Posterolateral Knee Pain Mystery

[AJC8]

Hello, I am a Collegiate Olympic Weightlifter. I was doing quite well until I had a heavy practice and the following day I woke up with a little stiffness and aching in the posterolateral section of my knee with full extension and full squat. The pain was mostly during deep squatting at the very bottom (please don't argue with me about deep squatting because I will prove you wrong with numerous research/peer-reviewed articles). I worked through it for the first few weeks because the pain would subside after a few days of rest and was bearable during exercise, but the day after it would always hurt more again. I, and my PT decided it was most likely a meniscal injury or a popliteus injury...so I went for an MRI. The MRI was clean and noted that all knee structures are perfectly healthy but there is a little tiny bit of fluid back there (obviously something is causing inflammation). To this date, the surgeon, myself, ATs, and PTs that I have consulted are of no help. The injury happened approx. December 15th, 2010 and I still have pain but I haven't been squatting or competing because I am resting it. I have no other option. Any ideas? Please feel free to comment.

[AJC8]

I kind of think it is a Baker's Cyst. My MRI noted that there was a "tiny cyst" but it brought minimal attention to the Orthopedic. I asked if I could be given some cortisone and he said that he would but he an't localize an area to inject since the pain is somewhat deep and general. It's so frustrating, especially if that is what it ends up being... something that could have been treated a while ago.

[CassCore]

I would say as long as you are pain free without ibprophen those lifts are fine. You just need to get on some sort of progression program. If you have a personal trainer that works with you he/she should be able to help with that. Not squating past 90 is a good idea although I'm sure it's frustrating for you. Turning your big toe out slightly also can help take the stress off of your knee when squating free weights. Also I have one other idea of what the problem may be although it should have shown up on the MRI, but if the fluid was in the way it could have been hidden. Have you ever heard of a Baker's Cyst? They are common in the posterior capsule of the knee and if they grow big enough they can cause deep pain. Again, most of the time these are seen on an MRI but things are sometimes missed. If this was the cause of your pain it would make sense why the ice and ibprophen aren't helping. I'm still leaning more toward the distal hamstring strain or even upper gastroc (so make sure your stretching that calf muscle too both with your knee bent to get the soleous and straight to get the gastroc) strain, but it never hurts to look for at a different diagnosis possibility. Hope this helps please continue to write with any other questions.

[AJC8]

Thanks for your comment. I was advised to take 400-600mg of Ibuprofen, 3x a day with heavy icing for 2 weeks. It didn't seem to help. Wouldn't it hurt me to do RDLs and Dead Lifts if it was a hamstring injury? Because I can do those exercises without ANY pain. I guess my plan for now is just to not squat past 90 or at all until May or so. I really just want to know that I am getting better which I haven't seen at all and its been 3 months already.