jolting electric knee pains

[loulou886]

I am a 27 year old female and I have been having strange but excruciatingly painful electric like jolts in my knee. They come at random several times a day in strange electric pangs that are so painful that i scream sometimes when they happen. However after the episode my knee feels completely normal.  It feels almost like someone is shocking my nerve ending or something. The pain is indescribable. I have no pain anywhere else and I have never felt anything like this up until a couple months ago and just recently I went like 2 weeks with no jolts? They seem to happen most often when i am stitting down. My knee looks completely normal, no swelling or redness and its NOT tender to the touch at all. Do I have MS? I am freaking out.

[456_456]

Did you ever figure out what this was? Did it resolve itself ? I’m having the exact same thing

[iahmed]

Misplaced nerves in your hip and groin region cause this.  I’ve had swollen and painful knees for a while before I managed to fix it with similar stretching and massaging. One stretch that helped me was the hip rotation exercise. You have to push the hips out to the max points to feel the nerves twitch like the strings of a guitar while rotating and trying to keep your back straight. Awkward movements but it works.

[NorwegianPT]

Possible solution that worked for me. I've had these pains on and off for a couple of years. They seem to happen whenever I don't stretch my legs properly after a work-out / physical activity. Yesterday I had the pains for 24 hours - probably happened 10-15 seconds 150-200 times. Very painful... However I've had good experiences before by stretching my legs properly, so I decided to go for a jog - 10-15 minutes. Didn't get a single shock while jogging. I got home and started stretching every part of my leg (Right leg is the problem for me) Stretching hamstrings - quads, adductors and gastrocnemius, also sitting on the floor with a straight leg stretching outside and inside by pushing on the upper part of my foot both right and left. Also stretched my glutes, no shock happened. However when I was stretching my upper thigh (By putting my left leg on an elevated surface - and pushing my right hip forward) that's when the shocks triggered like crazy. So I kept pushing even though the shocks continued to happen. I kept at it until I didn't feel anything when doing that hip stretch. Got 1 shock after going to bed, and after that, nothing. I am completely fine. If you want to give this a go - walk / or jog if you can, to warm up your muscles - 15 minutes should be enough. Stretch every part of your leg. If a certain stretch triggers the shocks, like it did for me, I just pushed through it, and that's what fixed it for me. Good luck. Would love to hear back if this worked for you! We all know the pain involved in this, and we have to share our solutions asap to relieve the pain for the people who suffer from this!

[BartStar]

After doing extensive research and trying all sorts of things I believe I discovered the issue - at least for myself.
Look into Plica Syndrome.  Its basically tissue getting stuck in the knee.

I was able to resolve my issue by doing hamstring issues to loosen that tissue up.  Since I discovered this and did the stretches religiously I have pretty much resolved my issue completely.
I can't guarantee this is your issue but it worked for me.

[cathleenv87]

Thanks for the hint! Will definitely look into it.
Yesterday I tried the hot & cold water therapy and I didn't have pains during the night and it feels quite oK now. ... But let's see...

[cathleenv87]

Hi, I am a 30 years old female, and I started to have the exact same pains in December 2017, while sitting in front of the TV. Then it disappeared for something like a month, and I had it again in February this year. Then I went to X-ray, and the doctor said it's nothing, and i should keep doing what I did until now, and he recommended that I ride the bike a lot. Well, i did it,  but the pains didn't disappear totally. Sometimes I don't have them for two weeks, then it comes during the night and wakes me up - that's the worst. Now I hope to get appointment at the MR soon, I hope they can tell me more... If you guys have found the solution please keep posting.. Thanks! And get well soon!

[camo78]

Hello
Did you find out what the problem and solution was to this ? I’m having the same problem atm and it destroys my sleep especially. Waking up to random, severe electric shock pain in the middle of the night. Thanks

[camo78]

Hello
Did you find out what the problem and solution was to this ? I’m having the same problem atm and it destroys my sleep especially. Waking up to random, severe electric shock pain in the middle of the night. Thanks

[kneeshock]

I had the same symptoms: 30 seconds bursts of shocking sensation behind my right knee at random times such as driving, sitting at my desk, mowing the lawn, sleeping in bed, standing at the sink and going to the bathroom.  My theory is that it could have been caused by a pinched sciatic nerve, caused by sitting on the toilet for long periods of time. Also, I used an off-brand squaty potty, which may place the nerve in a position where it could be pinched by the toilet seat. After I made the connection and stopped using the stool and got off the toilet when I was done with my business, the shocking sensations stopped. Stretching seemed to help relieve the pain but I don't feel it prevented the shocks. When I noticed that massaging my hamstring triggered shocks, I thought about the sciatic nerve. I hope this helps others. I am 41, 180 lbs male.

