Deadlift/Knee problem

[BigDog]

I started back in the gym after a 3 year hiatus (birth of son) and my workouts have been sporadic at best. I'm a 33 year old female, height 5'5", weight 110 lbs. My routine has been low volume, compound movements, total body 2x/week.

I hit a PR on my deadlift yesterday, 165 for 4. I used to be a personal trainer and I know the importance of good form...and practice it . Today, I am experiencing pain in my right knee. It doesn't hurt when I walk, only when taking stairs or crouching down. No swelling or bruising evident. Any ideas what I did?

Edit: Sorry, I didn't notice the injury section...guess this should have gone there.

[bipennate]

Congratulations on your son Great dl weight! Very impressive!

I think that we would all need a little more info on your injury...take a look here so that we can better help you: READ THIS FIRST - Essential information for injury reporting

[BigDog]

Thanks for the congrats and kudos. Sorry, I'll answer these...

1. When did the pain begin? Yesterday, about 3 hours after workout. I also ran 4 miles from gym to home.
2. What were you doing at the time? Or did the pain come on gradually over time? I crouched down to pick something up off the floor and felt a sharp pain in my right knee.
3. Where, anatomically, is the pain? Hard to localize but I would say the entire area around the kneecap.
4. What does the pain feel like? Sharp? Dull? Aching? Stabbing? Shooting? Sharp.
5. Is the pain constant, or intermittent, or only on certain motions? Only hurts when crouching, taking stairs (up or down but worse down).
6. What motions make your pain worse? Again, crouching.
7. What, if anything, makes your pain better? Motrin and icing.
8. Does your pain radiate to any other part of your body? No.
9. What things could you do before, that you cannot do now because of your injury? No physical limitations (can still perform but with pain).
10. What is your main concern regarding the pain and its consequences? Don't want to backtrack in the gym or fall down the stairs carrying my son.
11. Have you ever injured that part of your body before? If so, how? No.
12. Is your pain getting worse over time? And if so, how much worse over what time period? No.

Hope this helps and thanks!

[bipennate]

To me this sounds like a meniscus issue because your symptoms seem to be brought on by deep knee bends, except that I would expect it to be more localized to the lower part of the knee (either on the inside or outside, not "all around" it)...has your knee felt like it might buckle, or has it already buckled? Has there been any swelling?

[BigDog]

No buckling or swelling and the pain is definitely all around...I just checked. Ouch.

[bryanc]

So, a three day history of acute knee pain on picking something up and is persisting on crouching and worse on going down stairs.

I'd say let's see what this looks like in a week--as inconvenient as that sounds.

[UConnJulie]

I agree with Bryan ... too soon to tell exactly what is going on. Meniscal injury is unlikely with the mechanism you describe (especially if your form was good and did not deteriorate). Keep icing and taking the NSAIDs and report back in a few more days ...

[BigDog]

Okay, I'll let you know. It actually feels a little better today. Thanks for the advice.