My Last Post For Awhile

[Omaha Steve]

My shoulder surgery is tomorrow. My right arm will be immobile (no typing) for 6 weeks. I'll be on lots of pain meds too. So I don't know when I'll be back, or how often. I will miss this place. I'll still be reading. The DU is my time consuming hobby.

OS

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. You take care, and if martha or you needs anything

feel free to have her PM me.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

2. Hope that you are back soon!

Good luck with the shoulder surgery!

[fishwax]

3. Be Well, Omaha Steve!

best of luck! Heal Quickly :)

:hi:

[RKP5637]

4. Good luck and a speedy recovery!!! n/t

[elleng]

5. Break a leg, OS!

:thumbsup:

[Liberal_in_LA]

42. lol n/t

[Better Believe It]

6. I will look forward to your posts when you return.

Take care of yourself and hope everything turns out fine with your surgery.

[EFerrari]

7. Go get 'em, Steve.

We'll be right here when you get back. If anyone needs anything in the meantime, you all know where we are.

:grouphug:

[bobbolink]

8. Best wishes, Steve! I hope the mending is complete and as troublefree as possibnle.

:hi:

Oh, yeah, and I hope the surgeon is totally with it! ^_^

[CaliforniaPeggy]

9. Take care, my dear Omaha Steve...

I hope the surgery and your recovery go well, and you heal quickly...

See you on the flip side!

:hug:

[highplainsdem]

10. Take care, Steve. Prayers for everything to go perfectly.

[jillan]

11. I'll miss your OPs Steve. Best of luck with the surgery.

[Pryderi]

12. Get well soon! What about speech to txt software? ;)

[salin]

13. Peace and healing be with you... your voice will be missed.

And will be greatly appreciated when it returns.

Heal well.

[YankeyMCC]

14. Be well nt

[slackmaster]

15. Good luck Steve. Make sure you are fully off pain meds before you try to post.

;-)

[checks-n-balances]

16. Bless you, Steve, & hope all goes well

We'll miss your posts until you come back!!

[MannyGoldstein]

17. Godspeed! Quick recovery!

Your posts will be missed while you're on hiatus.

[BrklynLiberal]

18. You will be missed. Hope you are back soon, better than ever.

[Fumesucker]

19. Break a leg, man..

Err.. perhaps I should rephrase that.. :)

May the Force be with you.

:toast:

[Ohio Joe]

20. Good luck - nt

[spooky3]

21. I'll miss your posts - take good care and get healthy soon.

[cordelia]

22. Best wishes for a rapid recovery!

[Raine]

23. Best wishes on a speedy recovery! nt

:hi:

[csziggy]

24. You may be back sooner than you think

I've had surgery on both shoulders, the left back in 1993, the right June 2009. Both times internet forums were a mjor way to keep my mind active.

Even when my right shoulder was immobilized, I managed to get online and post messages. I learned to use the mouse and pecked out the letters very slowly with my left hand. Lots of typos and a lot of stupid messages, only some due to the meds, but I still hung around and got some information. It certainly saved me from terminal boredom!

I hope you have someone to help you for the first days and weeks. The first days I had to have help remembering when to take meds and to get food and drinks. After that until the arm was out of the sling/strap arrangement I needed help getting dressed, flexing the arm to prevent the joints from freezing and with showering.

Take care, follow the doctor's directions and do the therapy when it is permitted - you will heal better. Good luck with the surgery and I hope it all goes well.

[Omaha Steve]

37. This is the second surgery on this shoulder in 3 years

IF I understood correctly, it will be more like a cast than a sling.

[csziggy]

51. Ow! I've seen people in those shoulder casts

That is much more difficult to deal with, then. That will be a lot harder to maneuver around with than the sling/pad arrangement.

What on earth did you do to it to need more work this soon?

[Omaha Steve]

100. The worst happened at work again

I've had two times at home after the first surgery where I stayed home a few days with pain. Once was just getting out of bed in the morning and it hurt. On Dec. 8th, I wasn't doing anything out of the ordinary. I was closing a water valve at work. Simple. Then what felt like an electric shock went from my shoulder to my fingers. I still have some slight numbness in two fingers. It was also the worst pain I've had in my shoulder that I remember.

So I was on sedentary duty on Jan. 5th. Sitting in a chair on lunch break in the lunch room. An older chair kind of fell apart with me in it. The short drop of a few inches juggled my shoulder around again. ALL those style chairs got replaced.

[csziggy]

123. Ah - maybe cumulative damage and bone spurs?

Take care. I'll be sending good vibes for the next few weeks!

