Hello everyone. I have found a solution to the electric shock like pain in the knee 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 on the floor 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 base of the knee, all the way to the top of your inner thigh. This can become physically straining and you might have to take short breaks or do 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 before I did this. This usually works on MANY other muscle problems - foam roll before you go the surgery route! Hope this works for you all! :)
Same here, for many years I have electric shock like pain in my left knee in lower part. This pain appears completely randomly, it doesn't matter if I'm sitting, walking, laying. This pain is so strong that I even jump up and usually scare all people around me. After that and before that my knee feels completely fine. MRI and X-rays showed nothing. My dr thinks I'm crazy and I imagine this pain. I'm glad i found these post which proves that I'm normal or all of us here are crazy:) PLEASE, IF ANYONE FOUND SOLUTION TO THIS, PLEASE LET US KNOW. I'll try piriformis syndrome exercises, but I doubt that it is piriformis syndrome, as I don't have other symptoms except this crazy knee pain.
Well I have had the same issue under my Left Knee.
2 years now and 1 fender bender.
Scans, MRI, Xrays, nothing wrong.
So I started looking at my diet. Wrote Everything down and then when my little friend came back around I looked at my diet.
What I found was I was always eating one thing different in the days/weeks leading up to it.
Nuts, I really like nuts.
So, I stop the nuts (any kind) weeks later no issues.
Eat nuts (like two bags you get at the food marts.
couple days later it happens.
So after a few months of testing I think it has something to do with nuts, what that means, I have no idea.
My two cents
Big Daddy
I was suffering from the same pain too. I felt it go up my knee and then it would be followed by a tingling sensation. I finally got it looked at and it is basically the hamstring and your knee muscals are tight! So, when you walk or do anything, your knee and leg muscles are contracting and de- contracting, in which the nerve in by the patella is getting caught in the contacting and de contracting process. Talk to your dr about streches you can do.
Hi, HAS ANYONE FOUND DIAGNOSIS? PLEASE... or solution how to deal with this madness as it gets worst over the years and I have no idea how to live my everyday life with this crazy pain repeating more and more often. Went to 4 neurologists and nothing. Please, if anyone knows solution to this problem, please, share...
I was on an inversion table and stayed too long and suddenly felt my knees and center of legs become unstable. Since then I have these shocks. Wasn't noticed on an MRI, but I know I probably tore something right behind the knee cap. Just a heads up for all of you that feel that shocking pulsating pain because I know why mine happened.
Thanks all, same symptoms, only one week. I'm male, 49, not the athletic type but only slightly overweight. This conversation (2007-2021!) was incredibly helpful, not because of any specific answer but because of the feeling of not being alone, giving me hope and encouraging me to research and try to understand what I might have changed in my behaviors.
I had recently decided to do something about my blood pressure so I started using a stationary bicycle about half an hour a day, and using a magnesium supplement.
Today I did not take the magnesium supplement and did some stretching specific to the upper thigh (grabbing an ankle and pulling up), after the workout.
Today had only a hint of pain, but essentially zero.
So my working theories: slight magnesium/potassium imbalance or maybe excess magnesium? Or perhaps something related to thigh muscle healing after the workout, pulling nerves?
Quick update:
I had an MRI last week on my pelvis to try and determine whether the Femoral Cutaneous Nerve was entrapped or compressed. The MRI showed that it was not. Everything was clear apart from a small cyst they found which the doc said was not related. The next course of action is a nerve conductivity test with a neurologist. I will be organising this soon and will update on this once it happens.
In the meantime, I have been able to successfully manage the electric shock pains with 1200mgs of Gabapentin taken as 400mg doses 3 times a day. I still get an occasional mild pain but for the most part the pains are gone. However if I wait too long between doses I can feel the shocks returning.
Update....
This pain is not muscular. It’s nerve pain. Stretching muscles does not help.
For me it occurs just above my left knee front and centre. I have had blood test, untralsound, X-ray and ct scan on my lower back/spine and hip. Nothing has been discovered from those scans.
I am still trying to find the cause. In the meantime I have been taking a medication for nerve pain called Lyrica. It has helped somewhat but not stopped it from happening. Has mainly just reduced symptoms.
