Topic: Has anyone out there overcome

[Colin K Bell]

Hi! Just wondering if any lifters have overcome damaged knee cartilage/chondromalacia. I am awaiting probable surgery for this in my right knee. Any experience and encouragement would be really appreciated.

[Tomasz Numrych]

I haven't personally, but I know of a few people that continued after such injuries.  Good luck!

[Jim Hooper]

I have a lifter who had an attempted repair, reinjured it, and then had the torn cartilage (meniscus) removed, and is back lifting better than ever with no symptoms.  A good orthopedic surgeon can repair it.  Good luck!

[Colin K Bell]

Thanks guys. I will keep my dream of comeback alive! Jim did your lifter find knee bands such as Rehband / TK any help or should I use an open knee one?

[Jim Hooper]

Colin, the Rehbands are great, almost everybody likes them, and some like the Konos but others find them too thick, hot, or constricting.  They are not really a supportive device but they do keep the joint sweaty-warm.  I think looser and thinner is the way to go -- get the heat without having a bunch of thick excess material bunching up.

[Jamie Carruthers]

the below may help to alleviate the pain:

Icing
Anti-inflammatory medications
MSM,
Glucosamine sulfate,
Chondroitin sulfate
DMSO
High dosage anti-oxidants
Wide stance squatting
Squatting with plank of wood under the toes/balls of the feet NOTE
not the heels
Electrostimulation of quadriceps
Subpatellar taping

[Colin K Bell]

Thanks Jamie, I will try those tips esp the squats. I had given up on the ice and anti-infl had no results( hurt myself last Nov).

[leighton richards]

Something to try also is cissus.
I bought 500g from a bulk protein website for next to nothing, lasts about 3 months.
I have all sorts of problems ie, sore knees, sore elbows, due to training at judo twice per week in addition to weightlifting.
This Cissus seems to have helped more than anything, I no longer use ibuprofen.