[Salviati]

25. Good luck with the surgery, and here's wishing to a speedy recovery

[babylonsister]

26. All the best, Steve. I'll be sending healing thoughts! nt

[Joanne98]

27. We'll be thinking about you. Take care!

[TBF]

28. Hope all goes smoothly Steve. nt

[lukasahero]

29. hey - I broke my arm 2 weeks ago

You'd be surprised how well you can type with one hand if you are determined! ;)

Good luck w/your surgery. We'll keep a light on for you. :hi:

[Jackpine Radical]

30. May it all go well for you, Brother.

We'll be missing the clear union voice and all the union news updates.

[Dappleganger]

31. Best of luck to you and a speedy recovery.

Especially during physical therapy, which is a real bitch. ;)

[Altoid_Cyclist]

89. PT after shoulder surgery is not a fun activity to be sure.

The ROM manipulation had me feeling as though I was going to pass out or vomit or both. I got through it by calling the Therapist every name in the book under my breath.

At least I didn't actually take a swing (with the good arm) at the Therapist. I've had a few of them say that patients take swings at them during shoulder rehab more often than any other rehab.

[Dappleganger]

104. I called mine my Physical Terrorist...

she used to get a kick out of that.

I sort of felt sorry for her, my last week of PT last fall she had to start working with her brother-in-law who just had shoulder surgery. He was in a LOT of pain and very drugged out. Mine was bad enough (herniated discs).

[Altoid_Cyclist]

184. Physical Terrorist is one of the few terms that I didn't think of.

That is a pretty good analysis of what it felt like at times though.

[NoQuarter]

170. So True.

I had total shoulder replacement in 2005 (the first time – don't ask.) I decided to harbor no fantasies of malevolent punishments for my PTs, but rather to grumble incessantly throughout the sessions while giving 110% to my own torture. The torment was temporary, but oh so worth it.

No lie...it's gonna be tough, but hang in there Omaha Steve.

[Altoid_Cyclist]

185. Correct.

When I finally told the PT that I almost passed out and was calling him some rather unflattering names, he was actually surprised and asked me why I didn't say something.

As you said, I told him that I trusted him and that the more I allowed him to do, the better off I would be in the long run. Short term pain can be ignored if it helps in the long run.

Besides, it wasn't any worse than the first time that I tried to dress myself after the surgery. Lots of pain since I could only get the shirt part way on and then was trapped until my wife got it the rest of the way.

[FarPoint]

32. Can't you just hen-peck with one hand?

6 weeks is a very long time to be without your grassroots union news alerts...I so enjoy your threads...But, let's not make this about me....I do hope you have a smoothe, safe and brisk recovery....O8) :grouphug:

[madrchsod]

33. sounds like it`s a lot worse than rotator cuff surgery i had..

i`ll try to post labor news while you recover.oh ya careful with those painkillers!

[northoftheborder]

34. Wish you well.

[chillspike]

35. Surgery is no excuse.

Just kidding. Best of luck with your surgery. ;-)

[mia]

36. Feel better soon!

It's my time consuming hobby too.

[alfredo]

38. Milk the surgery for as long as you can.

Get well when others catch on.

[Cleita]

39. Oh, I hope everything goes smoothly and that

you are back in no time fit as a fiddle.

[trayfoot]

40. Best to you, Steve!

Positive thoughts and prayers for your RAPID recovery!!!

[AsahinaKimi]

41. Hayaku yokunatte kudasai , odaijini

Get well soon, take care of yourself!

[ellenfl]

43. good luck with your surgery; enjoy the pain meds and hurry back.

we'll leave the light on.

ellen fl

[lonestarnot]

44. Peck with your left hand when you can and good luck.

:hi:

[grahamhgreen]

46. +1

[devilgrrl]

45. Get well soon!

:-)

[spanone]

47. take care....

r

[Brickbat]

48. You're in my thoughts, brother.

[dixiegrrrrl]

49. We will keep DU running till you can type again.

When you can, try typing ( or dictating to a typer) on pain meds.
Be amazed at what you can come up with.....or so I hear.

Speedy healing!

[pacalo]

50. You take care, Steve! Sending my best, warmest wishes for a smooth operation &

recovery.

:hug:

[Liberal In Texas]

52. Heal fast buddy. n/t

[TuxedoKat]

53. Ah, good luck Steve

hope all goes well. Will be thinking of you tomorrow. I found the tape for you I mentioned a few months back -- just have to find a way to make a copy of it. Take care.

[Bluenorthwest]

54. Voice recognition is the future...

Good luck, and get software! http://www.nuance.com/dragon/index.htm
Under a hundred. You talk, it types.

[Raksha]

55. Best wishes for a fast recovery!

[babydollhead]

56. rest and heal!

[The Doctor.]

