Glad the knee was better, Chris!
I have straps in my bag, but haven't used them for a couple years now. My grip strength is good, I do fail sometimes on my heaviest sets, but find that my grip strength continues to improve without them.
Shoulder day today....it's "push" movements that have really been bothering my back/kidney, so I lifted short, somewhat light with perfect form, and got through a short shoulder workout without aggravating it at all.
Military press 135, 145, 155, 165, 175, 185, 195
Barbell shrugs 275, 275, 275, 335, 335
That's it, short and sweet. Back feels the best it has in over a week.

Hope that lasts through the night.
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Thanks Dave, Julian, James, Kelly, Peter, Gerry, Dave, Mo, Frank, Týr and Mr. Mark!