Knee Pain

[fayman]

Hey guys, just getting back from a decent layoff, and I'm finding that I'm having some knee trouble.

I'm noticing that when I make certain movements, I'm feeling a sharp pain just below my kneecap, and having the sensation that it's going to give out on me. It's really noticeable during step-ups or when climbing stairs.

The funny thing is, it really hasn't affected my squat or lunge form. I don't feel the pain when I do either one, yet I do feel that my knee is less stable than when it's 100%.

Thinking WAAAAY back, I had knee problems as a kid, and I remember the doctor telling me that I had a tendency to have a build up of fluid (or calcium, maybe??) below my knees, which create a bump just below my knee cap. When I got hit there, my knee would tend to give out on me.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Mike

[UConnJulie]

Could be several things ... this bump ... is it bony or fluid?
Does it ever lock up on you?
Does it feel like it is on the big tendon below your kneecap (surface) or deeper than that?

[fayman]

No, it's above the tendon, and (for as long as I can remember) my knees will give out on me if I'm hit there. It doesn't take much, a light hit and I'm down.

I know it's a buildup of some type, I'm just confused as to what it might be. It seems like the less movement I put my knee through, the smaller the bump will get. When I'm active, they seem to grow. It's not a deeper issue, I can tell, it's closer to the surface.

Since I posted last week, I've been pretty consistent with my training, and since an HIIT session and a heavy leg session, it feels much better the past 2 days.

I've noticed in the past that the more I deadlift and squat, the better my knees feel, so I'm hoping it's just my long layoff that caused the "creaks and groans" return, and that training will reduce it.

*Edit - I forgot to answer your questions! It is more of a bony buildup, and it never locks up, it only gives out on me.