57. Not to be a pest... but is there a reason for such extended immobility?

Naturally, you needn't answer, but the current wisdom is PT starting within days of most such surgeries. Unless this is a very unusual procedure, I would seriously consider asking about that.

Either way, use lots of iconic manipulation (using your imagination to picture someone/thing/stuff healing your shoulder), good nutrition, and hopefully earliest possible actuation. We don't want to have you out for so long. (You can peck with your left... and you will be far too tempted)

As always, don't infer stuff from anything you read on the interwebz. Talk to a doctor in person... or maybe three.

[msanthrope]

58. Best of Luck and Quick Recovery!!! n/t

[roguevalley]

59. take careand get dragon software thart will type for you. I have it

and its awesome

[FailureToCommunicate]

127. Second for Dragon, or Dictate (for mac) Good luck and get well.

[oasis]

60. Come back strong.

:patriot:

[calimary]

61. Hey, get better soon, okay?

We'll need you! No fair we lose Olbermann and your input in the same week.

[defendandprotect]

62. Good luck -- best wishes --

[northofdenali]

63. All my feeble but heartfelt wishes for your best recovery. Ever.

You'll certainly have some ouch to deal with - keep up with your insight because that helps US here on DU.

:hug::hug::hug::hug:

[madmax]

64. Good Luck Steve

Take it easy. :hug: See you when you're feeling better.

[myrna minx]

65. May you have a speedy recovery. K&R n/t

[Canuckistanian]

66. Get well soon

So you can keep fighting that fight for working men and women.

:patriot:

[nolabear]

67. Time to brush up on your toe-typing, Steve-O.

OR, get well soon.

[TheOther95Percent]

68. Good luck.

[krispos42]

69. Start > All Programs > Accessories> Accessability > On Screen Keyboard

(Windows XP)


It makes a clickable keyboard pop up. If you can click a mouse, you can type. Slowly, but you can do it.


Get better. And raise hell if it hurts!

[Liberty Belle]

70. I've had shoulder surgery. You'll be surprised how much you can type one-handed!

Drive with a pillow stuffed under the shoulder harness, once you're cleared to start driving, to be more comfortable.

What kind of shoulder surgery are you having? I refused all pain meds; doc thought I was crazy but I did fine. But then I was in so much pain before the surgery, it was actually no worse after.

[Odin2005]

71. Good luck!

[hay rick]

72. Hurry on back.

Good luck for a speedy recovery. We rely on you as a dependable source of current union news.

[Lifelong Protester]

73. lay low, rest, and hope you are better soon.

from another one who actually knows the "Nixon eats grapes" story... and owned the pin too!

[librechik]

74. I had that done

not fun. working up the courage to have the other one scoped too. Useless appendages! Pah! immobile? I had to get 14 hours a day of passive motion machine up and down up and down for weeks so the shoulder didn't freeze. So they claimed. Anyway, i'm pretty much fine now' that was years ago now, titanium screw still works!
Get better--it takes a long time to recover, hang in there!
Blessings

[Overseas]

75. I'll miss you! Get well soon! //nt

[handmade34]

76. take care!

[Kurovski]

77. Heal well.

And best luck to you.

[Festivito]

78. Heal well, heal quickly.

in that order.

[Book Lover]

79. Good luck!

Take all the time you need. My best thoughts are with you for a swift and pain-minimal recovery.

[onestepforward]

80. I hope all goes well

and you have a speedy recovery!

[MilesColtrane]

81. Hope the surging goes well, and you're on the mend soon, OS.

Re: Posting - I'd bet that you'll soon develop left handed typing chops that will put you back in the action.

The DU urge is strong. It cannot be denied.

As far as pain meds go, I hope you have all you need. And, if you have more than you need PM me!

:P

[diane in sf]

82. I hope your surgery goes very well!!!

[hfojvt]

83. IK can't believe you didn't spring for a voice module

that would type up what you speak.

Some people are just so selfish.


Have a speedy recovery.

[Rhiannon12866]

84. Good luck with this and hope that it goes well!

DU sure won't be the same without you here! Wishing you a safe and speedy recovery and know that you'll be missed... :hi: :hug:

[Tripod]

85. I hope for a quick recovery for you.

My daughter had major shoulder surgery six weeks ago now. Her recovery is going well. She has followed the Doctors instructions, and is now involved in physical therapy. I hope that your recovery will be speedy and successful. Take care.:)

[Sherman A1]

86. Best of Luck to You

hope the surgery goes well and you are on the mend quickly, Union Brother!:toast:

[unhappycamper]

87. Be well, OS

Take your meds and 'enjoy' happytime. (I know what you mean about time consuming hobbies.)

