Yah, you might be at that point where pulling every week just isn't the best way to go anymore, such a taxing exercise.
I find that squatting is a bit more taxing than DLs honestly. I had a medial meniscus tear and an MCL sprain in HS; got the meniscus trimmed or removed or something, IDK and it really hasn't been the same since. Random bouts of epic pain coming from no where, random stiffness, aches, not to mention my ROM is decreased just slightly vs. my other knee... And my MCL still feels odd from time to time.