Pip also started out with lots of training, but ran (literally) into serious trouble with her right knee. What had started out as a bit of a nuisance deteriorated during last summer, and any walking, like Roman sightseeing, was becoming impossible. She tried the recommended approach of rest, ice, compression and elevation, and took lots of anti-inflammatories, but as soon as she stopped, the pain and swelling returned.
After a lot of investigation, and the discovery that Suffolk NHS will do everything possible to avoid giving knee surgery, we took the plunge and at 24 hours notice she had keyhole surgery on 3 March. These pictures are the inside of her knee joint! The bottom right hand one shows the tear, which is what the surgery shaved to stop pain and any deterioration.
At the time of writing, it's healing well and we have bought some high-quality builder's knee-pads. The engine maintenance requires quite a lot of knee time (and that's before the praying starts), so they're essential.