Knee crankiness after long-layoff. . . coincidence?

[Thomas Jones]

I've trained regularly (missing no more than maybe 10 days) for several about 5 years with no knee issues at all.

My wife and I took a vacation to Europe for a few weeks in September and then I found excuses to not get started again for a couple of weeks. By then, I was starting to get a fair amount of stiffness and achiness in my knees (basically, the ligament or tendon to the inside of each kneecap).

I have been able to train through it without exacerbating things.

Not looking for a diagnosis or anything like that, but curious as to whether this is something you have seen or is otherwise relatively common. If so, any thoughts as to what might be triggering this phenomenon?

[Mark Rippetoe]

How old are you?

[Thomas Jones]

How old are you?

Too fucking old. 48.

[Mark Rippetoe]

And this is the first time your knees have hurt?

[Thomas Jones]

And this is the first time your knees have hurt?

First off, I apologize for the typos in the title and the body of my post. I typically proofread and did not here. Sorry.

As to knee pain, I have lucky. I've sprained each knee once in the past (left MCL at about age 21, right MCL about 6 years ago), and had a bout of tendonitis in one knee in my early 30s. [I've have been able to even out that good luck with ample pathology in an ankle, a shoulder, and my back.] Aside from that, I have encountered no pain -- no stiffness, even.

I found it interesting that, while training, I remained free of knee pain. Once I took a protracted break I found myself enduring discomfort without any causal trauma. Thus, my curiosity.

[Mark Rippetoe]

I'd say that the long plane trip did not agree with your knees. But you'll be fine.