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Published on: 4/28/2025

What Might Cause Tingling in the Left Knee?

Tingling in one knee may be caused by irritation or injury to nearby nerves, such as the peroneal or saphenous nerve. It may also be due to surgery or pressure on the nerve.

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Explanation

Tingling in one knee can happen when nerves are hurt or irritated. One possible cause is a peroneal nerve injury, which might come from pressure or a bump near the side of the knee. The peroneal nerve helps with feeling and movement in the leg, so when it is damaged, you might feel tingling or numbness. Another possible cause is saphenous neuritis. This means that the saphenous nerve, which runs along the inside of your leg, is inflamed or hurt. Sometimes after knee surgery, such as a total knee replacement, patients might have numbness or tingling in the knee because the surgery can sometimes affect nearby nerves. In some cases, the way the incision is made on the skin or the pressure on the nerve during the surgery can lead to these symptoms. If you notice tingling, it is important to mention it to your doctor so they can find the exact reason and suggest the right treatment.

(References)

  • Updated 2024 Feb 25]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK549859/
  • Black R, Green C, Sochart D. Postoperative numbness of the knee following total knee arthroplasty. Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 2013 Nov;95(8):565-8. doi: 10.1308/rcsann.2013.95.8.565. PMID: 24165337; PMCID: PMC4311531.

  • Morganti CM, McFarland EG, Cosgarea AJ. Saphenous neuritis: a poorly understood cause of medial knee pain. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2002 Mar-Apr;10(2):130-7. doi: 10.5435/00124635-200203000-00008. PMID: 11929207.

  • Kulshrestha V, Sood M, Kumar S, Kumar P, Stanley A, Padhi PP, Sharma S. Numbness Following Total Knee Arthroplasty: Role of Incision Length And Position - A Randomized Study. Clin Orthop Surg. 2023 Feb;15(1):59-70. doi: 10.4055/cios21140. Epub 2022 Nov 30. PMID: 36778989; PMCID: PMC9880504.

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