Electric-shock like pain in knee

[Laura07]

Hello; for the past few months I have been experiencing a pain in my
knee, it is just to the outside of the patella. It is a very sharp pain, like an electrical shock. It happens totally at random. It can happen when I am walking, sitting, sleeping, etc. When the pain is not occurring, my knee feels
completely normal. When it happens, it usually happens every few
seconds or minutes, then stops for several hours. I am not aware of
any injury or unusual stress to that area. X-ray was normal and doctor's examination was clear. Any ideas?

[Judeehcee]

Wow, I'm not crazy!  Thank you to all of you who have posted.  I haven't read all of your comments yet, but from what I have read, my symptoms mimic all of yours.  I have the electric shock pain in my knee.  I had my first incident about 6 months ago sitting at my desk.  It was sudden and intense and was over with very quickly.  I remember thinking if the intensity of the pain never abated, it would be intolerable.  Thankfully I didn't have another incident for about six months.  Unfortunately, about a month ago, I had another incident, and another and another!  The incidents will last over several days and the worst ones are the ones where I'm getting "zinged" all night.  I have actually lost two days of work due to exhaustion and worry that I won't be able to make the 45 minute drive to work without a shock.  The shocks can happen at any time while I'm sitting, standing, sleeping, etc.  Ironically, I can walk and workout without incident.  My doctor ordered an MRI and of course they found nothing.  I was going to go back to my doctor, but after reading some of your comments I suspect it will be a waste of time.  I do have a massage therapist and I wonder if I should also try my chiropractor, whom I haven't seen in years.  I know he does accupunture.  I do think this is a nerve problem and I think I have some bursitis and I'm wondering if this is where the problem is originating from.  This may sound silly, but I'm worried that any manipulation by a massage therapist or chiropractor may make the problem worse (I.e. Permanently pinch the nerve....that would be unbearable).  Any thoughts?  I'm 55, slightly over weight, but healthy.  I have a desk job, so sit all day, but I do exercise and stetch during my lunch.  Can anyone suggest an exercise or stretch that has worked particularly well for them.  

[bigbella43]

did you ever get relief or answers?

[camo78]

This post was 4 years ago. How is your problem now? Did you find a solution?
Thanks

[dseaton]

I started having the random  sharp piercing pains in my left knee about 6 months ago. They were very random but very painful. The pains would be about a minute or so in length and come anywhere from once a day to 30 times a day. They would also go weeks in between times. I had x-rays and an MRI with nothing showing. I finally went to the Chiropractor, turned out I had issues in several areas of my back that affected a nerve going directly t my knee. I have been having treatments for about 6 weeks and the pains have gone away. I hope this helps others that are experiencing the same type of pain.

[parguera]

This (long-lived) thread fits my symptoms well but doesn't seem to have brought forth any answers. Anyone have any new info? Mine is left knee, stabbing pain (like electrical shock), random intervals, unrelated to activity except that lots of walking does seem to make it better. (I'm 70 and lots of low-grade arthritic joints). The pain only last seconds at most, and feels like it's toward the inside of the patella, sometimes under it. I can't reproduce the pain with pressure. I did just have 2 inguinal hernias repaired. And also a 3-hr kayak trip last Sept. produced horrible femoral nerve entrapment on my right side -- resolved completely over time, plus I got some good P-T.

Have an appointment with my (very good) P-T specialist tomorrow. If no one has anything new for the thread, I'll at least report back what she finds.

Cheers

[camo78]

What did you find? Do you still have the problem? If not what was your solution?
Thanks

[Mr_badluck]

I have similar pains and i have been dealing with it for a while. I collapsed while playing soccer before i don't what causes it and my friends don't believe that I'm hurt

[Celleen]

Hi. About a week ago I started experiencing this kind of pain in my left inner knee. It's like something will pinch my nerve or some may describe it as "electric shock" . It only lasts for a second and the pain is not excruciating but really uncomfortable (rating the pain from 1-10 i'd say mine's a 5) it comes without warning and may happen while im standing, walking, seating, etc. The pain doesnt progress but the attacks are becoming more frequent. Does anybody else experiencing this? I hope someone can give me any idea what this is because it's really uncomfortable.

P.s.
My attacks happen usually mornings and night. Afternoon attacks happened only twice by far in this whole week.

[Granny18]

I am a diabetic type 2 and I have experienced this electric type shock outside the knee area above the calf I also was wondering if it was associated with being a diabetic. Have you found any information or the cause of your similar pain.

Thanks Pauline