Healing is slow going, but good. :-)

I finally got in to see an orthopedist about two months ago & got a cortisone shot that alleviated one aspect of my knee pain. After a few ups and downs, I am finally walking a tentatively without any knee support (except at work). I'm trying to incorporate a few short, unsupported walks into my week, completely listening to my knee and what it's up for.

It seems pretty clear now that my MCL was not strong enough to be running again. It wasn't doing its full job, so I ended up with a pinch of some sort inside my knee that just wouldn't heal. Some days my MCL feels stiff, almost like there's scar tissue threatening to break. Thankfully, those days are becoming fewer and further between and the pinch seems mostly gone.

My guess is that I won't be running or riding long again for a while. And you know what? I'm okay with that. I have learned a lot about life and my own self in these past 8 months. Though no longer physically fit & endurance ready, I believe I am actually healthier now than I was then -- in a more holistic sense, at least. What's more, I now appreciate being able to do ANYTHING. I appreciate a ride of a few blocks, I appreciate being able to walk to our local coffee shop... things I used to overlook before.

Physical health is a gift, not to be taken for granted! :-)