Six months ago I wasn't a runner. The thought of me ever being a runner was ludicrous. As my previous posts have indicated, I've never been good at running. I wasn't even planning on becoming a runner. I was using C25K as interval training. And then something happened. Something finally clicked. I enjoyed running. I could run for longer and longer periods of time. I was increasing speed and distance. I could do it. I was thrilled. I was looking forward to training for and running my first 5K. And then there pain. And it was over.
After an exam and another look at my x-ray and my MRI, the specialist gave me a more in depth diagnosis than the previous orthopedist. He determined that the "injury" was in fact something that I was most likely born with. He thinks that the cartilage did not fully fuse to the bone like it was supposed to do during development. (On a side note, my knee cap is in two pieces because it didn't fuse either.) According to him, running is the absolute worse activity that I can do, besides jumping rope. It's not something that will ever "heal." It's something that I can manage over time. It's chronic, but it will never go away.
We're starting now with Glucosamine. If I see improvement after 8 weeks, I'll continue until it doesn't work any more. If it doesn't then they'll do another series of injections that will build lubrication in the knee. He gave me clearance to do what I feel like doing as long as it doesn't cause me pain. He also encouraged me to do Group Power (when my knee stops hurting.)
So, that's that. I wasn't a runner. Then I was. Now I'm not.
I think I may try biking. Or swimming. I've never been a biker. Or a swimmer. But, then again. I was never a runner either.