Topic: Knee Pain

[Andy Dick]

5(270x5) today no pain in the patella.  Before the workout still some popping in the quad near the knee though.  Very slight pain in the quad when it would pop.  No popping or pain in the knee during squats.  Wore my weightlifting shoes through the whole workout.  I fell the strength is pretty good on the sets as well.  I bought the stance in a little in an attempt to get lower.  I am probably just slightly outside of shoulder width.

[Andy Dick]

It is hard to remain patient, how much longer does anyone think until I can start doing olympic lifts again?  I am worried there might be something floating around in there that is still causing me trouble in the quad area.  The trainer here said if I am worried that much the best thing to do is get an MRI but at the same time he not to since I don't have insurance.  I don't want to find something and then get nailed for a preexisting condition once I do get insurance (maybe a year, if my job makes me full time or when my wife gets her nursing degree).

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

I'd try some new weightlifting shoes before seeking medical care, probably. How old are your current pair? How long did your problem occur after starting using these shoes?

[Andy Dick]

5 years old.  It started about last year.  This dawned on me yesterday, I also need new orthotics.  I have one leg longer than the other.  My orthotics are very old (the one that raises my short leg up) which might be part of the problem.

[Andy Dick]

<My reason for keeping updates on this post is in case anyone starts struggling from the same issues that this may be of some help>

I  have an appointment monday morning to get my orthotics looked at and make sure the raise is the correct height for my short leg.  I am currently trying to talk to the massage therapist at my second job to see if I can swing a free 30 minute session to just focus on my legs to see if that helps at all.  If it does I may see what I can do to get more.

My knee has been feeling a great deal better lately.  Last week I did 300# for 3 sets of 3.  I have been noticing that it will be slightly sore during warm up but then subside and I will have no pain after workouts.  I think things may be getting better.  I am going to try to get some video this week of squats I have 315 for 2 sets of 2.

If anyone has some input to add please give it.

[Andy Dick]

Update on the knee.  I haven't been able to get new lifting shoes yet, I am still trying to save some money up to get a pair.  I talked to the athletic trainer at the high school I worked at to see what he suggested I can do or if I should just take more time off completely.  He said that taking more time off probably wouldn't do me a whole lot of good.  That I would be better off just continuing to lift and pay strict attention to form, proper warm-up, and stretching.  He cleared me to start doing olympic lifts now just to not rush into maxing or really heavy intensity.  So I have been slowly been working back to what I used to be able to do.  My knee is still not 100% but so far it is still handling the training.  The trainer said because I kept working through it for so long when it was hurting me that it might take a while to feel 100% again.

[Joe Diver]

Andy; Although I'm new to oly lifting-I've done my share of heavy squats. I read this thread from begining to end and have learned a great deal and will apply to my own training. One thing I noticed by watching your newer videos is that you are agressively locking out at the top of the movenent. I did that once and did'nt feel it for a couple of days and then when I went back squating I felt it. The pain you describe is what I felt.
I can see the bar flexing as your knees hyper-extend and bounce the bar.  Maybe.... think about it- Was there a time when you felt that you may have locked out a little to hard? I did that once and I learned my lesson. At 54 years my knees are still in pretty good shape. After I made that injury though, I felt like I did something permanent to hurt myself, but I came out of it.  I always ease into the lock out.
That older video at the end was awsome. I'll be trying to get my form like that. Thanks.
Joe

[Andy Dick]

Good point Joe I know exactly what you are talking about with the lock out.  I will ease back to the lockout, I never thought about that.  I do know I aggressively lock out especially after a big fight on a heavy squat.  I tend to meat heat out I guess a bit because I get too excited.