MRI time

I've been running very limited the miles the past few weeks.  In fact, every run has been a struggle and I've had the worst runs of my short running career recently.  I've tried to figure out why and several things have become apparent...a lack of motivation since I'm not committed to any races, a lack of running with other people, not being able to run at my "old" paces.  Since all three of those are connected by a sense of dread of running, I decided it's time to tackle that issue.  I've dreaded running because I wonder if I'll feel that catching in my knee, if I'll be able to run the distance I desire, if the run will cause my knee to hurt...ie. I need the knee pain to go away!

I've had a few ART sessions with Dr.Scott and he has done a fantastic job of noticing issues with my gait and working to correct those.  The lingering thing is the medial knee pain that I've dealt with off/on for a year; it's the pain that has prevented my doing any speedwork as I feel a catching in my left knee and cannot fully extend my knee during the running cycle.  I've hoped that it's just a muscular issue- really tight, knotted muscles pulling on my knee.  But the huge possibility of a torn meniscus or torn cartilage has been hanging over my head.  I've put of getting a MRI because I hate spending money on it with the chance that it will come back negative (a good thing) and I'll still be left with knee pain.  After feeling the shooting pain when wearing my Strassburg sock the past two nights, walking around the neighborhood, and doing yoga this morning, I finally broke down and am taking doctor's recommendation of getting MRI.  Hopefully I can get in today or tomorrow and know something early next week.  

Until then, it's pool time...with a buoy between my legs to prevent kicking as I'm not allowed to pool run or swim unless it's painfree.   My doctor's reached the pessimistic point about this but I'm staying optimistic...it's all I can do!