I've been dealing with shoulder pain for the better part of 15 years. It's been curtailed each time with cortisone shots. The shoulder area has been damaged many times through my life...broken collar bone, broken arm by the shoulder, two shoulder dislocations, etc. Years of playing football did most of the damage, with the last dislocation coming from a wrestling match with my son after my son thought he could square up against me in my own home...this happened after I became disabled. After a bit of wrestling and him realizing that even in a weakened state that I wasn't going to go down in my own house, be quit fighting and it was over. However, when I got up, I realised I had another dislocation. I was able to relocate it using some twisting, some pressure, and a slam into a door jam. A trip to the hospital to make sure everything was in it's proper place meant I got to wear a nice sling for awhile.

Relocating my shoulder by myself in front of my son was well worth it. It's been two years since that happened, and he has yet to try me. He later told my wife that he had great respect for me after seeing me do it with his own eyes...and that he'd never dream of taking a swing at me again. My daughter told me that she heard him tell his friends that I had done that, and that he considers me a BA because of it. I consider the end results well worth the bit of pain it put me through.

Anyway, back to current day. All of those injuries have taken a toll on my shoulder area, and I can no longer lift my own arm, nor use it to control the cane I walk with. X-ray and MRI show that the bursa need removed, bone spurs ground down, pectoral tendon repaired and bicep major tendon snipped. While inside, they'll inspect the rotator cuff to see if there are repairs needed that the MRI couldn't see. I'll wind up with a Popeye bicep and a weaker arm, but was assured that I would have near complete use of it and likely no pain after a few months. If all goes well, it will be arthroscopic surgery. If the cuff is damaged, they'll open me up wider and make the repairs. I won't know what was done til after I wake up.

I should be able to get back to my hobby of rebuilding old pocket knives and learning the skill of rehandling fixed blades in about 3 months. The motion of sanding old blades for an hour or so has actually lessened the pain a bit while in motion, but it comes back later in the day. Hopefully the pain never comes back...at least this level of pain.

Surgery is on the 19th. For those that pray, I'm asking for a few. For those that don't, keep me in your thoughts that day, please. I'm looking forward to this...a life of less pain would be great!

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1987 560SL
85,000 miles

I had a rotator cuff repaired and it took longer to recover than any knee or HIp I have had done. The shoulder is very good now though. Although I plan to do the other one soon now I don't look forward to being immobilized for so long.

You are a BA Jon!

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

LOL So long as I remain that way with my son, I'm good with never doing it again. It didn't tickle, I can tell you. My wife saw it happen, and was shocked that I did it without screaming out or cursing. It happened during the stage in my son's life where he thought he could take the old man, and do or say whatever he wanted without anyone stopping him. I went through that same stage, and dad handled it by telling me that I can take a swing at him if I'd like to try, but that he got to give me one back. I didn't think the old man was that quick, and I landed on my backside with such force that I never challenged him again. For my son and I, he took a swing and I caught his arm, spun him into a headlock and dropped him, holding on til he submitted. When we dropped, I landed in such a way that it dislocated the arm I was using to hold him...but I refused to let go til he was done fighting.

In the end, the level of respect he shows now is great. He doesn't talk back to me or my wife anymore, and will end any actions leading to blow up between us with just a look.

Speaking of my son, he completed his Senior year of High School this year through cyber school. He was with a young lady at the school near the end of the year that got in trouble with possession of MJ. He didn't have any on him, and passed the drug test I made him pay for, but that wasn't enough for the school. When they began threatening him with expulsion, I welcomed it. In the hearing, I told them that there was no way my son would rat anyone out. Living in an area that historically was strong in the Italian ways, rats don't get along too well with many.

Anyway, he began his cyber schooling a month after the school year began, because they forgot to include his information. They gave him the sign in information finally, and he was off. After the first week, he told me that he wanted to quit his job so he could hammer through the school. I agreed with him, and he completed an entire school year's worth of video presentations, timed tests and quizes, and the like in just 4 months. His employer hired him back, and as soon as he turned 18, put him in the manager training program. He's now the full time assistant manager of one of the local 5 Guy's Burgers...and will walk to get his diploma next month.

While he's done a few things that has caused me to question his general sanity, as all parents do to their offspring, I'm quite proud of him and is achievements.

