Can't squat but wanna compete

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I suppose I could have been more specific. The medial was a partial removal. I was able to recover from it without any reoccurring issues. When i say that i had a full recovery i meant that i have been able to move on without any issues. Not that it healed, because you are correct in saying that it does not grow back. The lateral meniscus was a full removal. I was told that I could never squat heavy or run for any distance ever again. I would be lying if I said that I never have pain. Squatting can be painful depending on my level of activity for the day, but it hasn't limited me. It has taken some hard work, and intellegent training to return and hit a pr(over a years time)We are all individuals however, and I'm aware that we all react differently to injury and training. If you DO decide to go against doctor recommendations, take it slow, and listen to your body. You know your body better than any of us. Do not push too hard too soon. I wish you the best, and a speedy recovery.
 

GYMBRAT

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I tore both ACL's badly back when I raced professional motocross. I was also told I'd never squat or do a ton of normal thing's again with my injuries. Since, I've been able to do everything again BUT I took it extremely slow and extremely careful. Worked my way back into it and never looked back..

Be patient and a speedy recovery to ya
 

gymrat827

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my shoulders snap, crackle & pop. lifting above my head is just terrible for me, but i still use machines & light weight. Iso movements before hand to exhaust those muscles a bit.

just try to find way to beat em up a bit without really doing the full movement. I played hockey for 11yrs and now have to deal with some injuries, it could be worse, but it sure aint pretty.

belt, knee braces or wraps & joint supps. Do light workouts and see how they go. Also see anohter Doc or 2, get their full opinion and ask about lifting, contact sports, etc.
 

Itburnstopee

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Alright people, here's what just dawned on me as I sit here on the shitter:

No matter how hard we try, we are going to age and some of us will age better than others but there will undoubtedly be a day when we all cannot do things that we once could. Simple things such as having the flexibility to stretch to the backseat of the car to grab something from the front seat. More complex things such as do a perfect squat. I'm young and I'm at an age were I look back and say to myself "but I was just a kid so recently," able to recall events of playing on playgrounds vividly. I don't want to become an old man and look back and say "I was so young but what fun was it?"

I ****ed up my knee. It's forever not 100% but that doesn't mean that I shouldn't enjoy my youth and give it my 100%. I'm going to start squatting this next week, and I will do some research on safety for shitty knees, and make sure I take it slow. Even if I have to live on Advil I will do it. My knee is going to develop arthritis anyway so why not just have as much fun as I can while I can. Thank you guys for helping me come to the conclusion, you guys who kept with it seem happier than someone who didn't.


And, as a side note, do any of you with bad knees/similar issues have experience with doing oly lifts? I want to start doing cleans but that part where you're lowest during the lift looks brutal on knees.
 

DocDePanda187123

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Alright people, here's what just dawned on me as I sit here on the shitter:

No matter how hard we try, we are going to age and some of us will age better than others but there will undoubtedly be a day when we all cannot do things that we once could. Simple things such as having the flexibility to stretch to the backseat of the car to grab something from the front seat. More complex things such as do a perfect squat. I'm young and I'm at an age were I look back and say to myself "but I was just a kid so recently," able to recall events of playing on playgrounds vividly. I don't want to become an old man and look back and say "I was so young but what fun was it?"

I ****ed up my knee. It's forever not 100% but that doesn't mean that I shouldn't enjoy my youth and give it my 100%. I'm going to start squatting this next week, and I will do some research on safety for shitty knees, and make sure I take it slow. Even if I have to live on Advil I will do it. My knee is going to develop arthritis anyway so why not just have as much fun as I can while I can. Thank you guys for helping me come to the conclusion, you guys who kept with it seem happier than someone who didn't.


And, as a side note, do any of you with bad knees/similar issues have experience with doing oly lifts? I want to start doing cleans but that part where you're lowest during the lift looks brutal on knees.

Cleans only hurt my elbow and forearm bc I couldn't get my one arm to be vertical from past injuries. That part you're referring to is basically a front squat after the bar has been cleaned onto your shoulder girdle. It's a very technical lift though and it's best learned under the trained eye of a good coach.
 
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If your knees are bad, my experience is that a knee wrap helps big time, even if it's a light wrap and not an inzer super tight competition wrap. Also instead of oly squats (if that's your style) use a PL style squat incorporating more hip and hamstring. For me when I went heavy and kept the bar high on my back and my stance narrow (more bodybuilding or oly style) my knees felt like they were gonna blow off for a couple days.

I have a bad right knee and it fills with fluid when not kept in check, these are the techniques I've used to keep them healthy. Jus my 2 cents brutha, good luck and lift smart!
 