[NorwegianPT]

Hello everyone. I have found a solution to this problem. I currently work as a personal trainer in Norway. This jolting pain is most likely caused by VMO - or Vastus Medialis Oblique, one of your inner thigh muscles - left side of quads. My solution is to get a hold of a foam roller (you might have to buy one, but usually training centers have one. What to do: You need to lie down with the foam roller and put your inner thigh perpendicular on it. Start rolling back and forth applying alot of pressure with your body weight. This should be very uncomfortable and will hurt alot when done correctly. Do very long rolls from the knee, all the way up to the top of your inner thigh. This might become physically straining and you might want to take short breaks or sets of rolls. I usually do 30-50 hard rolls (very uncomfortable) and it fixes the problem for me INSTANTLY! It's not completely gone, I do get it from time to time, but then I just repeat and it's gone again. The rolling looks very silly though and might best be done alone, but to get rid of this incredibly excruciating knee pain it's worth it! I had this problem for many years until I did this. Hope this helps you all! :) (This usually works on MANY other muscle problems - foam roll before you go the surgery route!) Best regards from Norway!

[tasspe]

I had it too a whIle ago. And for my case It was just a health issue so I stop drinking or reduce drinking  beer and specially the cheap ones.And I also  start exercising and eating better.And It went away  after around 3 months sticking on my regime. it's being now more than a  year since  I didn't suffer from it. Hope this helps.

[minkbo]

I have had this exact problem over the years, but had a very bad electric shock pain episode, that would almost pulsate shock like pain... then nothing...went to dr. ( dr. Knew nothing )
Went to my old Chinese accupuncturist ( who is a god send ).  He instantly knew what this was and how to treat.   This is nothing major.  It is an overuse of the knee tendon ( there are many tendons in knee ). One or more is overused.  It also could be a bursa.   He said to take it easy for a week,  reduced the inflammation with Accupuncture and is having me do an ice massage for two weeks.  ( freeze a bottle, make essentially an ice pop, rub over area one hundred times, to the point it gets numb. Then take hot shower ). He said if this does not calm down, come in again for treatment .  If this is so extreme, I could get a cortisone shot. Thanks
Things are doing great today.  I feel so relieved that I found an answer.  The pain is excruciating, and very scary.  I love to be active... so thankful.
In the interim, if you can't get into a accupuncturist.  I found a nerve gel at Walgreens, that would stop an episode for about 6 hrs.  I also tried a marajuana tincture applied topically helped as well.

[ndeems]

Have you ever found out what's going on?

[Jeffjeffjeff]

Maybe this helps a few of you guys.
I had the same symptoms under my left knee for a while
My doctor here in Holland sent his friend round who is a retired knee specialist to many of Hollands football players. Soccer to my American cousins.
He said that the underside of my knee cap is irritated and that causes the weird electric pain. The problem is that there is not much blood supply under the knee cap (of anyone). So he gave me the following excercise to do. (As often as I could).
With a straight leg, but a totally relaxed leg, either on the couch or with the leg diagonally down from my office chair) I am to very very slightly flex my front thigh muscle so that the knee cap very gently rises up towards my head, hold for a second and gently release. Over and over. As often as I could in a day. The idea is that it gently rubs the underside of the knee cap across the top of the knee and thus brings a bit of blood flow. He stressed that the leg should be fully relaxed and the movement gentle. Easiest excercise ever. Six weeks long he said and no running etc. So far it's working. I hope it works for some of you guys.
Cheers
Simon

[camo78]

It’s not under my knee cap, it’s slightly above it (left knee in my case)

[johnwithananswer]

I started having the same electrical shocking pain to the left part of my kneecap a.k.a. patella. what people don't discuss here is that this kind of injury is due to stress both physical and or mental. I  imediately went to the drugstore and bought some fish oil, joint support aka glucosamine and emergency fortified with vitamin D and calcium. I also started eating brown rice three times a day with vegetables aka a partial macrobiotic diet. I also found a YouTube video of stretches for knee injuries that I have done twice a day for five days in a row.

http://youtu.be/ovzlYNxL6TM

My shocking pain has stopped. no more standing or sitting or walking or laying down and having this uncontrollable shocking pain no more!! at times I can feel a minor shock start near the patella but it is dissipated because  I am strengthening the muscles below and above the knee which help dissipate the pain!!!
again changing your stress levels will help -taking the supplements will help and eating a plant-based diet will definitely help – the culprit always seems to be swelling or inflammation!!! I also believe that my general pH balance is off I am slightly more acidic due to poor eating and lack of stress management. I hope this helps everybody because the pain was so intense!! good luck

[airinbazli]

i have been having the same issue. Did you find any clues what it is and why is it happening? what can be done

[ndeems]

I got an MRI. The doctor (orthopedic surgeon) found I had a torn meniscus and what was called an impinging synovial tissue. I underwent surgery. The symptoms still persisted, albeit to a lesser degree (which the doctor said would be normal). After a few months though, I insisted that these persisting symptoms were effecting my daily life. He did a few touch tests on my knees which led him to diagnose me with neuralgia. He referred me to a pain specialist, and I have been on Gabepentin (Neurontin) since July. My symptoms have, for all intents and purposes, disappeared, although I am not 100% sure if it's due to the surgery, the drugs, or both. I hope this helps.

