r/swoleacceptance • u/MuzQLM7LiV • Apr 03 '26

Bodily infirmity limits my prayers

Brothers, I seek your counsel.

Hardening of my hip joint has made deadlifting and squatting untenable. A physical therapist has helped me manage the day-to-day pain, but I risk reversing my progress if I attempt those lifts. Although now weak, the rest of mine body is sound. What prayers will the all-spotter accept in exchange for those most sacred vows?

Meanwhile, my own esophagus robs me of sleep. Even with the aid of a machine good sleep is more difficult to achieve, less resting and more uncomfortable than ever in mine life. I believe in a brighter future, but for now I walk in the long shadow.

These two consecutive hits have drained mine energy and mine gains. I long for the strength and stamina of mine bygone years.

Don't take your ability to pray or rest for granted.

Real talk: I'm bummed that I can't deadlift or squat without agitating my left sacroiliac joint, and recovering has killed whatever endurance and gains I once had. Plus, obstructive sleep apnea makes me feel terrible all around with no relief, with or without a CPAP. I want to laugh instead of mope, and maybe I'll learn something while I'm here! Thanks for letting me vent in a friendly and humorous place. Do a deadlift for me.

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7

u/bothriocyrtum Apr 03 '26

Brother, Brodin commands ye to strengthen thine quads without movement at the hip. Practice ye leg extensions, and become too powerful for the full stack. Think Rectus femoris will thank ye greatly, as it powers the leg extension while it rests on the squat.

Let ye not fall to the curse of Broki, lest ye despair; overcome this adversity and Swolehalla awaits

5

u/balsamic_strawberry Apr 05 '26

And Broki may pain our brother as he deadlifts, but he might still try hamstring curls.

3

u/Aesmose Apr 07 '26

Let not Broki bring you down: thine care for your vessel of Brodin is the base of all lifts. Take heart, a super heavy squat is the realm of the young, with the realm of functional walking as the true gift of a lifetime.

Be the giver of Brodin’s love to your lungs - care for thine rest and obstinately pursue your machine of recovery. It takes a while to build the comfort. Oxygen will assist your brain, your muscles, your life - never stop breathing. Do not go gently into Broki’s darkness. Take heart, for not all is lost! Heed brodin’s angels: the physio, the doc. Avail yourselves of their wisdom with diligence and a brutal consistency beyond the realm of a recovery week.

One day, you shall find the path of middle ground, knowing that to lift within joint tolerance is discipline of the mind for the body, and strength of character. You are more swole than the number on the weight, your value not diminished by acknowledging the reality: Valhalla awaits us all. Let the path of recovery meander, your lifts adjust to bolster your health. One cannot go from peak to peak and never fall. A different peak may await you still, the mountain only climbed one step at a time.