Can Sciatica Cause Knee Pain? (A real pain in the...knees?)

Sciatic nerve pain is a real sharp pain in the...knees? Have you ever experienced radiating pain from your lumbar spine or lower back, your hip, and down your leg into your knee? If so, you may be suffering from a pinched nerve roots or sciatic nerve. Many people ask, "can sciatic pain cause pain in the knee?" A common condition affecting the sciatic nerve, acute sciatica can cause stabbing sensations, tingling, and even burning in a localized area of the hip, leg, and knees. It can also give a feeling of numbness and weakness, not to mention foot pain, a sciatica related knee pain, when pressure is put on the nerve. 

What is sciatica, and what are the typical sciatica symptoms?

The sciatic nerve or nerve roots starts in the lower back or lumbar spine and runs down the leg. When the sciatic nerve is pinched, it can cause discomfort and numbness in the lower back, hip, and legs. Sciatic nerve pain can cause a variety of other symptoms like:

1. Pain in the Lower Back, Hip, or Buttock

A common symptom of sciatica is numbness, burning sensation, tingling, and pain radiating from the lower back, glutes, and leg. This sciatic pain is often described as being sharp or burning dull ache. Sometimes, it may be severe enough to make walking or standing difficult.

2. Numbness or Tingling in the leg

The compression of sciatic nerves in the lower back may cause numbness or shooting pain in the leg.

3. Weakness in the leg

Leg or knee weakness is another possible symptom of sciatica, making it difficult to stand or walk. 

4. Pain That Gets Worse When Sitting

Sciatica pain often worsens when sitting, as this position puts additional pressure on the nerves in the lower back.

5. Pain That Gets Worse at Night

Often people experience increased pain when it is time to sleep. Some people with sciatica find that their sciatic knee pain worsens at night, making it difficult to sleep.

Factors that raise the probability of developing sciatica include:

• Age

Knee pain caused by chronic sciatica are traced back to degenerative spinal issues like herniated disc or spinal stenosis which refers to a decrease of space in the spinal canal associated with aging, such as bulging disks and bone spurs.

• Obesity

People who are obese experience sciatica pain more because all the pressure is put on the spinal cord or column when a person is overweight.

• Occupation

Sciatica pain can come when your work requires constant bending over, lifting heavy objects, or sitting in a car for lengthy periods.

• Sitting for hours on end

Sciatica is more common among inactive persons, such as those who sit for long periods or seldom get up from a sitting position.

• Diabetes

Nerve injury is a more likely outcome due to the disorder's impact on glucose metabolism.

Can Sciatica Cause Sciatic Knee Pain?

Have you ever had numbness that travels down your leg, leaving your knee throbbing? If so, chances are it's been sciatica-related. Sciatica is a term used to describe the pain caused when the sciatic nerve is compressed or aggravated. While sciatica typically causes buttock and back pain, it can sometimes spread to the knee joint all the way down to the foot. People who suffer from sciatica might only realize that their knee pain and foot pain are connected to this condition once they get properly evaluated by their doctor. 

How can sciatica cause knee pain? 

Sciatica can be an annoying and uncomfortable experience, but did you know it can affect your knees? Many people don't realize that sciatica can cause knee pain. You may think the sciatic nerve only affects your lower back, hips, and legs, but it can also influence your knees! Yes, the same long sciatic nerve can sometimes cause knee pain. Generally, a lot of pressure on the sciatic nerve will cause sharp or dull ache to shoot down the back of your leg and into the knee and experience hamstring tightness. The knee may swell as well and can feel achy and tight.

Natural sciatica treatment and pain relief available

Compressed sciatica can cause tingling and pain or burning sensation in the lower back and legs. Here are several pain relief tips that can help relieve sciatica pain.

1. Rest

Rest is one of the best treatments for sciatica pain. I don't mean you have to stay in bed all day, but you should avoid any activities that worsen your pain. 

2. Ice and heat

Applying ice or heat to the affected area to treat sciatica can help to reduce inflammation and pain. You should use ice for 20 minutes several times a day. Heat can be used for 15-20 minutes at a time, several times a day.

3. Physical therapy and strengthening exercises

Physical therapy like Stretching and strengthening exercises can help to relieve pain and prevent further injury. Your doctor or physical therapist can recommend specific exercises for you to do.

4. Massage

Massage can help relax the muscles and relieve pain. You can see a massage therapist or use a physical therapy self-massage tool such as a foam roller or tennis ball.