[BartStar]

I'll add that anti-inflammatory meds have not helped.

[BartStar]

Same issue here.
Electrical shock-like feeling in my knee.  Lasts around 15 seconds then completely gone.  While it happens it is excrutiating.  But once over its like nothing happened.
It occurs completely randomly:  while sleeping, sitting, walking.  No rhyme or reason.  Initial exam and x-ray showed nothing.

I believe it is a nerve issue but unsure...

[cduval04]

hello there..found this post on a google search and like all of you I am 27 and am experiencing the EXACT same thing recently with my right knee. the fact that we are all relatively around the same age have have near identical symptoms cannot be coincidental. Please if anyone finds out what this is, even if its bad, please help. I have a history of neuromuscular conditions in my family as well as suffering with one myself, and would be lying if I said MS wasn't a big fear of mine. Thanks

[ndeems]

Hi. I have exactly the same symptoms as the original post: excruciating sharp pain just outside to the left of my left knee cap that lasts about 10-15 seconds. It happens randomly, without a trigger, and occurs while sitting, lying down, standing walking, sleeping, etc. without warning (just as in the original post). Has anyone had any luck figuring out the cause? I've seen a couple people mention piriformus syndrome and they say they had some luck treating that. My orthopedist diagnosed me with a torn meniscus and an impinging synovium. I had surgery to correct those, but these symptoms persist. Can anyone help?

[VirginiaW]

I'm copying this from one of the other forums. So much time has passed. I still suffer from the shock pains. Here is my update from the other place:

I had my  neuro appointment today and I had a major attack right there in his office in mid-sentence. I'm glad it happened. Now he knows what we are all talking about. I had a very hard day in general (numerous milder jolts) but it ended well with a two-hour nap on the couch. Now I wish it were morning so I could get going for real again.
After seeing the intensity of my pain (crying level), the neuro worked out a schedule that will increase my Gabapentin over the course of about a week. I will end up taking 3600MG per day.
I hope it doesn't make me loopy again or too clumsy or tremory. Is that a word? I doubt it. :) I am a former proofreader.
Still thinking of all of you too . . .

[VirginiaW]

I had my first physical therapy appointment today and was sent home with some easy exercises to do twice a day. I am greatly encouraged. I will do the exercises with both legs.  I have three more appointments.
The main reason for this therapy is because my knee cap got slightly out of its groove. I had one electric shock yesterday morning, then wore a knee brace the rest of the day and stayed off my leg most of the day. No more shocks so far.
My therapist actually has heard of the knee shocks!!!!!! and thinks it's probably all related to the knee cap getting out of place, then swelling.

[Malingml]

Hi Loulou (and others),

I'm a 25 year old female and I'm having exactly the same symptoms, except my pains come to many different body parts from the waist down. I have no idea what it is, but I do know that I also have some SI joint pain, and I've heard that it was due to a rotation in my hips. I don't, however, know how the rotation occurred. I've been experiencing the SI shooting, jolting pain since June, (about six months now,) but I believe the  pain in other areas started before then. I don't think that any of my symptoms are due to any sort of muscle tightness, as I believe it is strictly nerve-related. I don't know if this helped at all, but if you get any more information OR ANYONE ELSE HAS ANY, please, please let me know. As you mentioned in your previous post, this is starting to freak me out as well. Good luck!

[bean114]

Did you ever find out what it was?  Your post could have been written by me.

[dr_simran]

Hello Dear,
Was there any knee injury?You can try the following -
Protect the knee from  trauma.Use a  pad over the kneecap  it helps to control the symptoms of some knee injuries (an example is a form of bursitis sometimes called housemaid's knee) by preventing further repetitive injury to the prepatellar bursae.
Rest reduces the repetitive strain placed on the knee by activity. Icing the knee reduces swelling and can be used for both acute and chronic knee injuries compression can be used to keep the patella aligned and to keep joint mechanics intact. the knee with a knee brace or wrap.
Elevation works with gravity to help fluid that would otherwise accumulate in the knee flow back to the central circulation.
Prop your leg up when you are sitting.

Over-the-counter pain control medications: Commonly used pain relievers such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as naproxen and ibuprofenalso play a role in the treatment of knee pain.
Also if the pain persists ,you should see an orthopedic physician and go in for a x-ray to rule out any degenerative pathological changes.

Re fer http://www.emedicinehealth.com/knee_pain_overview/page3_em.htm
Best