tlm
G.O.A.T.
I was doing a set of ten with 225 pounds. I topped out at 295 pounds so the 225 is heavy but not forehead-vein-bulging heavy.
I guy I used to work out with tore a tendon in his upper forearm/elbow from doing a dead lift. He was also in his later 40's when that happened and has never recovered - I think his hand is at less than 50% normal functionality today. He was doing around 500 pounds and said that the force he was exerting caused more damage than the initial injury. His and my incident have really scared me off from doing any heavy upper body stuff any more.
I sure hope you are scared of using heavy weights at an older age. You say a guy you used to workout with in his upper 40’s was doing deadlifts with 500 lbs.and got injured. Wow imagine that, sorry but that is just ignorance once that age you need to leave the ego at the door and use more moderate weights.
You can get just as good of a workout with a somewhat lighter weight by going slower on the reps. I’ve lifted since my 20’s and yes when I was younger me and my workout buddies would be lifting heavier weights than we should have. But by my 30’s I knew enough to not be going crazy with too heavy of weights.
Lifting weights is to help prevent injuries not cause them. I still use moderately heavy weights but not anywhere near max weights. There are many ways to lift safely and still get plenty strong without getting in the danger zone.