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Why Do My Knees and Legs Feel Hot? Causes

Medically Reviewed on 11/17/2022
Disease and Condition: Arthritis
Why Do My Knees and Legs Feel Hot
Feeling warmth in the knees and legs can have many causes, including injury, intense exercise, arthritis, peripheral neuropathy, or other conditions

If your knees and legs feel hot, it could be due to inflammation caused by an injury or intense exercise. In some cases, warmth or a burning sensation in the legs can be caused by exposure to extreme temperatures or toxic substances.

Disorders that can cause a burning sensation or warmth in the knees and legs include:

Further analysis may be needed to confirm the exact underlying cause of the burning sensation, which may be associated with tingling and numbness in the legs.

What causes burning legs?

  • Burns
  • Inflammation
  • Neurological causes
    • Nerve entrapment or compression
      • May occur due to:
        • Back injuries
        • Age-related degenerative changes of the spine
        • Use of chemotherapy drugs
        • Exposure to toxins
  • Peripheral neuropathy 
    • Occurs due to damage to the peripheral sensory nerves connecting the spinal cord to the extremities.
    • Diabetes and alcohol abuse are the two most common causes.
    • Other conditions that may cause peripheral neuropathy include:
      • Chemotherapy drugs
      • Hereditary diseases
      • Autoimmune disorders
      • Exposure to toxic chemicals
      • Infections
      • Kidney failure
      • Nutritional imbalances (vitamin B12 deficiency, malabsorption syndrome)
  • Tarsal tunnel syndrome
    • Compression of the posterior tibial nerve inside the tarsal tunnel (a narrow space inside the ankle near the ankle bones) can result in sensations of burning, tingling, or pain in parts of the feet.
  • Morton’s neuroma
    • Occurs due to the thickening of the nerve tissues between the bones at the base of the toes, resulting from:
      • Tight shoes
      • Sports injuries
      • Stress on the foot
      • Abnormal position or movement of the foot
  • Vascular causes
    • Peripheral artery disease
      • When the arterial supply to the legs is compromised, it leads to inadequate oxygen delivery to the tissues in the legs.
      • It is characterized by claudication (leg pain while walking) and a burning sensation in the legs.
  • Endocrine issues
  • Infections
    • Athlete’s foot (tinea pedis)
      • This infection is caused by fungi called dermatophytes, which thrive in moist, warm areas of the skin.
      • Damp shoes and socks and humid environments are most favorable for the fungi to grow and spread.

SLIDESHOW

Pain Management: Surprising Causes of Pain See Slideshow

What other symptoms can occur with a burning sensation in the knee or legs?

Depending on the underlying cause, other symptoms that may accompany a burning sensation in the knees or legs include the following:

  • Localized symptoms
  • General symptoms
    • Fever
    • Burning sensation in other areas of the arms or legs
    • Pain in the shoulder, arm, hand, or fingers
    • Stiffness or swelling of other joints

How is burning in the legs diagnosed?

Most cases of burning legs have an obvious cause (such as diabetes). The diagnosis of burning feet due to neuropathy is straightforward and additional testing is generally not required.

In a few cases, however, if the burning sensation is sudden or has no explainable cause, further testing may be needed to make a correct diagnosis. These tests may include:

  • Physical examination and history: Involves taking a detailed medical history, asking about physical symptoms and current medications, and a physical examination of reflexes and signs of infection and injury.
  • Blood tests: Measure blood glucose level or screen for nutritional deficiencies or endocrine disorders
  • Nerve function tests:
    • Electromyography: Measures the electrical activity of a muscle in response to nerve stimulation
    • Nerve conduction velocity test: Assesses the speed at which electrical impulses move along a nerve
    • Nerve biopsy: In rare cases, a doctor may suggest cutting a piece of nerve tissue and examining it under a microscope

How is burning in the legs treated?

Treatment of burning in the legs depends on the underlying cause and may include:

What are the potential complications of burning sensation in the legs?

Burning sensation in the legs can be due to serious diseases, and failure to seek treatment can result in serious complications and permanent damage:

  • Joint deformity
  • Permanent loss of sensation
  • Chronic pain
  • Disability
  • Decreased quality of life

If your symptoms appear suddenly or get worse, contact a doctor as burning legs could be a sign of an underlying medical condition.

Medically Reviewed on 11/17/2022
References
Image Source: iStock image

Burning Feet Syndrome (Grierson-Gopalan Syndrome). https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/17773-burning-feet-syndrome-grierson-gopalan-syndrome

Burning Feet. https://www.webmd.com/diabetes/burning-feet-causes-treatments

Burning Thigh Pain (Meralgia Paresthetica). https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/burning-thigh-pain-meralgia-paresthetica/
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