Excruciating Electric-Shock Pain in Back of Knee

[smont48]

For the past two years my wife (Age 47, 5'3", 140lbs) has had painfull attacks in the back of her knee that she describes as feeling like electric shocks.  Many times these are so painfull that they bring her right down to the floor where she screams and/or cries out in agony.  There is no pattern of when this happens. They are very random and can occur when she's sitting, walking, running or laying in bed.  They also can occur once in a day or week, or several times in  the same day.  She has had ultrasounds, xrays, mri's, vein tests, nerve tests, etc., and no doctor yet has diagnosed her problem.  It scares the heck out of me sometimes because it comes on so quick that there is a violent jerk reaction followed by cries of pain and agony.  The location of these painfull electric shocks is in the back of the knee about an inch or two below where the knee bends.  We've already checked on it being a Bakers Cyst causing the problem so I don't think it's that.  Because of the electrical-shock like nature of the pain, I'm guessing it has something to do with a nerve or vein being squeezed or pinched.  But how does that exlplain painfull attackes when she's laying completely flat or in a recliner and not moving a muscle?  I should add the she is a nail technician and sits for periods of time with her legs crossed.  But she has had a vein test and everything came out normal.  She does take B12 shots because at time she is deficient in Vitamin B12.  But that doesnt' seem to help.  She did have injections of botox which helped somewhat but not a whole heck of a lot.  We are at a loss for what is wrong. The Dr's. are at a loss. We've been to 5 or 6 specialists and my wife is at wits end.  Any suggestions?

[JanBarlow]

I'm so glad I found this post. I have the same sudden burning shocking pain behind my right knee. It's been over 10'yrs now. I'm a 60 yr old 135 lb 5' 4" female. I have RA but this pain is so much more extreme and sudden. It makes me scream or yell out. I'll increase my vitD. I think it may be related to spinal stenosis. I sometimes get a rubber band sensation around my right ankle. Not at the same time.
Has anyone got a dx related to a spinal issue?  I'm going to have it checked out. I've had surgery for cervical stenosis and my mother had spinal stenosis but not this horrid pain behind the knee.
I'm tired of worrying if I will scream suddenly in public. It seems though that something irritates it and it flares up for a week or so. Then it calms down for a few months and then it starts over.

[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.

[ka1965]

I am 52 year old in great health but I have this exact problem. Just behind my left knee, same spot every time. This has been going on for nearly a year. Very random. I tried someones advise on here and did the massage thing of my buttocks and hip, I thought it was working but hard to tell cause attacks are so random. My issue is today the pain came much harder than it has ever been, I was knocked right off my feet. I dont want to go to my doctor because I have a feeling the testing will be endless with no definitive answer.

[ShrutiSS]

I am experiencing this problem since 4-5 months.
I tried using hot water bottler to give some heat to back of my knee and that helped really. But I stopped using it as my doctor said it might cause other problems. My doctor has given me some anti-inflammatory tablets that I am taking since 2 weeks and I can feel some improvement. Atleast the pain is not that sharp but I am afraid as soon as I stop taking those tablets, that sever pain might come again.
I will be asking my doctor if physiotherapy can help.

Thanks Anders22,
I wil also trying those stretches.

[ShrutiSS]

try these exercises also
http://www.hasantahir.com/docs/kneeexercise.pdf

[ShrutiSS]

I am experiencing this problem since 4-5 months.
I tried using hot water bottler to give some heat to back of my knee and that helped really. But I stopped using it as my doctor said it might cause other problems. My doctor has given me some anti-inflammatory tablets that I am taking since 2 weeks and I can feel some improvement. Atleast the pain is not that sharp but I am afraid as soon as I stop taking those tablets, that sever pain might come again.
I will be asking my doctor if physiotherapy can help.

Thanks Anders22,
I wil also trying those stretches.

[Snappykick]

I've had this for close to five years. And it's totally random. But always and only in my right leg. I get jolts for no more than 30 seconds, it feels like it's stopping and then more jolts for another 30-60 servings and then it's gone. Sometimes it happens a few times a week, sometimes one a month. U didn't have any for almost two years and now they are back. The worst is being woken up by it. My Dr thinks it might be a Baker's cyst. She did an x-ray but it's clear. She said to document it and if it gets worse she'll do an MRI. She also said if I'm going to be in my feet for long periods of time to take Advil an hour before. Problem is I work front desk in a hotel. Most days I stand for eight hours straight. Dr also checked my potassium and magnesium levels and they are good. I'll look into the b12 and D though and see if it helps. (I'm 38, 5'10" and 250 lbs). No other health issues to speak of.

