And if there's one thing you'll get plenty of chance to practice during the ACL journey, it's precisely that. Patience.
Whether it's waiting for appointments, staying sane through what feels like the ten thousandth quad set in physio or holding yourself back from doing too much if the knee feels good during a rehab session, the mantra of ACL rehab seems to be slowly, slowly, catchy monkey.
It's a mantra that goes completely against the grain for me. Taking alternative routes or going the longer way round, I understand, but slow slow and consistently slow really isn't my style.
So, when I'm in for the long haul, I need to break it down into a series of smaller goals or landmarks otherwise I begin to go slightly mad. I need to know what's coming up and when, place mental fence posts in the ground to get me from A to B, then onto C etc., and plan around them.
The worst possible scenario for managing this impatience is a lack of information and that's precisely where I find myself today.
Physio has confirmed that there's a problem with the revision surgery and laxity in the joint. Whichever way I look at it, the outcome isn't good and it's hugely frustrating. The last year was pretty much a right off but it was going to be worth it to get the knee right and kick on with my life this year. I have plans. Lots of plans in both my personal and professional lives I want to get moving with but now they're all up in the air.
And 10 days after I first knew there was a problem, I'm still waiting to see my consultant to find out the extent of it and what that means.
I know that's not a long time but waiting for the referral is driving me mad so I took the initiative and called the hospital to try and get a date, only to be met by the phone ringing out (standard). When I eventually got hold of someone, they put me through to the wrong department where I got an answerphone. So I tried the consultant's secretary direct. Out of office. Aaaaaarrrghhh!
I know I'm hugely lucky to have private health insurance. I know it's not a life-threatening situation. I know that ultimately it will move much quicker than it would if I had to go via the NHS (this is in no way a dig at the NHS which does amazing things in many ways). I'm just going slowly insane. I need to know what's going on.
Frustration with re-injury + impatience + lack of information = feeling incredibly 'stabby'