What Could Cause a Tingling Sensation Along with Knee Pain?

Reviewed by Garrett Kneese, MD, MPH

Family Medicine

Tingling along with knee pain can be a sign of nerve irritation or neuropathic-like pain, which sometimes happens with knee osteoarthritis and inflammation. This result may occur when the nerves around the knee become overly sensitive or are affected by joint changes.

Explanation

When you feel tingling in your knee with pain, it may be due to changes in the nerves nearby. One possibility is that knee osteoarthritis might cause nerve irritation. Osteoarthritis can lead to joint damage and inflammation, and these changes may make the nerves more sensitive. Researchers have shown that many people with knee osteoarthritis also have signs of pain sensitization, which means their nerves might send extra signals that feel like tingling. This is sometimes called neuropathic-like pain. Inflammation in the joint can also impact how nerves work, making them more likely to send tingling or burning sensations along with pain. Other causes might include nerve compression or minor injuries near the knee region. In any case, recognizing that both joint issues and nerve sensitivity can cause such symptoms can help guide further evaluation and treatment options. Always consult a healthcare professional for personalized advice if these symptoms continue or worsen.

(References)

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van der Meulen C, van de Stadt LA, Kroon FPB, Kortekaas MC, Boonen AERCH, Böhringer S, Niesters M, Reijnierse M, Rosendaal FR, Riyazi N, Starmans-Kool M, Turkstra F, van Zeben J, Allaart CF, Kloppenburg M. Neuropathic-like pain symptoms in inflammatory hand osteoarthritis lower quality of life and may not decrease under prednisolone treatment. Eur J Pain. 2022 Sep;26(8):1691-1701. doi: 10.1002/ejp.1991. Epub 2022 Jun 24. PMID: 35671123; PMCID: PMC9541664
Menz HB, Allan JJ, Buldt AK, Landorf KB, Cicuttini FM, Roddy E, Munteanu SE. Neuropathic Pain Associated With First Metatarsophalangeal Joint Osteoarthritis: Frequency and Associated Factors. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2023 Oct;75(10):2127-2133. doi: 10.1002/acr.25125. Epub 2023 May 11. PMID: 37013633; PMCID: PMC10952225.
ainese P, Mahieu H, De Mits S, Wittoek R, Stautemas J, Calders P. Associations between markers of inflammation and altered pain perception mechanisms in people with knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review. RMD Open. 2023 May;9(2):e002945. doi: 10.1136/rmdopen-2022-002945. PMID: 37225282; PMCID: PMC10231007.

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