[Virginia1358]

I'm having this same issue and have been sent for an emg test...

[Anders22]

I was able to solve this by doing three stretches. Hamstring (seated reaching for toes). Deep glute stretch (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zMMjowsfB0) and a Periformis stretch (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcHVBsxmJXA)
After a week of doing this daily I have not had the issue come back thank God.

[texasgal4591]

Hi there. I watched a medical show once and they had a whole team of Drs. doing test after tests on this woman and couldn't find anything wrong. She was in really bad shape. She too was a nail tech. Turned out, she had been one for like 8 yrs and it was all of the fumes she was breathing from her job that was poisoning her entire body and it was manifesting in really bad health conditions. Her save was that she quite that line of work. She did heal!

[texasgal4591]

Hi there. I watched a medical show once and they had a whole team of Drs. doing test after tests on this woman and couldn't find anything wrong. She was in really bad shape. She too was a nail tech. Turned out, she had been one for like 8 yrs and it was all of the fumes she was breathing from her job that was poisoning her entire body and it was manifesting in really bad health conditions. Her save was that she quite that line of work. She did heal!

[3733bear]

Did you ever get a dx

[3733bear]

Did you ever get a dx

[3733bear]

Did you ever get a dx

[3733bear]

Did you get a dx

[3733bear]

Did you ever get a dx

[3733bear]

Did you ever get a dx

[3733bear]

Did you ever get a dx

[3733bear]

Did you ever get a dx

[3733bear]

I have,e the same exact issues behind my knees.  Affine have a good doctor

[Abnormally_Normal]

Um I have them along with other movement problems. I am currently awaiting some more testing but it is looking like Parkinson's or MS. Does he have any other symptoms like unusual gait. Muscles feel like they are made of plastic. dizziness, cognitive problems? In any case it is of my personal opinion at minimum he should see a neurologist to rule out or diagnose nerve problems early. (CT/MRI scan and EEG at minimum) Also having a deficiency in B12 and D vitamins is an indication of Parkinson's. Not trying to alarm you but I went 5 years without a clue & there is great piece of mind in knowing either way. ( I hope hers is a minor problem) Anyway there is my opinion for what it is worth. Peace to you and yours!

[NovelNorm]

im glad to find im not alone! this just started for me. notice most are L leg...i wonder why

[VirginiaW]

I hadn't looked at this forum for a long time because I've been non-medicated and pain-free for about eight months now. The shocks can still come back, however. My diagnosis is "neuralgia" and when I start having attacks I am able to get back on Gabapentin under my doctor's supervision. I go to a neurologist who is very kind. I'd tried everything else.

[Ellie6585]

I'm 28 years old and recently started feeling shocked in the back of my left leg over a month ago ... the pain is EXCRUCIATING, which it seems everyone unfortunately knows :( has anyone had a diagnosis? I went to the orthopedist and had tests done for blood clots and a torn meniscus...both tests came back normal.

I'm petrified. I went two weeks without an attack, and then just had one a day for two days in a row and the back of my leg is now so sore and I'm so scared waiting to get "shocked" again.

Has anybody gotten a diagnosis?

[Toonces2006]

I am male 45 215lbs.  I have had this same electric shock-like pain in my left knee.  Although I don't think this is standard Piriformis Syndrome I do believe it is related to the piriformis pinching the sciatica. I have noticed attacks trigger after long periods of sitting and then anytime once aggravated.  

I joined a gym and began regularly working my leg muscles and the attacks stopped.  I didn't go to the gym one week and the attacks returned...I no longer skip the gym ;-)

A great stretch for the Piriformis muscle is to get down on all fours and cross one of your legs back and over the other leg like you are reaching out with that leg.  Now squat down with your supporting leg.  If you are in the middle of an attack this may not be a good idea but it is good to do when working out or stretching.

[staceymoonlight]

I've had a few mild attacks which hardly bothered me but they have been increasing in frequency and pain lately. Last night I had a horrendous attack while sitting on the couch which left me crying. I think I had about 15 or so jolts (hard to remember exactly) over about 2 or 3 minutes and they were so intense my whole leg was jolting and lifting off the footrest. Very scary.
I've had psoriatic arthritis in both knees for 15 years and have tried nearly ever drug available. I am very drug resistant (actually my Rheumytologist calls me a drug freak) and at the moment I am on Methotrexate, Humira and Naproxen. Last year I started getting bakers cysts in my left knee - I have lost track of how many have swollen, burst and the drained into my calf. Very, very painful. And now this. Absolutely awesome though to find so many people with the same kind of pain.   : )