There are certain conditions that are likely to spring to mind when someone says, “Nerve pain.” One of the most likely of these is that scourge of the lower back called sciatica. That’s not a bad guess since about 5% of people develop sciatica annually. A pinched nerve may also be an issue that jumps to the forefront of your thoughts.
Physical therapists can help you determine the root cause of nerve pain in your knee. These medical specialists can also assist people who are looking for ways to treat their pain.
Where did that nerve pain in your knee come from?
If you have nerve pain in your knee, there are several issues that could be its root cause. One of these is actually a condition that’s more commonly associated with the lower back. That’s right. Sciatica could be causing your pain. This condition occurs when part of the sciatic nerve is pinched, and it can trigger pain that runs down your leg, including pain behind or on the outside of the knee.
Another common source of nerve pain in the knee is a pinched peroneal nerve. This nerve runs along the outside of your knee, and it can become pinched in a wide variety of ways. Those tall boots you like to wear? They could lead to a pinched peroneal nerve if they’re too tight. Other things that could lead to this issue are:
- Crossing your legs for long periods of time.
- Long periods spent in a squatting position.
- Knee ligament injuries.
3 PT treatments that can help address the nerve pain in your knee
Physical therapists have a wide range of treatment options at their disposal. However, there are certain options that can specifically help treat the nerve pain you’re feeling in your knee. A few of these treatments include:
- Manual therapy — This category of PT is also called hands-on therapy. And for good reason. The techniques in this category all involve a physical therapist using their hands to manipulate or apply pressure to a specific area of the body. Manual therapy allows physical therapists to help those with nerve pain in several ways. It gives them a way to manipulate the knee or lower back in ways that can help release a pinched nerve. Also, manual therapy can help ease tension in the soft tissue that’s pinching the nerve in question.
- Aquatic therapy — Physical therapists may also turn to aquatic therapy to help those with nerve pain. This type of physical therapy involves working with a physical therapist in water. Often, aquatic therapy sessions take place in a heated pool. The unique natural properties of water can help enhance the effectiveness of the techniques your physical therapist is using to address your condition.
- Therapeutic exercises — You probably won’t be surprised to learn that stretching and strengthening exercises will likely play a big role in your PT plan. The specific exercises that you end up doing will be carefully chosen by your physical therapist. This helps ensure that your therapeutic exercise program:
- Can stretch the muscles in the area where the nerve is being pinched.
- Can strengthen muscles that provide support to the painful area.
- Can ease your pain as effectively as possible.
Find partners in the fight against nerve pain in your knee at Border TS
Living with nerve pain in the knee definitely isn’t something that you’ll want to do for long. Fortunately, our Border Therapy Services clinics are places you can turn for help with your pain. Our clinics’ physical therapists can do a free screening on you to determine the source of your nerve pain. In addition, they excel at building treatment plans that are effective at reducing nerve pain and individualized to each patient.
Contact our team today for more information about how we can address your knee pain or to schedule an initial appointment with us.