Around this time last year (actually I can pinpoint the precise day), I rode my beloved TDM back from a day helping a mate with his new shop and felt a painful sort of twang in my right hip. It had always been a bit painful on longer rides so I ignored it as best I could and rode the hour home.
After visiting the doctors ("I dunno what's wrong, call this number for NHS Physio Direct, but you might want to think about going private."), I did indeed go to a private physio who diagnosed an anterior femoral impingement (bit of hip joint rubbing against another bit where it shouldn't). He gave me some stretches and exercises which help day-to-day, but it still hurts to stand still for long periods, and just sitting on a bike is agony, let alone riding. It's a bit of a problem as a gigging musician too, although this isn't so bad since I'm constantly moving and shifting weight. I only rode again once more - the 2 miles to the MoT tester and back.
Anyway last weekend I drained the fuel out of my bike and laid it up. I can't bring myself to get rid of it as it's been with me since 2004 and maybe, just maybe, in the future, some sort of cure will happen and I'll get back out there.
I'm not asking for sympathy or advice or anything like that, it's just quite cathartic to type this out. I know you lot are just as passionate about motorcycling as I am so you'll understand what a wrench it is.
Captain Old and even Slower