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Bulging Disc & Knee Pain

Between each segment of the spine lies a disc that provides cushioning. If part of that disc presses outward, it can put pressure on nerves running between the vertebrae, causing pain elsewhere in the body.

  1. Referred Pain

    • The discs in the spine lie close to the nerves that branch off the spinal cord between each vertebral segment. The location of the referred pain that a bulging disc causes depends on which nerve segment is irritated.

    Pain Types

    • Knee pain originating from a bulging disc in the spine can be burning or aching in nature. The pain may radiate from the buttocks down to the knee or it may be focused on a specific portion of the joint.

    Lumbar Spine Problems

    • The nerve roots along the spinal cord affect different areas of the body. Disc and nerve problems in the lower back (lumbar spine) will refer pain to the lower extremities.

    Differentiating Pain

    • When pain in the knee can't be attributed to a specific injury or type of activity, allied health professionals must dig deeper. When knee-specific tests don't point to a knee problem or when knee-specific treatment doesn't help, looking at the spine may answer questions.

    Associated Weakness

    • If a nerve to the leg is compromised by a bulging disc, weakness in the knee and entire leg can result. Pain causes a person to favor the leg, which causes the muscles to weaken, making it harder to do things and causing the pain to continue. This cycle needs to be broken to feel better.

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