Damn Knees!!!

[ctgblue]

OK, so the continuing saga of getting older and not getting away with stupid crap anymore.
So, in April I was up to the low 500's in squats, doing sets of 10 with 405 no problem.
So I decide, like an idiot, that I could go up from 360 to 450 on the leg extensions. So after 3 weeks of this stupidity I realize I am probably doing some damage here. Too late. After another 2-3 weeks of heavy squats but lighter leg extensions (hey they REALLY bring out the separation for me like no other exercise) I started getting some serious pain in the connective tissue right under the kneecap.
So I stop the LE's. I keep up the squats and after about 2 more weeks, the knees start hurting more (the keep you awake at night, walking by throwing your leg straight out in front of you, can't get off the toilet, hating the stairs kind of hurt)
So I realized that I probably needed to give the legs a break. So I dumped legs except for calf raises (got skinny calf syndrome).
I've been laying off the legs for about 4-6 weeks and decided it was time to work them again.
So I ran a "DC type" squat routine.
Warmed up with 135 x 10, 225 x 10, 315 x 8 then the I hate DC's guts 225 x 20. I did no ham work as I made sure I was taking these as deep as I could go (I figure as I started getting heavier before, I was stopping short of parallel and this did not help the leg ext damage).
Knees did not bother me last night, but they are A'Hurtin today.
I am at 2000mg glucosamine and 3000mg MSM ED.
Have I totally f'd up my knees or what?
They were the last/best bodypart with no problems. :chair:

[nemo]

is there lateral knee movement while you are squatting? ie are your knees wobbling at all?

if i were you i would probably either squat lighter or do lunges for a bit.

[In-Human]

ctgblue, I am with you here, I am old and been doing this for to many years and I have to say that doing short reps on all leg exercises and Leg Extentions worked my knees too.

Now I go A2G on all Legs and no more knee problems, I stay away from Extentions and I take Glucosamine and Chondrotin and green tea helps my joints out big time, hopefully taking a little time off will help you out and stick with your supp regiment...

[ctgblue]

No knee movement, I use a wide 'power squat' stance and go as close to A2G as possible.
What's killing me is that I was doing squat sets of:
225x10,315x10,405x10,405x10,405x10
and following with leg ext of 360,320,270,230,and 180 with lockouts starting at 270.
My knees didn't bug me until the 450lb extensions.

[asim]

I believe thats where the patella tendon joins the tibia , am i right?
I usually get pain in that area, or did anyway. I went to a physio therapist about my knees. He said lack of flexibility can be one problem.

I would see a physio. To check out how your knees are. Then he/she should provide you with a knee strengthening and flexibility program. Stretching your legs more often can definetly help. I stretch everynight.

[mecca]

Sounds like you pissed off the patella tendon, I had tendinitous in this area during college football. I went to therapy for it and they cured it. Make sure not to let your knee bend over your toe when squatting or leg pressing, ice it consistently, take 800mg ibuprofen with meals three times a day.