numbness on side of knee

I have exact same symptoms in knee, finger and big toe. It started during pregnancy and is worse now 8wks after giving birth. My doc sent me to a neurologist and she is sending me for an MRI to rule out MS. Although i have no other symptoms of MS. She thinks its unlikely and more likely nerve issues. After reading this im convinced its nerve related but am ending up paying over $1000 to be checked out....i bet they never find out what it is...although i'll obviously rather its nerve damage than MS!

I am a chiropractor and have had patients come in that have had symptoms seen with MS. However, there are a ton of different symptoms and a lot of them are seen in many conditions. The symptoms often seen in MS are tingling/numbness in all four extremities, good days followed by really bad days, a sudden change in eye sight (blurry vision), electric shock in the mid back which is usually made worse by touching your chin to your chest (traction of the spinal cord that's inflamed). Did you grow up in a region where temps were below freezing? If so, then you possibly have MS. If you grew up in the Southern half of the US then it's very unlikely. Pregnant women often get TOS... thoracic outlet syndrome... which is caused by an irritation of the nerves being compressed by changes in the ligaments as well as muscles in the upper back, shoulder and neck area. That would cause the numbness or pain in your shoulders, arms and hands. The knee and big toe... that could simply be compression of the intervertebral discs in your back... the lumbar region. The nerves that are most affected in the spine are the lower lumbar... L4, L5 and S1 (upper part of the sacrum). L3, L4 and L5 sounds like the nerves that are being affected in your case. Yes... it could be MS, but it's likely not. That's why they do the tests though. Oh... and prime time to start seeing symptoms for MS is typically late 20's to early 30's... and females are more likely to have it. Also if you have a relative who has it, that of course raises the chances. You might want to look up a dermatome map for the human body... then you can compare where your numbness/pain is compared what nerve roots go where. It's called the meric system... 'invented' by Dr. Meric... what area of the body/organs are innervated by what spinal nerves. Good luck...

Thanks so much for your reply...very interesting and makes a lot of sense. Im sure my problem is coming from the lumber region of my back as I have had trouble with it recently.

omg! same here! the numbness started right after i had my baby and still there baby is 2 weeks old and my knee is completelu numb as well as my big toe (left) hopefully will go away but will see a specialist just to see ...

I have just googled my symptoms to figure out what is wrong with me and I am so surprised to find out that this seems to be something normal!   In the last month or so I have noticed that when I kneel on on my knees there is a sharp burning pain in my right knee, slightly to the right of the knee cap. The first few times it happened, I thought I knelt down on a small rock or something. The best description I can give of it is that it feels like the rug burns I used to get when I was a kid wrestling around on the carpet.  It is not painful in the joint, just on the skin.  Then the surface of my skin goes numb from the middle of my knee along the right side of my shin. Sometimes the numbness goes away after awhile, sometimes stays for hours. I am fifty and in good health, very active, and don't know of anything I have done in the recent past that would have caused this to happen. I guess I will go see my doctor and if I find anything out I will post it.

I've had this same problem since having my 3rd child 3months ago. Sharp pain only when kneeling, like kneeling hard on a Lego brick, followed by numbness on outside of right knee. Dr says bursitis. I've had big problems with my pelvis, sacro iliac joint (on crutches during all 3 pregnancies) and also get numbness in fingers of right hand. Was tested for carpal tunnel but it wasn't that but possible something to do with nerves towards top of spine. Wondering if its all connected, fingers knees pelvis? But no one seems to have an answer that fits me. Dr gives answers for individual items, physio thinks there's more going on but dr doesn't seem to look at the whole! So just resting it as much as possible with 3 small children! If anyone ever does get an answer please let us know!

I just read yours and it is crazy - I never imagined this many people had the exact exact same description
!

I've had the same pain. I'm a PTA and me and a PT put our heads together and came up with something that helped me get some relief. PT did a PA mob to the fibula while the knee was flexed at 90 degrees. Then some internal twist and then taped the fibula in that position. Seemed to really help while the tape was on. I then tried to mob it myself by placing a tennis ball right behind the knee on the outer side and then pullin on my knee so the ball would press against my fibula causing a PA mob. Also seemed to help.

I've had the same symptoms for at least 3 years, started with sharp burning pain under the kneecap when kneeling, no more pain, but mild numb spots all over, about inch square areas on arms and legs. I have a deteriorating disk bottom of spina and lots of skiing through 25 years old. Now 51 with mental numb spots (short term memory not so good). I'm guessing mild nerve damage from these posts.

I am now convinced that, in my case, this is nothing to do with nerves in the spine, but a result of a build-up of uric acid crystals around joints - in particular the knees. It is also linked with gout and arthritis. If you sit cross-legged and feel the outside of the knees, you will notice soft cushioning around the joint. These, I guess, are the uric acid crystals which will also give sharp pain if you kneel down. I think I'm making progress with organic cider vinegar, taken three times a day in a mug of boiled water. I'm also taking a Chinese herbal tea called 'G'out', which may be helping also. In addition, a diet that includes fresh green vegetables doesn't do any harm. Please note that I am not a doctor and nor do I have any connection with the medical profession. These are purely personal observations, gathered over a period of time, and not advice or recommendations. D Howard

I also have this numbness on the outside of my left knee. I was wondering if it had to do with my posture when I read my phone. When I sit on a chair/loo to read my phone I rest an elbow on each leg just above the knee. As the phone is touch screen and I'm right handed my left elbow rests continually on above my left leg, adding extra pressure as I use my right hand to operate the touch screen.

just a thought. if i'm right, that may suggest if you operate the touch screen with your left hand you would get a numbness on your right side. 

guessing this could also happen with regular newspaper/book reading in this position.

feedback would be good..

 

I agree with Howard D 100%

Hello... mine started with my left ring finger. The tip up to my first joint is numb. It has not ever hurt me though. Now last week my left knee has gone numb as well and it seems to be running down my shin as time goes on. The only difference I am getting from other's stories is that mine has never given me pain with it. I had been in a car accident 3 years ago that messed my back up pretty good. There were times when entire limbs would go numb. I would pick something up and I would drop it because my arm and hand would go numb. I had a Chiropractor get me all straightened out. This however is Not the same. Though I believe it could be caused by the same type of issue. Pinched nerves in my back somewhere. I am going to my reg PCP on Mon, I am a little worried that it may be something more. ????

I have been having the same symptoms. . . slight tearing/burning sensation in the outer part of the knee when puting pressure on the knee cap and a numbness in the skin just below the knee cap.  When I run my hand lightly across the inside  of the knee cap I can feel the pressure on the outside.  It dosen't hurt to bend or walk on it, just to put pressure on the knee cap or if I lean up against something with it.  The one thing that I should mention is that 8 years ago I sprained my ankle and took the full force of the fall on this knee on the pavement.  Thought I had broken the knee cap but xrays were clear.  It never bruised but I couldn't kneel on it for 6 months, not even on pillows.  Wierd!

i have same problem i fell over 5 months ago and my knees have heeled but my right knee 

slightly numb and won't go awayn