I forgot to add that he's also the youngest full member of the borough's volunteer fire department. Not bad for an 18 year old young man...

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1987 560SL
85,000 miles

Jon he sounds like he is on the right track.

I well remember beginning to think I could take the old man. I was about 13 and nearly as tall as he was. He was a bit overweight an you know didn't look that tough. One day he thought I was being disrespectful or something and hit me with the back of his hand. Nearly knocked me off the porch.

I took care to be very careful whenever within arms length of him after that.

When he was in his 60s he jumped on my BIL's back when he and my sister were fighting over a tax return check when they were divorcing. He told me he was prepared to hit my BIL in the back of his head if he had to. He told them they were to split the check 50/50 and when they both agreed he let the BIL up. He had guts.

Not like me.

I'd talk him to death if I had to though.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

I had rotator cuff reattachment surgery on Aug 31 2016, they also reattached the biceps long-head tendon. I think that's the one that you got snipped. The short head rarely fails. I don't fully understand it, but sometimes they save the tendon and sometimes they don't.

Pretty sure John Elway won two Super Bowls with that tendon unattached. Good luck, you will feel pretty helpless for two or three months. Be careful, a fall or similar can do damage. Those internal stitches are reportedly somewhat fragile at first.

I'm doing pretty well, but it messes with my head. There is some amount of pain in the rehab process, and I never know if it's OK pain or pain of the sort that you should drop everything and rest for two days.

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1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

My fear is falling, which happens with some frequency through a month. Allowing my wife to do things for me has always been an issue of contention between us...I've always handled everything in my life before her, and letting go of that has been rough. I've recently, within the past year, have gotten a little bit better with less frequencies of passing out or falling down, and have enjoyed some of my independence. Giving that up will be a bit of an issue, but I'll not have a choice.

As for my recovery, they are installing an appliance in my home the third day after my surgery that is to aide me in my recovery. It is a completely new design of something similar, where they strap your arm in the device and it moves your arm for you...working the tendons and such a for a few weeks prior to PT. The surgeon said that I will be the first person in the US to have this in their home. I don't know much about it yet, but my insurance is paying for it and the doc seemed to think it would aide in the process, so I agreed to it.

Tom, I somewhat remember an issue I had with my dad when I was about 16 or 17. After 9 years of Taekwondo, I became rather good at blocking. I mouthed of to him or mom, I can't remember, and dad tried to slap me...which I blocked. Now, Dad new Aikido, which he learned while in the military. He swung, and I blocked. He swung with the other arm, and instinctively I blocked, and countered with a kick to his groin.........He laughed at me. Not a normal laugh, but one that curdles your guts. I remember waking up a short time later on the floor, with mom holding an icepack to my head. Dad had one on his lap. We never had another physical confrontation after that, because I learned where the line was, and refused to cross it again. I gained great respect for him, because I lived...the man could have killed me with his thumb with little effort. Instead, he knocked me out and sat back down, like nothing happened. When I came to, he didn't have any cross words or words about the event...only talking to me about it a few weeks later, telling me that my skills had improved beyond what he had thought. I told him that he was pretty fast for an old man, which caused him to grin. We got along like old war buddies after that, and had a closer relationship than he did with my brothers.

Sometimes poking the bear and having the bear beat you back has benefits. For me and dad, the same can be said for me and my son...the elder refused to take the crap, and out of the event came great respect and admiration.

Raising highly testosterone fueled teen boys can be an interesting job. I know I was hell on my dad for a few years, and what my son has done to me is less than I did to my dad. I guess this is how you raise very strong willed men. As my wife stated after it happened, with a grin, of course...This is Sparta, and this is how Spartan boys are made into Spartan men.

Personally, I think it's all the Scottish blood coursing through our veins...

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1987 560SL
85,000 miles

I have bulls for pets these days. You and your dad remind me of them. They don't "come to blows" but the young bull pushes and tests the old bull. The old bull tolerates but controls, grooms the young bull.

I treat them like petting zoo animals.

You CAN'T rush shoulder rehab. Some rehab you can bull your way through it and make hard work count. Shoulder rehab is not like that. A shoulder is not really a joint like other joints, no ball and socket or any of that, very loosely tied together. You can end up with parts pushing on nerves and vessels and such of you try to hurry it.