I am going to try Gabapentin as mentioned above and keep looking for a cause. I haven’t had an MRI yet.
Will keep this thread updated because alit of people have disappeared from it and never returned to give updates. I’m presuming this pain subsides and goes away over time perhaps and that’s why people don’t report back?
If this is the case for you let us know please.
Thanks
I found the reason of the electrical shock like pain in my knee is because a reaction to a specific brand of probiotics dietary supplement that I was taking. It was from “megafood” brand; and when I stopped taking them, the pain has gone. Hope this would help some others here.
Hello all
I have been experiencing these random electric shock type pains just above my left knee towards the middle of my leg for the past three weeks. Might go a couple of days with no pain and then.... Bang! hits me like a ton of bricks then pulsates on and off for around 30 seconds until it subsides.
I went to docs and she looked at me perplexed and said give it some time and if it doesn't stop get an ultra sound.
What the hell is wrong with me?
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!
Shocking when it happens, I'm never prepared for the extent and severity of the pain It only lasts 4-10 seconds, max. The pain is under the left knee cap towards the inner part of leg. It feels as though someone takes a gun straight to the spot or an ice pic and it pulses. The pain is so severe I scream bloody murder! It shocks everyone around and is happening in my sleep. Right now it happens about 6 times during any given day and 2-3 times during the night. Went 2 days ago to a Ortho Urgent Center and the doc thought it was pes anserine bursitis. They gave me a cortisone shot and it was worst the next day. Please please if anyone gets more of a diagnosis, post here as soon as possible.
Hi All,
I am in the similar situation as many of you. However, I am on my third day. But something has helped me. Read below -
1) Day 1: I got two electric shocks one at 8:00 am another 11:00 am, I was in pain for 5 secs or so then gone, like most of you have mentioned, terrible feeling, excruciating pain from the back of my inner right knee all the way down to the right leg.
2) Day 1: did a thorough research spoke to my physio
3) Day 2: Did lower spine release/mobility work(physio did it), did yoga stretches(learnt it in past), did foam roller on T-band and inner thigh (have learnt in past), took vitamin D tablets (as prescribed by my doc), did not sit for more than 30-45 at a stretch and did a small stretch walk after every 30-45 of sitting (my job demands long hours of sitting)
4) Day 2: Attack came back at 2:00 pm but was 1/4th of the intensity of what had happened to me on Day 1
5) Day 3: is today - I am gonna repeat what I did on Day 2 above and see how it goes.
Other Info -My lifestyle is otherwise healthy in terms of food I take and water I drink. I used to play a lot of sports but taking a break from the same from last 2 months.
I had a sports injury on my right knee twice in last 30 years. I am 43 years old male. Not overweight.
Somewhere above "ehlet" has described this approach too and while I did my online research I found his recommendation very sensible and derived by an approach from there. So thanks "ehlet" for the same.
I am a fresh case only on Day 3 so I will keep you guys posted on how my pain goes and will write back in a weeks time.
till then, take care and I will experiment with my approach and post back.
cheers,
rtupap
Same thing as all of you. EXTREME shock like pain, interior of right knee ( but not my knee ).
This happened about a year ago for about 5 -10 seconds. I was like OUCH! Then I started doing a spin class and yesterday this came on with a vengeance. Extreme shock pain lasting from 5-30 seconds, at times almost felt like it was pulsating. This went on off and on for about and hour. Then nothing.. no pain, no problems until next attack.
I remembered hearing something about apple cider vinegar, I drank a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and water and it subsided for about 8 hours. 8 hours later woke me up in middle of night, drank more vinegar.. seemed to help.
At work today rolling around during an episode. My dad gave me a tincture of marijuana oil... seemed to help, then I also found at Walgreens Neuragen ( nerve cream ) this seemed to stop in its tracks.
I really am not sure. I made an appointment at Dr in am. Listening to everyone, it does not seem to help. I personally am going to back off the spin class and see if it subsides the flare up.
Hope some of these things help you, as they did me.
