood flow may sometimes present with a loss of sensation throughout one side of the body, including in the knee area.
Pain syndromes ( fibromyalgia)
The chronic pain syndrome fibromyalgia is typically associated with perceived numbness in various parts of the body including knee.
Psychological factors
Since sensation is not only objective but partially subjective, so psychological disorders can involve the feeling of numbness in areas like the knee even when there is no physical dysfunction.
Herniated disk in lower back
The backbone, that is spine, is made up of 26 vertebrae. In between these bones are soft disks filled with a jelly-like material. These disks cushion the vertebrae and keep these bones in place in the spine. So when the outer shell of the disk ruptures, and this jelly-like material bulges out ,It can be pressing on a nerve, which is what leads to the pain. This condition is more likely to happen due to strain on the back, like during heavy weight lifting, and older individuals are at higher risk. The symptoms of this condition are lower back pain or moderate back pain, back pain which shoots down the leg, back pain which gets worse when sitting, and leg weakness, knee pain.
Diabetic neuropathy
Diabetic neuropathy is a condition in which nerve damage caused by longstanding or poorly controlled diabetes mellitus . There are some other risk factors for developing diabetic neuropathy which includes obesity, smoking, and cardiovascular disease. This is cause tingling Or numbness in feet and other parts of the body including the knee.
Cauda equina syndrome
We all know this that leg pain in day to day life is very common and usually goes away without surgery, cauda equina syndrome, a very rare disorder affecting the bundle of nerve roots at the lumbar end of the spinal cord, is a surgical emergency as it can paralyze a person. It’s symptoms are lower back pain, back pain which shoots to the butt, back pain which shoots down the leg, leg weakness, thigh numbness, knee numbness and weakness.
Stroke
Transient ischemic attack, its also known or sometimes called a mini stroke or TIA. Stroke means that the blood flow somewhere in the brain has been blocked mostly by a clot. There are some risk factors which include smoking, obesity, cardiovascular disease, though any person can experience a TIA. The symptoms are “transient,” which means they come and go within minutes as the clot dissolves on its own. The symptoms of stroke include weakness, numbness, and in severe cases paralysis on one side of the face and/or body including knee ; slurred speech; abnormal vision; and sudden headaches.
What the ways of prevention for weird feeling in knee?
- To prevent knee issues its better to Address nerve-related conditions as they lead to problems in the knee. There are many chronic medical conditions which can be risk factors for problems with the nervous system which can be contributing to knee numbness and knee pain . If diabetes is not controlled it can cause damage to peripheral nerves, including the femoral nerve which in turn can cause damage
- It’s better to Manage other chronic conditions: Optimal management of other chronic medical conditions such as hypertension and elevated levels of cholesterol will help prevent strokes.
- Avoid wearing overly tight belts as these can compress the femoral nerve which leads to issue in the knee
What are the At-home treatments for weird feeling in knee?
There are Some at-home remedies which may also be helpful to address knee problems they are :
- Weight loss: this is important and if done through increased cardio and exercise and dietary changes, this can surely help with some causes of knee pain and numbness, including arthritis and peripheral nerve damage.
- Quitting smoking: smoking is bad for health is every possible way however it can improve blood flow to peripheral nerves, which leads to reduced sensory symptoms
What are the Professional treatments for weird feeling in knee?
There are few professional medical treatments which may be recommended by a physician may include:
- Surgery: Mostly its not used but is required for a structural abnormality like a tumor that is causing compression to nerve which leads to pain in the knee.
- For strokes: Early in the period of a stroke, some people can benefit from a medication which breaks up the clot obstructing the blood flow in the brain
- Psychological interventions: These can be used if knee numbness is caused by psychiatric disorders or other psychological diseases.
When to see a doctor for weird feeling in knee?
Seek immediate medical treatment for the following:
- Stroke or spinal cord injury indications : If there is sudden-onset of visual or speech changes, sudden numbness in the knee along with other parts in the body, any change in bowel moment or bladder function, severe weakness, or facial droop. As above mentioned symptoms could indicate that the knee numbness is being caused by a stroke or a spinal cord injury so better check with doctor.
- Nerve damage indications : Any knee injury which is followed by numbness, weakness, and blue appearing leg , these mentioned symptoms could indicate a significant injury with damage to nerves or to the blood vessels so needs medical attention
Outlook
Weird feeling in knee could be due to many reasons, it could be nothing or could be as serious as nerve damage or stroke, sometimes even some psychological factors can cause this in the form of numbness. Check with the concerned doctor if you see any serious symptoms .