So - if anyone reading this was here for all the drama of my first thread (2nd knee surgery on my right knee, followed by blowing my left foot apart and having surgery on that etc etc)
So after all that it turns out I'm gonna need a total knee replacement. I'm in my mid 30's and I still want to be competitive in powerlifting so I'm not super psyched about this. However a break from the monotony of pain and reduced mobility is gonna be very welcome.
I was lucky enough to get on a video call with a guy who set the all time world record raw squat at 525kg (1157 pounds) and he did this AFTER have a TKR. Turns out Vlad is a huge sweetheart and spent a lot of time talking to me and giving me advice. I'm still kinda floating from that. He also told me if he had my beard he'd have squatted 1200 pounds :)
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So now I'm pretty much at peace with the surgery. At my age there's zero chance of getting a knee replacement without having to do it again later...so despite what I'm sure will be a LOT of criticism I'm going to continue to pursue my competitive strength goals and use the knee how I like. I've had a low 600's squat and I think I'm capable of squatting in the 8's before it's all over.
And I'm not fucking sorry cause you know what? When I think about what's the worst that could happen....catastrophic failure of the knee that can't be saved? Amputation? In all seriousness if I had to have my leg amputated...I'D STILL SQUAT AND DEADLIFT. There are guys with leg prothesis out there doing it too, it wouldn't stop me. So fuck it I guess.
Thanks for listening
BR