55yo joint pain keeping me from the gym

[mikevegas]

I started powerlifting at age 15, so now I am 40 years in and it's finally caught up to me, and practically overnight. I'm not trying to powerlift anymore, best I could put it is I am just trying to keep functional strength. I have been on HGH for years, but I won't take any kind of anabolics anymore. Currently taking every supplement known to benefit joint health. Advil or Alieve provide minimal improvement, I think. I have not tried Meloxicam yet, would love to hear feedback from anyone who has. Looking to see if there are any other options out there that I don't know about.

And a note to any of you young guys who might be reading this - If I could go back 40 years and change anything, would I? Absofuckinglutely NOT. The gym has meant so much to me over the years, and that is why I am hanging in there as best I can. Though I would say that I would have done a much better job of warming up before lifting heavy, that's the one thing I did not do well that I would change if I could.

 

[FuriousAngus]

Maybe:

- Low dose Deca
- Something to lower overall inflammation like Tirz
- BPC-157/TB-500
- Curcumin Phytosome
- MSM
- Get to the root of the problem/avoid what aggravates your injuries (probably the most effective of the list)
- Knees over toes guy, lots of greet exercises for rehab

 

[Flex500]

It's hard to answer this without more information, to be honest. One thing is, you may feel better on a dose of "real" trt. I'm not sure but the combo of a true trt dose of hgh and testosterone together often help.

If you are just looking for some short term fixes you may try bpc. Are these very specific injuries or is it "all around generalized joint pain"? Meaning do you have a knee that is bone on bone or a shoulder with torn rotator cuff or just "man I just hurt generally everywhere"? That would probably help determine advice. I mean there are a million ways this could go between meds, supplements, therapy, etc .

If you'd like advice for the gym all I can tell you is I was stacking up all kinds of major injuries and totally changed how I perform reps. If you are not competing anymore, I'd recommend the same. It is largely the fast/explosive transition from concentric to eccentric (and vice versa) that create a tremendous amount of pressure on the joint and tissue that supports joint integrity.

I changed all my lifting to this type of cadence and honestly my joints feel like I'm 18 again, outside of a shoulder issue that is more of a "permanent non-gym thing"

Dudes a little odd don't get to wrapped up in him or his split or training advice etc.. I'm only talking about the performance and execution of the individual rep in this style.

 

[AllLoadedUp]

I started powerlifting at age 15, so now I am 40 years in and it's finally caught up to me, and practically overnight. I'm not trying to powerlift anymore, best I could put it is I am just trying to keep functional strength. I have been on HGH for years, but I won't take any kind of anabolics anymore. Currently taking every supplement known to benefit joint health. Advil or Alieve provide minimal improvement, I think. I have not tried Meloxicam yet, would love to hear feedback from anyone who has. Looking to see if there are any other options out there that I don't know about.

And a note to any of you young guys who might be reading this - If I could go back 40 years and change anything, would I? Absofuckinglutely NOT. The gym has meant so much to me over the years, and that is why I am hanging in there as best I can. Though I would say that I would have done a much better job of warming up before lifting heavy, that's the one thing I did not do well that I would change if I could.

I can relate to you somewhat. I'm 8 months post rotator cuff surgery. Coming along. But damn its still awful weak holding things and picking them up in the air like grabbing laundry detergent bottles off shelves. Almost 52 btw. I was able to start back squatting again in October. Things were going great. Went in one day and boom left tibial tuberosity started killing me. Its got inflammation and sore as hell. My ortho doc gave me Meloxicam and I've been wearing the band pictured below to help. It is BETTER but by no means healed. Squatting down can be no fun.

I spend 30 minutes warming my knees up before squats. Totally agree that warming up is crucial at our age. My biggest issue right now is mainly psychological. My legs have just suddenly shrunk. I could tell when my boxer briefs started feeling looser on my legs. Lol. It SUCKS. Nothing bothers me more than the thought of my legs shrinking. BUT I'm in my 50's now. I realize that is just what starts to happen with men as we get older. I recommend you try the Meloxicam. I've used it in the past. No issues with it. Its a non-steroid. So pretty mild. I just say keep doing a lot of warming up. Just more necessary at our age. Also I can't imagine not being on Test. Especially at our age. I recommend TRT minimum. But that's a personal choice.