Strength athlete

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Alright people, here's what just dawned on me as I sit here on the shitter:

No matter how hard we try, we are going to age and some of us will age better than others but there will undoubtedly be a day when we all cannot do things that we once could. Simple things such as having the flexibility to stretch to the backseat of the car to grab something from the front seat. More complex things such as do a perfect squat. I'm young and I'm at an age were I look back and say to myself "but I was just a kid so recently," able to recall events of playing on playgrounds vividly. I don't want to become an old man and look back and say "I was so young but what fun was it?"

I ****ed up my knee. It's forever not 100% but that doesn't mean that I shouldn't enjoy my youth and give it my 100%. I'm going to start squatting this next week, and I will do some research on safety for shitty knees, and make sure I take it slow. Even if I have to live on Advil I will do it. My knee is going to develop arthritis anyway so why not just have as much fun as I can while I can. Thank you guys for helping me come to the conclusion, you guys who kept with it seem happier than someone who didn't.


And, as a side note, do any of you with bad knees/similar issues have experience with doing oly lifts? I want to start doing cleans but that part where you're lowest during the lift looks brutal on knees.

I would use caution with beginning cleans too soon. You said that you were experiencing pain during a normal back squat. Regardless if you use a low bar or high bar position for the back squat, there is still less knee travel over the toe than the front squat or full depth catch portion of the clean. As I'm sure you know, the greater travel of the knee over the toe, the more stress placed on the knee. I would keep in mind that you will also be catching a weight in a position where the knee is already in front of the toe.
I don't have exact numbers to reference, but the stress being absorbed by the knee at that position MUST be greater than a normal back squat, and even front squat. If you are still suffering from any limited range of motion, I would focus on improving it to your maximum capability, and then slowly work in to some front squats before considering adding cleans. Just as doc said, the oly lifts are highly technical exercises, and it would be wise to learn under an experienced coach. My best wishes to you in your training, and best of luck.
 

Dex

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A friend of mine that played D1 football has fully torn both meniscus' as well as both ACL's and MCL's 2 or 3 times on each knee. He still squats a ton of weight. I don't know why your Dr. says you will never be able to squat again. Was there other complications involved?

The physician told him that he shouldn't squat ever again...I bet he told him that he shouldn't ever use gear either. Damn physicians.
 

Itburnstopee

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I would use caution with beginning cleans too soon. You said that you were experiencing pain during a normal back squat. Regardless if you use a low bar or high bar position for the back squat, there is still less knee travel over the toe than the front squat or full depth catch portion of the clean. As I'm sure you know, the greater travel of the knee over the toe, the more stress placed on the knee. I would keep in mind that you will also be catching a weight in a position where the knee is already in front of the toe.
I don't have exact numbers to reference, but the stress being absorbed by the knee at that position MUST be greater than a normal back squat, and even front squat. If you are still suffering from any limited range of motion, I would focus on improving it to your maximum capability, and then slowly work in to some front squats before considering adding cleans. Just as doc said, the oly lifts are highly technical exercises, and it would be wise to learn under an experienced coach. My best wishes to you in your training, and best of luck.

Just for the sake of not having another screw up, I'm going to stick to basic back squats for a while and then if I still want to try cleans I will work on my front squat. If I'm still interested then I will swiftly from my commercial gym to this real one with a coach. But until then, I'm just going to take it nice and easy with squatting.
 

Itburnstopee

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Hey guys just did squats and it felt good way. I did 4x5 with super light weight. I think the goal for me is to go slow, have good form, and to do low reps. I've read numerous times that people have seen others obtain injuries from doing high reps vs low reps.
 
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Hey guys just did squats and it felt good way. I did 4x5 with super light weight. I think the goal for me is to go slow, have good form, and to do low reps. I've read numerous times that people have seen others obtain injuries from doing high reps vs low reps.

That's great to hear brother. Just listen to your body. Don't fall into the trap that so many of us do and become overzealous on the days when the weights feel light. Know when to push, and when to back off.
Steady progression brother. I'm so happy to hear that your able to squat again without pain. Even if the weight IS light. That's a HUGE step forward. Congrats.
 

saltylifter

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Forever. I had a torn meniscus that was torn all the way rather than a simple tear or small rip; it was also covered in cyst. There was also early bone damage. I'm pretty bummed about it but I can still do leg presses and other stuff.

I'm talking about competing in another four months depending on if I've hit my goals.

I've had my meniscus tone all the way and shattered my tibia bone requiring a cadaver bone put in its place with screws and plates. It took me years to recover. I can squat but not super heavy and I need to warm my knee up very well.
Hope u have a speedy recovery man. Lift smart.
 

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