3 Signs That Your Knee Pain May Be Originating in the Back
3 Signs That Your Knee Pain May Be Originating In The Back
This content was medically reviewed by Baher S. Yanni, MD, on January 14th, 2021.
When your knee aches, you undoubtedly start to wonder what could have caused it. Did you take a wrong step or twist your knee in an unusual way? Both of these scenarios are possible, but there might be another culprit. If you struggle with knee pain, back issues could be to blame.
Signs Your Back May Be Causing Knee Pain
If your knee pain isn’t the result of a traumatic injury, there’s a strong possibility that this pain may originate in your back. Here are three signs that your knee pain is a symptom of back problems.
1. KNEE PAIN OCCURS WITH BACK PAIN
The most obvious signal that your knee pain originates with back issues would be if you struggle with knee and back pain simultaneously. Unfortunately, that’s not true for everyone. Sometimes, pain in your back or knee is intermittent. Or maybe you’ve never had back and knee pain at the same time.
2. YOU EXPERIENCE SCIATIC NERVE INFLAMMATION SYMPTOMS
Can sciatica cause pain in your knee? Yes. Your sciatic nerve is actually five separate nerves that pass through your spine, into your buttocks, and then travel down the back of each leg through your knee. Because the sciatic nerve is responsible for sensory and motor functions, it’s unsurprising that sciatic issues can lead to pain anywhere along its neural pathway — including the knees.
Sciatic nerve pain can cause a variety of other symptoms as well, including:
- Muscle tightness in the hamstrings, quadriceps or hips.
- Muscle spasms in your back or legs.
- A burning sensation in the back of your legs.
- Loss of bladder or bowel control.
3. BUNION FORMATION
This sign may seem odd, but the same back issue causing your knee pain may also impact the way you walk, run and stand. The spinal nerves that support your knee also assist the inside and outside of your foot. When those nerves become stressed or injured, it can lead to an unnatural tilting of the big toe joint. This joint pressure can lead to bunions. So, if you have knee pain plus bunions, back issues may actually be the source.
How Can the Spine Cause Knee Pain?
The discs in the back can press into the sciatic nerve as you age or if you experience a back condition. The added pressure can irritate the nerve and send pain down your legs, including the knee.
Common Back Conditions That Cause Knee Pain
With back conditions, the symptoms may spread through your body and include nerve pain in the back of your knee. Some of the most common back conditions that can result in knee pain include:
- Sciatica: When the sciatic nerve gets pinched, it can feel like a shooting pain down your leg. Sciatica knee pain is common and may require medical attention to determine the correct treatment method.
- Spinal stenosis: Spinal stenosis is when the spinal canal in the lower part of your back begins to narrow and can put excess pressure on your lower back. This narrowing causes your spine to lack normal curvature and can cause strain on the knees, which can lead to knee pain.
- Herniated disc: A herniated disc is when the interior of the spinal disc pushes out through the center. Since this disc grows in size, it can cause excessive pressure on your spine, resulting in sharp shooting pain down your legs and your knees.
Preventative Care For Knee Pain
If you suspect that your knee pain may originate in your back, you can take a few at-home preventative care measures that may help relieve your symptoms:
- Avoid prolonged sitting.
- Try to maintain a healthy weight.
- Engage in specialized exercises, stretches and yoga designed to relieve back pressure.
- Take over-the-counter medications like NSAIDs to relieve pain and reduce inflammation.
- Alternate between using heating pads and ice packs for 20 minutes at a time.
- Wear comfortable, supportive shoes.
When to See a Doctor for Knee Pain
If you try to care for your knee pain at home and find that the pain remains the same or is increasing, you’ll want to schedule an appointment with our team at Spine Institute of North America. Our team can learn more about your knee pain and possible causes and decide the best treatment method.
Some signs that you may need to see a medical doctor for your knee pain include:
- The knee joint is swollen and red.
- Your knee is warm to the touch.
- You have a hard time walking on your knee or can’t walk on it at all.
Find Relief At Spine INA
Can a back injury cause knee pain? Yes — these issues may play into one another. Whether you’re struggling with constant knee pain or both your back and your knees are causing you discomfort, we are here for you. The compassionate team at Spine INA will take the time to find out what’s causing your symptoms so that we can relieve your pain and revive your life.
Don’t live with pain one day longer than you have to. Contact us today to learn how we can help you.
