Diabetic Neuropathy: This condition is a common cause of burning nerve pain, especially in the thighs and knees, due to high blood sugar levels damaging nerves over time. The description of nerves feeling "hyper-excited and misfiring" aligns with the neuropathic pain often experienced in diabetes.

Peripheral Neuropathy: This is a broader category that includes diabetic neuropathy but also encompasses other causes of nerve damage, such as vitamin deficiencies, alcohol abuse, or autoimmune diseases. Symptoms can include burning pain, numbness, and tingling in various parts of the body, including the thighs and knees.
Lumbar Radiculopathy: Compression or irritation of the nerve roots in the lower back can cause pain, numbness, tingling, or burning sensations in the thighs and knees, depending on which nerve roots are affected.
Fibromyalgia: While more commonly associated with widespread musculoskeletal pain, fibromyalgia can also cause neuropathic symptoms, including burning pain, due to sensitization of the nervous system.

Guillain-Barré Syndrome: An autoimmune disorder where the body's immune system mistakenly attacks part of its peripheral nervous system, which can lead to rapid-onset muscle weakness and, in some cases, neuropathic pain. It's crucial to diagnose early due to the potential for rapid progression to respiratory failure.
Spinal Stenosis: Narrowing of the spinal canal can compress the spinal cord or nerve roots, leading to pain, numbness, or tingling in the legs, which can be exacerbated by walking or standing. In severe cases, it can lead to cauda equina syndrome, a medical emergency.
Vitamin B12 Deficiency: A deficiency in vitamin B12 can cause neurological problems, including neuropathic pain, numbness, and weakness in the legs. If left untreated, it can lead to permanent nerve damage.

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS): A chronic pain condition characterized by severe, burning pain at the site of an injury, which can be out of proportion to the severity of the initial injury. It's rare but can be debilitating.
Amyloidosis: A group of diseases that result from the abnormal accumulation of amyloid proteins in various tissues, which can lead to neuropathic pain among other symptoms. It's rare and often diagnosed late in the disease process.
Sarcoidosis: An inflammatory disease that can affect multiple parts of the body, including the nervous system, leading to neuropathic pain. Neurosarcoidosis is a rare manifestation of the disease.