 

[buck]

I started lifting in 1973. Most everyone i know whether they have trained or not starts to feel their age by their 50's. And it doesn't get better. I have used all the joint supps and they may help slow down the degradation of the joints but they don't make them better especially if on continues working out. Pain meds and anti-inflammatories tend to lead to more damage from hiding the symptoms i find as one can then keep doing what is actually causing the problem.
If i could go back i would change what i did. As i have more knowledge now. And could get to my best as i am smarter know ..... i think. I spent years stretching and warming up and got injured and did those things less and got injured. I think it is the nature of pushing the body to the limit that is the biggest problem.
Things that aggravate my injuries the most i avoid these days. Today is shoulders and arms but no more over heads for me.

 

[AllLoadedUp]

I started lifting in 1973. Most everyone i know whether they have trained or not starts to feel their age by their 50's. And it doesn't get better. I have used all the joint supps and they may help slow down the degradation of the joints but they don't make them better especially if on continues working out. Pain meds and anti-inflammatories tend to lead to more damage from hiding the symptoms i find as one can then keep doing what is actually causing the problem.
If i could go back i would change what i did. As i have more knowledge now. And could get to my best as i am smarter know ..... i think. I spent years stretching and warming up and got injured and did those things less and got injured. I think it is the nature of pushing the body to the limit that is the biggest problem.
Things that aggravate my injuries the most i avoid these days. Today is shoulders and arms but no more over heads for me.

That is something I think I'm gonna give up. I'm still doing the two handed overhead tricep extension with a dumbbell. Not sure slinging that dumbbell up behind my head is a great thing still. I love that exercise too. Definitely no more dumbbell shoulder presses or military presses. Maybe, maybe some light behind the neck press on Smith Machine. Is that one ok? Ha ha. I'm gonna pretend I didn't read the top highlighted sentence.

 

[Mufasa123]

I started powerlifting at age 15, so now I am 40 years in and it's finally caught up to me, and practically overnight. I'm not trying to powerlift anymore, best I could put it is I am just trying to keep functional strength. I have been on HGH for years, but I won't take any kind of anabolics anymore. Currently taking every supplement known to benefit joint health. Advil or Alieve provide minimal improvement, I think. I have not tried Meloxicam yet, would love to hear feedback from anyone who has. Looking to see if there are any other options out there that I don't know about.

And a note to any of you young guys who might be reading this - If I could go back 40 years and change anything, would I? Absofuckinglutely NOT. The gym has meant so much to me over the years, and that is why I am hanging in there as best I can. Though I would say that I would have done a much better job of warming up before lifting heavy, that's the one thing I did not do well that I would change if I could.

Someone asked above about specifics that are bothering you? Knee(s)? Back? Kind of total body? Something internally wrong like heart etc - could be given the wording?

 

[Biggerp73]

Just find movements you CAN do. Do them very slowly, as slow as you need to. Focus on the squeeze, time under tension. You can work up a very nice pump, and a deep burn, and cause some good stimulus, without stressing the joints.

 

[Alzadosghost]

Im
Down to training my upper body with just the weight of my arms now. And It hurts enough. I think my gig is up. Shoulder is too injured to keep training. No insurance no fix.

 

[BLKGUY2006]

I have 29 years of training and my best is beat up very bad. I use much much lighter weights, focusing on good contraction and good stretching safely. It works pretty good.
Yes I’m only using 25 lbs on DB curls and per plates per side of leg press but I don’t care about weights. Just stay looking strong and getting a good pump…. Also 125 mg of
Deca and same amounts of test helps too.
Plus I’ve taken Celebrex for 20 years.

 

[romo]

Wow all these post sounds just like me. 59 in a few weeks. 4 local bodybuilding shows and 3 powerlifting meets in my youth. My shoulders are fried, i can no longer do anything overhead or even bench press anymore. Knees and back are still pretty good. Like someone said above, i too am finding it harder to keep my leg size up at almost 60. I do 200 test and 100 deca year around, im sure the deca is helping a little but truthfully i bumped it up to 300 a week for awhile and i did notice a improvement in my shoulders especially. But im not willing to run deca that high for to long anymore. And im sure most of you know,,nsaids restrict blood flow to the kidneys. Be careful with those.

 

[AllLoadedUp]

I have 29 years of training and my best is beat up very bad. I use much much lighter weights, focusing on good contraction and good stretching safely. It works pretty good.
Yes I’m only using 25 lbs on DB curls and per plates per side of leg press but I don’t care about weights. Just stay looking strong and getting a good pump…. Also 125 mg of
Deca and same amounts of test helps too.
Plus I’ve taken Celebrex for 20 years.