I'm getting it too - it's a sharp electric shock type pain in my knee of my left leg- more to the side of my knee. I had spinal surgery (a benign schnowmma rumour removed) 3 years ago so it may be connected..or maybe not! I'm going to see a doctor asap.
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
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
Just to share my experience after a fall to the knee. The sharp pains started for me mostly just as the swelling/bruising seemed to go away. Im thinking it can be a nerve thing that has to do with recovery in my case. Also for therapy, it might sound dumb but I still play my drums and think it actually is good for this type of injury. All the reading I've done so far suggest in most injuries after resting, ice, heat treatment, you should also do some activity with the knee. Accident happened over a week now and haven't stopped walking, brief bike riding, playing music, etc. all to help reduce the pain. Only thing i can add is I've had some unusual pains mostly in leg all this week and also shooting like pains in leg; Which i'm sure will clear up. Thats a knee injury, ,but some people here have described nerve pains originating possibly from the upper nerves of sciatic nerve, my lucky guess, hehe...thanks for sharing!
I have been suffering random spontaneous electric shock/stabbing/tearing/flashing pain near knee area for about three month. It started earlier but disappeared for a while. I didn't notice it until it becomes very frequent three month ago...
This changed my life forever. The pain level is near 8-10/10 before I take Lyrica or Oxcarbazepine. Lyrica didn't work well enough but it does help. Oxcarbazepine is the one remove 90% of the pain and I am still taking it.
I have seen more than a dozen doctors, from sports medicine, orthopedics, and neurologist. Orthopedics can't reproduce the pain no matter how they manipulate my knee. Most doctors in Kaiser have no idea about what's going on. You should think twice if you elect to work with Kaiser. They are slow, ignorant and don't care about your pain.
I eventually went to China to get it diagnosed first order. Orthopedic doctor found a vascular malformation near a place I got hit mildly before. The surgery removed this tumor. However, the pain is still happening but at a different location after surgery.
Neurologists told this is very similar to trigeminal neuropathy. Thus they gave me the medication for that pain: Oxcarbazepine. It works and reduces the pain to a level that is negligible. At least I am not suffering for a while.
I am not completely cured yet. I can feel pulses even they are almost painless. I know the pain level will escalate if I stop the medication. I am still looking for a doctor to cure it if it is curable by certain means.
Please read this link about trigeminal neuropathy. If you find it matches all your symptom, you may want to talk to your doctor. The most important thing I see from this website is: there are at least five different causes of the jolting pain, you have to find the correct one yourself.
http://www.umanitoba.ca/cranial_nerves/trigeminal_neuralgia/manuscript/types.html
I hope god bless you and you will be good. In most cases, I can see people recover from neuropathy by themselves. Good luck to all of us!
This worked for me. A while back I had a pain in my hip that also radiated to the outside of my knee. The pain lasted for 5-30 seconds and as soon as it was gone all felt normal. My chiropractor diagnosed it as piriformis syndrome and had me see her staff physical therapist who gave me a set of hip and glute strengthening exercises that I did once or twice a day. Using the strength exercises combined with stretching, within a week the random pain attacks began to subside. A month into the exercises and the pain was gone. I continue to do the exercises but not as religiously as before. I treat occasional flare-ups by stretching the piriformis and using a massager and heat on my glutes. This quick reaction to flare-ups has worked to stop the pain attacks immediately and lasts as long as I keep doing my exercises. There are a lot of piriformis stretching videos on Youtube but the ones that worked for me were the “glute and hip strengthening” ones. Check out Ask Dr. Jo on Youtube. Hope this helps!
http://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.m.webmd.com/pain-management/tc/patellofemoral-pain-syndrome-topic-overview&sa=U&ved=0ahUKEwiZhYn3qbjMAhUKcD4KHYbqAXwQFggQMAA&usg=AFQjCNGopNfK_oFRruqR0d6R3fgsVI-j4g
I think I might have this, and came to the same conclusion/diagnosis you did. My doctor has me on a nerve blocker called gabapentin. It helps.
I am 15 and in the middle of class, I would have a sudden shock in my knee. t hurts a lot and then my knee developers a rash/bruise that hurts a lot. And then my knee and bottom leg becomes slightly paralyzed. Is it dangerous? What do I need to do ?