5. Acupuncture

Not only can acupuncture help reduce the chronic pain often associated with sciatica, but it can also relieve any additional symptoms you might experience. For example, can sciatica cause knee pain? Absolutely - and thankfully, regular acupuncture can help make these symptoms a thing of the past.

So if you're looking for an effective way to ease those pesky sciatica pains, why not try acupuncture? You might find it's your go-to remedy!

6. Chiropractic adjustments

Chiropractic adjustments are another alternative treatment that some people find helpful for sciatica. During this treatment, a chiropractor will use their hands or an instrument to apply force to the spine, which can help relieve pain and improve function.

7. CBD Topicals

CBD is a natural option for managing knee pain and inflammation associated with sciatica. For best results, use a full-spectrum CBD oil that contains other beneficial cannabinoids and terpenes. In addition, CBD can be taken orally to help reduce inflammation throughout the body. 

Dealing with knee pain can be incredibly frustrating, especially when you're trying to go about your day-to-day activities. If you've been looking for a way to ease your knee pain, you may want to give Alive-Market's Full Spectrum CBD & Goats Milk Lotion a try. Made with 100% natural ingredients, this lotion soothes not only sciatica pain, but also other forms of nerve pain. The best part? It's non-greasy and quickly absorbed by the skin, so you can get relief without feeling icky or uncomfortable. Don't let knee pain hold you back any longer. Try Alive-Market's Full Spectrum CBD & Goats Milk Lotion today and see how it can help you feel better.

Six stretches you can do at home to feel better.

Seated glute stretch

• Put your feet flat on the floor in front of you and sit down.
• Bring your right ankle over your left knee and bend your right leg.
• Continually hold for 15-30 seconds. The hamstrings and back get a good stretch from this.
• Do the same on the reverse side.

Sitting spinal stretch

• Sit on the ground, your legs straight out and your feet flexed upward.
• Bend your right knee and place your foot flat on the floor next to your opposite knee.
• Put your left elbow on the outside of your right knee to assist you in turning your body to the right.
• Hold for 30 seconds, and then switch sides three times.

Basic seated stretch

To start this stretch, sit on a chair with your painful leg crossed over the knee of the other leg. Then take these actions:

• Try to keep your spine straight while bending forward with your chest. Try to bend over a little more if it doesn't hurt. If you experience any radiating pain, stop.
• Hold this position for 30 seconds, switch to the other leg, and perform the exercise again.

Figure 4 on your back

You can open your hips by performing the figure-4 stretch. There are other variations of this stretch; however, you can follow these instructions to reduce sciatic nerve pain:

• Bend both of your knees while lying flat on your back.
• As you raise your legs toward your torso, cross your right foot over your left thigh, making a figure 4.
• Hold the posture for 30 seconds, then repeat on the opposite side.

It's crucial not to strain throughout this phase. Instead, let gravity naturally move your legs closer to your body so that you can stretch deeper.

Knee to the opposite shoulder

By releasing your gluteal and piriformis muscles, which can become inflamed and press against the sciatic nerve, this straightforward stretch helps ease sciatica pain.

• Start with your legs extended, feet flexed upward, and lying on your back.
• Bring your right leg into your chest and gently grab your knee to bring it closer to your chest.
• Pulling slowly, cross your right leg over to your left shoulder. Keep in mind to pull your knee as far as it can comfortably. Keep holding it for 30 seconds. 
• Following three repetitions, switch legs.

Sleeping pigeon pose

• Start in downward dog.
• Next, raise your right leg for a three-legged dog.
• Slowly move forward while you bring your knee to your chest and land your right leg forward with a bend in the knee. Your leg doesn't have to be parallel to the front. 
• Extend the left leg behind you with the top of the foot on the floor and toes pointed back.
• Gradually bend your upper body forward and rest on your hands, forearms, or forehead. 
• Breathe in deeply and repeat on the opposite side.

Conclusion

Dealing with knee pain can be frustrating, especially when you can't seem to find the cause of it. Many people are surprised to learn that sciatica--a condition normally associated with lower back pain--can be the culprit. The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in your body and runs from your lower back all the way down to your toes. When compressed or irritated, it can cause pain to travel to other areas such as the hips, thighs, and even your knees. But what can be done about it? Physical therapy can help alleviate knee pain and pressure on the sciatic nerve by identifying specific exercises that will improve flexibility and range of motion in the affected area. Don't let knee pain derail your daily activities--talk to a physical therapist today and find out how sciatica could be the root cause!