Can a herniated disc cause knee problems?

01/26/2020 Jeremy Anderson

Table of Contents

Can a herniated disc cause knee problems?

A lumbar herniated disc or lumbar spinal stenosis that causes compression of the L3 nerve root in your mid-back region may cause knee pain and weakness.

Can an X ray tell if you have a herniated disc?

X-rays. Plain X-rays don’t detect herniated disks, but they can rule out other causes of back pain, such as an infection, tumor, spinal alignment issues or a broken bone. CT scan.

Do herniated discs turn into arthritis?

In some cases, degeneration of the spinal discs (degenerative disc disease) may contribute to facet joint arthritis. As discs between the vertebrae become thinner, more pressure is transferred to the facet joints.

Is herniated disc the same as arthritis?

Degeneration or wear and tear arthritis of the disc often show up as mainly low back pain. You sometimes might have some leg pain or pain traveling down your leg like sciatica. With a herniated disc we more commonly see back and leg pain because, the material is bulging herniated out pushing on one of the nerves.

What does arthritis look like on xray?

An arthritis joint will demonstrate narrowing of the space between the bones as the cartilage thins, bone spurs on the edges of the joint, small cysts within the bone, and sometimes deformity of the joint, causing it to look crooked.

What does degenerative knee mean?

Degenerative joint disease of the knee is also known as osteoarthritis (OA). OA occurs when the cartilage that cushions your knee joint gradually deteriorates.

Which is worse disc bulge or herniation?

Herniated discs are considered more severe than bulging discs because they put significant pressure on nearby nerves, which can cause intense pain, inflammation and difficulties with movement.

Can back problems cause knee problems?

Yes. The sciatic nerve, which is one of the spinal nerves, connects from your low back, through your leg into your knee. Sciatica feels like a shooting pain running from your lower back, down your leg, and can contribute to knee pain.