Knee is numb after fall

[cleric]

This past weekend I fell while riding a motorcycle. My knee was hit, but it didn't feel very serious at all as I am able to walk fine with very minor pain. There is little swelling and a few scratches because I was wearing jeans during the fall.

My knee however is numb. I've applied ice for the past two days but hasn't seen any improvement. There is no pain in walking or anything, but if my knee was touching something and movement against it will cause an extreme burning sensation feeling. For example when laying on my upside down and using my knees to get up, it will cause this pain.

Thanks in advance for any advise.

[Shann3785]

I have fallen on my knee and would just like to know why is it numb and have I broken anything

[amypond3004]

i had the same but fell doing a jump in figure skating and felt numbness in particular spots on my left knee. I got an x-ray and was informed that it was just soft tissue damage and should go away with some ibuprofen and regular application of ice. It has been just over a month since the fall and my knee is still numb. My grandfather told me when he had damaged the nerves in his foot, the numb feeling didnt pass until a year later. I'm not looking forward to this recovery process as i am a dancer and figure skater, so it basically sucks.

[amypond3004]

i am also still experiencing the same pain as you did.

[jmetheridge]

Curious to the outcome years later?  I am a climber and am experiencing the same exact thing currently after a 15 foot fall onto my knee.

[Dr. A. Srivastava]

Hi, Thank you for your question. Burning sensation, numbness or tingling sensation in any part of body is considered nerve related in origin. This burning sensation you are having can occur due to impingement, irritation or compression of nerve at knee. Most frequently involved nerve is lateral cutaneous nerve of thigh (which is branch of femoral nerve). This condition is called meralgia paraesthetica which manifests itself as pain, tingling or burning sensation of outer thigh. It may occur due to injury to nerve either due to spinal deformity or along its path to thigh by any ligament or tendon stretch, excessive tight clothing (therefore it is also called "jeans disease"), diabetic neuropathy or damage to nerve after surgery etc. Another nerve which may cause pain in legs is sciatic nerve compression. I would advise a CT scan of spine and thigh, blood sugar levels, and EMG to check out abnormal muscle responses.  Once the diagnosis is reached then treatment modalities available are strict rest, loose clothing, painkillers (NSAIDS and opioid), pain modifier medicines like carbamazepine may also be prescribed by the doctor. Therefore a neurologist’s consultation may help you in this regard.  Hope this information proves helpful to you. Take care.