Biceps is something I go a lot lighter on now. Still go pretty heavy on tris. I learned heavy heavy weight for bis is useless for me. Just causes problems. I focus on the burn now. I've always had shit genetics for arms anyway. I do a lot of stuff now, and have for several years, I learned from watching Mountaindog. I watch something of his every day. Really miss John. He was such a great guy and I've learned tons from him and still do. As you get older a "Mans got to know his limitations" with certain exercises.

 

[Jefe]

Meloxicam is great. Doesn’t feel like a miracle until you stop it, then my joints get crunchy.

Stretching helps more than expected.

Some things just can’t be fixed. Lower weights, no squats.

Oh, hyaline injections are great.

 

[BLKGUY2006]

I’m

Pp

Biceps is something I go a lot lighter on now. Still go pretty heavy on tris. I learned heavy heavy weight for bis is useless for me. Just causes problems. I focus on the burn now. I've always had shit genetics for arms anyway. I do a lot of stuff now, and have for several years, I learned from watching Mountaindog. I watch something of his every day. Really miss John. He was such a great guy and I've learned tons from him and still do. As you get older a "Mans got to know his limitations" with certain exercises.

haha i’m in the same boat as you regarding arms. Could never get them past a hard 18in. I dhave to train my triceps light too or my right elbow hurts. I literally close my eyes when doing press downs for triceps and focus on feel.

OMG I miss John Meadows too. He was so helpful for me as well!! I still watch his videos before I go train.

 

[BillsMafia]

Some deca does wonders for the joints

 

[Mufasa123]

I view deca as also a preventative and similar to lubrication reduces wear and inflammation.

 

[mikevegas]

Thanks guys. I know my issue is arthritis, and it's killing my shoulders and knees. Lower back ain't the greatest, but it is the one thing I can tolerate so far. Elbows fortunately not an issue. Doesn't matter if I lift heavy low reps, or light higher reps, it's going to bring the pain. For me it actually seems 5x5 heavier is better than lower weights higher reps, as it just seems the less reps overall equals less pain. As far as warming up, I always run minimum one mile before lifting, and pyramid my reps/ weights up, so I take plenty of time to get myself up to speed before doing anything heavy.

I have tried BPC and TB500 without much help, though I should add it did help with issues in my 40s but not making a dent in my 50s. I did read a post in here from a guy saying he got amazing results from them, but running 5x or higher the typical dose of 250mcgs. Guess that will be my next shot at help.

As of right now just not wanting to go back to anything anabolics related. I'd rather keep upping my HGH dosage to see if that helps at all. I've been around the 2-3iu dose for over a decade now, and I've always felt amazing on it. It's only this past year or so that I'm hitting this brick wall of pain, and the weird difference of always feeling like a 30 year old tops, to feeling exactly my age all at once.

 

[mikevegas]

So to circle back to original intent of the post, I was looking for options that others have tried and found effective - I.E. different arthritis or pain meds you have found effective. Or maybe medical procedure feedback such as MACI, Synvisc, Hyaluronic Acid, Regenexx.

Things I can turn to outside of training methods, because I know how to adjust my training, and have, and none of the things I do in the gym make a difference. The joint pain doesn't change.

 

[gauge22-v2]

Oh I can relate.

Things I do:
- LOTS of warm up sets
- Removed almost ALL momentum for the various movements
- First working sets are usually 15+ reps
- If something is feeling off, I stop now. Gone are the days where I would continue to train if something felt off
- Keep my joints very warm in the gym. Knee and elbow wraps and 95% of the time I am working out in a hoodie/sweats
- Hot baths and a sauna blanket help

I avoid advil/painkillers as much as possible.

This oil, whom I believe I read @homonunculus wrote about, also helps.....bit on the knees under the wraps has really helped me out

 

[alfresco]

I started lifting in 1973. Most everyone i know whether they have trained or not starts to feel their age by their 50's. And it doesn't get better. I have used all the joint supps and they may help slow down the degradation of the joints but they don't make them better especially if on continues working out. Pain meds and anti-inflammatories tend to lead to more damage from hiding the symptoms i find as one can then keep doing what is actually causing the problem.
If i could go back i would change what i did. As i have more knowledge now. And could get to my best as i am smarter know ..... i think. I spent years stretching and warming up and got injured and did those things less and got injured. I think it is the nature of pushing the body to the limit that is the biggest problem.
Things that aggravate my injuries the most i avoid these days. Today is shoulders and arms but no more over heads for me.

Great post! All spot on.

I started lifting the same year as you.

My wheels started coming off at 70. I abused myself in my youth and I am paying for it now

If I could do it all over again . . . no way Jose. Once was enough.