Topic: Knee Pain

[Matt Erdman]

Are you just planning on cruising along? It seems that if you are planning on getting stronger than you would want to shoot for 80%x5x3 and 90%x3x3. Surely by the end of 12 weeks 90%x3x3 wouldn't be a problem. Also I would recommend increasing the sets as the reps decrease since the frequency is lower.

[Andy Dick]

I need to get the soreness in my elbows to resolve themselves first before I plan on going very heavy.  Hopefully, God willing, in that time the knee improves some as well, this is banking on the fact nothing is seriously wrong and it just needs more rest.  At the beginning of all this after the 2 weeks off I pretty much jumped right back into it with the volume on my knee, I am hoping that decreasing intensity and volume for a bit will help it fix itself.  The other side of the coin is that if something is bad, that the wear on the knee is less, that it will not make it worse.  The game plan is hopefully next month, after we have our baby and I can apply for the state run health care, a huge gamble and not what I would prefer to do but its a means to an end and I can get my knee looked at.  Otherwise I will need to wait some time before I can get health care, either a miraculous change in my job situation or my wife can finish school (still working towards her RN).  I am leaning to the possibility that I may have been overtraining for a while looking at my elbow issue and how I felt before I took the week off 2 weeks ago.  The signs seem to be there: fatigue, irritability, decreased motivation to train, constantly tired, the elbow soreness that will not abate (hurts when I let go of the bar and allow them to relax).  So we are taking it easy a bit.  My problem is not knowing when to quit or cut it back hopefully this is what I need.

[Andy Dick]

I am going to throw this out there as my beef.  Knee issues blow.  I have been trying to do online research on things that could be wrong with my knee.  It could range from something that is not super bad like Chondrylmalasia (sp?) which just requires a lot of rest fo a meniscal tear which requires surgery all these knee problems can have the same signs and symptoms.  Sometimes I marvel at the fact that we stay alive.

[Andy Dick]

Yesterday I applied for the state run health care since I am now eligible to apply since I am a parent of an infant.  We will see if I am able to get it, if so I will have a chance to get an MRI on my knee.  ADDITION:They will get me an answer within 30 days, so I am just waiting.

My knee has been feeling better but it is still sore at times.  I can especially tell it is sore when I am demonstrating technique to students while it is not warmed up, even if I am showing with just the bar.  I would say I have more time wih no soreness than soreness, although it alwayse seems to be just shy of getting sore like one wrong move or something will make it sore.  If that makes any sense.

[Andy Dick]

This is an update, still no word on Badger Care, they have been reviewing my case and initially they said it was going to be 30 days to review.  Then we ran into complications because my wife quit her job when she had the baby so the state needed verification of unemployment of my wife.  I won't bore you with all the other details but basically its been a mess we have been going through and it has made the process even longer.

NOW TO THE GOOD NEWS
This may be premature but my troubles may be nearing the end.  It has been about a week now with no pain or soreness in my knee.  I have also gone through 2 workouts this week already with no problems or soreness.  This week is about 80% of my maxes (but in actually probably higher since I know I have lost some strength and some of my squat sets reflect that).  But it may be worth it if my knee continues to improve as it seems it finally is doing.

PS: My workouts have been posted on my workout section detailing what I have done for the last 2 months to try to kick this knee problem, if anyone is interested to look at what I did.

[Arturo Gómez]

People say babies carry a bread for the family. Yours carried a new knee. Congratulations

[Andy Dick]

People say babies carry a bread for the family. Yours carried a new knee. Congratulations

There may be a lot of truth to that, I got confirmation Friday that I have been approved for Badger Care.  I am now insured.  I am going to look into setting up an appointment to get my knee looked at by an ortho so I can see if he will order an MRI.  The trainer still thinks there may be something floating in there or a defect so still suggests I get an MRI even though it is feeling better.  I agree since now I do have insurance.

[Matt Rupiper]

Andy,

I would make sure you do some research on MRI findings, arthroscopic interventions and whether it's necessary. There are plenty of incidental finding with medical imaging.  Medical imaging shows anatomy, NOT PAIN.  An MRI is a means to an end (surgery).  If you think you need surgery then okay.  If you don't want surgery, is the MRI necessary? If your knee is not giving out, unstable or locking then surgery, in my opinion is not necessary.  They will probably find a meniscal lesion and osteoarthritic changes due to your past athletic history and age.  These were probably there for some time.  Going in with a scope for these may not fix anything and will only set you back another 8 weeks.

Some food for thought....