Dodging A Bullet

I live in CO and I really like to ski. I don't go crazy over it - heck - I took about a 25 year break from it. But over the last few years I've returned and it's really fun.

Last weekend I took what felt like a pretty minor fall. My binding released. And when I stood up my knee was a little sore. I put my ski back on and away I went. I skied another 3-4 hours and totally forgot the event. That night it was so sore I could hardly get out of a chair. 5 days later I still had trouble getting out of a chair. I was sick - just returning from a multi-year effort to get through some running injuries and now this happens.

I went to the orthopedist yesterday. Man - did I dodge a bullet. The ligaments are tight as a drum and the meniscus is fine. I pulled a small muscle in the back of the knee (popliteus). I should be back to running in another week.

Monday starts a 4 day vacation at a local ski resort with good friends. We've had the reservation since last September. When I asked the doc if I could ski I said "Let me make something perfectly clear: My highest priority is protecting my running." While I want to ski I wanted him to know I was not this downhill animal that would do anything to stay on the slopes, especially not someone that would risk an injury that might sideline me for months.

I think it was easier for him to answer and provide advice once he knew specifically where I was coming from. (BTW, he suggested I "test things out" on some really easy slopes. "Structurally your knee is just fine. However when you've had an injury your nervous system compensates to protect the area. You'll favor it. You'll turn slightly differently. *Those* differences might cause you to behave differently on more difficult slopes. And that can get you into trouble.")

Jim