glad to hear you are back at it. I was riding again after a couple like you but it took a while to be able to ride pain free, but eventually you get used to it and one day its weird.... you hit a root, jump(or what ever) without preparing for the pain mentally, and it dont hurt. they should be strong enough to take a crash or 2 by now. Vioxx got me thru mine last summer, then they took it off the market and for a few weeks I wondered if that pain in my chest was the rib or my heart from the Vioxx.LOL
glad you are back to driving the bike again