Lifting Shoes and Knee Pain

Hi! I have a pair of lifting shoes and I have got, what I think is, a very mild case of tendonitis in my left knee from squatting. This has happened to me before a few years ago but I have also got up to similar weights in the past when I have been in other countries with work and not had my lifting shoes. I therefore think the shoes may be at fault. Does this sound absurd? Has anybody else experienced this or know anything about the topic? I can’t even just try lifting without them to see if that helps because I will have to wait now until the knee stops irritating me.