The hobby I recently reacquainted myself with, cutlery, will have to be shelved for some months...I'm not too pleased about that. I recently made a few purchases totaling nearly 200 old pocket knives that I've been reconditioning/restoring, or re-working into new knives, mainly using the blades and springs. Brass liners, brass or nickel silver bolsters, and wood or bone scales combine to make some nice knives. I'm currently pushing myself on a project I started a month ago, where I bought a blade in the Sharpfinger design that I'm handling for my step son in Cali. My hope is that it eventually becomes a thing where I can make a few bucks from it. I've got a local bladesmith that has agreed to supply me with blades in the future if there is a demand for the work done. I'm pushing to get the knife done before the surgery.

Doc said I'd be out of commision for about 3 months...I'm betting on closer to 5-6. Hopefully he's more accurate than me on this

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1987 560SL
85,000 miles

I agree particularly with your last paragraph. On my hip I was sort of Schitzo, alternating between not aggrivating it and pushing back right at the pain. In the end it will take the time it takes. Do the rehab and eventually it will heal completely and you can go back to your normal fitness excercises.

This week mine has gone over the hump. I've not used my cane for about 2 weeks now and on Friday I swam the same regimen I did before the replacement without pain fatigue or cramping.

The shoulder is a completely different animal though. You want to do exactly what the doc says. No going right at the pain recommended.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Love to see a pic of that Sharpfinger when you get it done. It's a favorite pattern of mine. I have skinned out lots of large game and livestock with my old Schrade Sharpfingers. Bear and Sons still makes a nice one right here in the U.S. Good luck on the surgery!

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You're a daisy if you do.
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84 Euro 240D 4spd. 220.5k sold
04 Honda Element AWD
1985 F150 XLT 4x4, 351W with 270k miles, hay hauler
1997 Suzuki Sidekick 4x4
1993 Toyota 4wd Pickup 226K and counting

Good luck man. And get an ergonomic computer space so you're at least partially able to post on the 'shop.

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You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows - Robert A. Zimmerman

Thanks. It's one of my favorite patterns as well. I'm not too keen on the blank as a whole, but I wanted to start on the low side and work my way up in material costs. It's a Chinese stamped, US spec'd blade made out of 440C. It's not my favorite steel, but it will work for the first blade.

I have a number of 152OT Sharpfingers, one from each revision, all with brown delrin scales. I don't have any of the scrimshaw versions, yet. I'm working on doing the same with the 15OT Deerslayer. Those are about the only fixed blades that I have a hard time not buying...so long as they're US made. I have the Taylor Brands version of each, given as a gift, and they have yet to be used. Quality is NOT the same as the US made originals.

I'll post pictures of it, along with a couple of folding knives I've done. I still have some improving to do before I'm ready to sell any of the folders, but I'm sure I'll get there.

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1987 560SL
85,000 miles

I'll see what I can pull off.

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1987 560SL
85,000 miles

There is no comparison. The old U.S. Schrades and Old Timers were, are, rock solid well made working knives. All mine get used, all the time, folders and straight knives. The Chinese copies are pure junk, maybe ok to throw in a tool box or glove compartment but that's it. These days, for good cheap beater knives I buy Moras. Got them all over the place. In the barn, the hay shed, the pantry, my fishing box. My son carries one in his work and uses it for pretty heavy bushcraft.Says it's the best 14 bucks he ever spent and has put the big-ass old Buck hunter I passed on to him away.

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You're a daisy if you do.
__________________________________
84 Euro 240D 4spd. 220.5k sold
04 Honda Element AWD
1985 F150 XLT 4x4, 351W with 270k miles, hay hauler
1997 Suzuki Sidekick 4x4
1993 Toyota 4wd Pickup 226K and counting

Well, surgery went well enough. The did find rotator cuff damage and repaired it. I requested the nerve block, which felt weird. My arm became too heavy to lift after the block...aomething I found pretty cool.

I was sent home with an impressive sling, percocet, and instructions. When the block wore off (12hours) the pain hit hard...and the percs have been fun. The colorful and vivid dreams are insane!

Doc said I'm down for at least 4-6months, so my summer is trash.

I just wanted to update before I fall into another perv induced dream

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

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1987 560SL
85,000 miles