knees hurt

[Mrbobcat]

Hey guys, the past couple leg workouts my quads just above my knees felt funny on my first warmup set of my squats. I thought at first maybe I was warming up with too heavy a weight and the fact I'm getting older (I'm 39). But I only warm up with about 50% of my heavy set, which is about 125 now, and then do a set with say 195 or so for 8 or 9, then I do my heavy set for 8. My last workout I could barely do my heavy set, which should'nt be that heavy for me yet as I planned on working up to about 280-285 for 8 over the next month and I usually max out at 275 over my 12 week cycle. I only do legs about once a week too. I have lost a couple pounds recently and don't always get enough sleep. You see I started a 6p to 6a job about 3 months ago. I'm starting to think maybe the job has something to do with it. Its physically pretty easy, but is stressful sometimes (I'm a nurse), and am on my feet a lot of the 12 hour shift and walk A Lot. I'm not sure how much, but probably several miles a night. I'm starting to think the walking may be the problem as a aid mentioned her knees hurt too and she is very young and only been their a few weeks.
Anyway, any idea what I could do? I think I will have to cut-back on my squat weight for awhile. I hate to because it seems like I can't gain at all when I do as I'm a hardgainer and working the legs seems to stimulate the rest of the body. Maybe do light weights and high reps? I'm already taking glucosamine/chrondrotin with MSM and I'm not supposed to take aspirin because it bothers my stomach, but still do occasionally. Not sure what else I can do?

[poppa k]

What kind of shoes are you wearing around work. Maybe you need some shoes with more support or inserts.

[Mrbobcat]

That's the same thing a guy at the gym said. I wear rockport leather shoes. They are leather and very similar to nike with a flat bottom. Come to think of it, even though they are supposed to be for people on their feet a lot like nurses, they are probably more for standing and not walking a lot. Plus they are getting worn out already and I only had them about a year. I guess its time to go shoe shopping, I hate to because you can't really get a feel for them the short time you try them on...

[Mrbobcat]

Quick update guys; I think I might have found the culprit, or at least a contributor to the knee pain. I think it may be the leg extensions or a possibly the combination of all the walking in bad shoes, heavy squats and heavy leg extensions. I woke up with knee pain last night for the first time and today was leg day. So I did my squats really light, 95x2x10, then 115x12. First set I could feel it a little, but after that they felt good. Then I did the rest of my lower body including leg ext., but like a dumb-a**, I did two sets at 165 on the ext. mach. after feeling a little discomfort on the first couple reps I kept going to finish 2x8. It did'nt feel that bad though, but think next time I'll go light on them too. I never have had a problem with them as my quads are probably my easiest muscle to grow, but maybe my knees are just overworked right now...