The main symptom of knee nerve damage often includes varying degrees of pain. The pain is often intermittent and may be sharp, or manifest as a dull and throbbing ache. Numbness and tingling in the local area may also be present with this condition. Inability to move the joint freely is another symptom associated with knee nerve damage.

When a person suffers some type of injury or trauma to the the knee, the local nerves may become pinched or squeezed very easily. In some cases, knee nerve damage is not easily recognized by the individual, because the damage to the surrounding nerves may not be immediate. Although not very common, knee nerve damage may occur gradually over time.

Anther major sign of knee nerve damage is numbness or a lack of sensitivity. Numbness may be localized or radiate to the upper or lower leg. Some people also describe the discomfort as a prickly pins and needles sensation. Along with the feeling of numbness, skin may become discolored. A bluish tinge surrounding the knee may indicate nerve damage, although the condition does not always cause changes in skin color.

Injury to the soft tissue of the knee does not necessarily mean nerve damage has occurred. Ligaments or tendons may have been torn, yet surrounding nerves may be left undamaged. Although a physician may recommend magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to determine if there are tears of tendons or ligaments, nerve damage will not show up on this imaging. Other tests can detect knee nerve damage.

The patient's physician may recommend diagnostic tests if symptoms of peripheral neuropathy, otherwise known as nerve damage, are present. Besides persistent pain and numbness, the patient with nerve damage to the knee may also experience weakness and immobility. This weakness may involve the knee or the entire leg. In some cases of knee nerve damage, the leg may buckle under and the patient may feel unsteady or lose his balance.

Other symptoms of damaged nerves in the knee may be local skin temperature fluctuations. The patient's knee may feel warm to the touch, or in some cases colder than usual. It's also not uncommon for nerve damage to produce a burning sensation in the knee or leg. A test known as an electromyography (EMG) can determine if symptoms are related to knee nerve damage.