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?

[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.   : )