Can sciatic nerve cause pain in knee? I have had knee pain since the end of Sept, went to doctor they said it was bursitis, was prescribed costly pain cream, then x-ray,6 weeks of PT,and then one shot. And still no relief,then MRI, then one shot for 3 weeks. MRI only showed a little arthritis.All of this is in my right knee. My sciatic is on my right side. My left knee has a lot of arthritis in it and needs replaced. With my right knee in so much pain, I can not think of having left knee replaced at this time, I hate being in constant pain.