What Could Cause Knee Pain Accompanied by Numbness in the Leg and Foot?

Reviewed by Garrett Kneese, MD, MPH

Family Medicine

Knee pain with numbness in the leg and foot can sometimes happen if a nearby nerve, like the tibial nerve, is irritated or compressed.

Explanation

When you feel knee pain along with numbness in your leg and foot, one possible explanation is that a nerve near your knee is being affected. One common example is tibial neuropathy, where the tibial nerve becomes squeezed or injured. This can happen after an injury, from surgery on the knee, or even due to long-term pressure on the nerve. Sometimes, the pain you feel is not just from the knee joint itself but also from the nerve (known as neuropathic pain) that sends signals from the knee down to your leg and foot. Research has shown that risk factors such as past injuries, surgeries, or problems with how your knee moves can lead to these types of nerve issues. Doctors will look at your history, ask about any recent injuries or surgeries, and may perform tests to Check if the nerve is being compressed. Treatment may include physical therapy, medication, or other approaches to help reduce the pressure on the nerve and ease both the pain and numbness.

(References)

Fernandes GS, Valdes AM, Walsh DA, Zhang W, Doherty M. Neuropathic-like knee pain and associated risk factors: a cross-sectional study in a UK community sample. Arthritis Res Ther. 2018 Sep 27;20(1):215. doi: 10.1186/s13075-018-1717-6. PMID: 30261907; PMCID: PMC6161431.
Lew JT, Stearns M. Tibial Neuropathy. [Updated 2023 Jun 26]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK582151/
Szwedowski D, Ambroży J, Grabowski R, Dallo I, Mobasheri A. Diagnosis and treatment of the most common neuropathies following knee injuries and reconstructive surgery - A narrative review. Heliyon. 2021 Sep 22;7(9):e08032. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e08032. PMID: 34611563; PMCID: PMC8477214.
Drăghici NC, Văcăraș V, Bolchis R, Bashimov A, Domnița DM, Iluț S, Popa LL, Lupescu TD, Mureșanu DF. Diagnostic Approach to Lower Limb Entrapment Neuropathies: A Narrative Literature Review. Diagnostics (Basel). 2023 Nov 4;13(21):3385. doi: 10.3390/diagnostics13213385. PMID: 37958280; PMCID: PMC10647627.

Tell your friends about us.

We would love to help them too.

For First Time Users

What is Ubie’s Doctor’s Note?

We provide a database of explanations from real doctors on a range of medical topics. Get started by exploring our library of questions and topics you want to learn more about.

Learn more about symptoms

Knee pain

Not sure about the cause of your current symptoms?

Try our AI-based symptom checker

With an easy 3-min questionnaire, you can get a free AI-powered report on possible causes

Tips to try:

Provide specific, detailed info about all symptoms you have.
Give accurate information about yourself including current conditions.
Answer all follow-up questions

Purpose and positioning of servicesUbie Doctor’s Note is a service for informational purposes. The provision of information by physicians, medical professionals, etc. is not a medical treatment. If medical treatment is required, please consult your doctor or medical institution. We strive to provide reliable and accurate information, but we do not guarantee the completeness of the content. If you find any errors in the information, please contact us.