[fadedrose]

88. Maybe you can use your left hand for short remarks...

Hope you heal real fast. It's a good time for surgery though, cold outside, and politics on tv is getting more interesting.

[Altoid_Cyclist]

90. Good luck!!! We'll be anxiously waiting for your return.

At least you've been through the grinder before so you know what you're in for. That still doesn't make it pleasant though.

[delightfulstar]

91. Wishes for a speedy recovery!!! n/t

[whathehell]

92. Good luck, steve...Look forward to seeing your posts again. n/t

[LeftishBrit]

93. All the best, and get well soon!

[nankerphelge]

94. Get well soon...

I always enjoy your posts.

[lunatica]

95. I hope you have a speedy recovery

And have fun just reading books and being a couch potatoe.

[malaise]

96. All the best

Hurry back :grouphug:

[PoiBoy]

97. Take care Steve...

I'll miss your posts...

:hi:

[sellitman]

98. Break a leg...

Or maybe better yet.."Get Well Soon!

[AzDar]

99. Be well, OS!

:hi:

[era veteran]

101. Good luck

[IrishEyes]

102. Take care

I hope you get better soon

[Enthusiast]

103. Good luck with your surgery. nt

[rurallib]

105. We should pay you DB or something

but all we got is good wishes. By the truckload.

[Vinca]

106. Hope you feel better soon.

[gademocrat7]

107. Good luck with your surgery.

[pinto]

108. Take care OS. Here's to a quick recovery.

:hi:

[loudsue]

109. Good luck, Steve! My husband had his shoulder surgery last January...

He's no longer in the kind of pain he was in previously. I hope you have great success, too!

:hug:

[redwitch]

110. Aw come on, type with your left hand!

:-) And under the influence of pain meds? No problem! Lot's of DUers appear to type with their left hand while high! :-)

Best of luck to you, heal quickly, come back soon!

[Still a Democrat]

111. Enlist a friend's fingers!

Get well soon.

[Angry Dragon]

112. Will miss your labor posts

[jschurchin]

113. Good Luck Steve

Although I don't post much in the labor forum, I read it daily. Your insightful and informative posts will be missed there.

Good luck in your recovery and rehabilitation. Your brother in Solidarity,

John S. Churchin
Proud Member of Local 2035
Transport Workers Union

[Jakes Progress]

114. Dream good things.

Take care and come back. We need us all.

[mopinko]

115. best of luck my friend.

enjoy the drugs. (seriously, keep on top of that pain, and don't think you have to be tough.)

[Generic Other]

116. Lefty hunt and peck rants for you!!

Resistance is futile. :)

[kpete]

117. take care

6 weeks will fly by,
peace, kpete

[bertman]

118. Good luck with your surgery, Steve. nt

[greiner3]

119. Some of the voice activated software is quite good;

Stay away from Microsoft products though,and you can continue. Be aware there are no perfect suites and you'll be editing a lot but hey, I'd go nuts if I were no posting nonsense posts like this.

[LiberalEsto]

120. Good luck!

I hope you heal quickly!

[Omaha Steve]

121. We are getting ready to go

My surgery got pushed back 3 hours to 1 PM. I'm staying at the hospital tonight. I don't know how much of Obama or the recall of the Omaha Mayor (that poll closes at 8) I'll see on TV tonight. Marta will pick me up tomorrow. Between us we will post a note tomorrow on how things went today.

Thanks for all the good karma sent my way.

OS

[Judi Lynn]

126. DU'ers will be with you in spirit, Omaha Steve, looking forward to hearing you're back. n/t

[Greybnk48]

122. Good luck with your surgery! n/t

[AnotherMother4Peace]

124. The very best to you and hurry back. I very much enjoy your posts. nt

[joanbarnes]

125. Last post

I wish you a speedy recovery.

[Mnemosyne]

128. Best wishes, Steve, for a speedy recovery! n/t

[CrispyQ]

129. The best to you Steve!

You could entertain us by typing one-handed on pain meds. ;)

Take care of yourself & here's to a speedy recovery! :hug:

[kgnu_fan]

130. I wait for your recovery and return. Thank you for your contribution to DU!!!

[prairierose]

131. Take care....n/t

[patrice]

132. Take good care of yourself, Steve. Get well!

[blm]

133. You'll be glad you had the surgery. After a few months of physical therapy and painkillers you'll

be amazed at how well you'll begin to feel....ALMOST like new.

[murielm99]

134. Good luck to you.

I hope the surgery goes well.

[femrap]

135. Good luck w/

surgery and your recuperation. And most of all, enjoy the pain meds!

[beac]

136. Good luck w/the surgery and

[Ken Burch]

137. Good luck, fellow worker!

For the next few weeks, you'll be a TRUE "leftie".

[Rainbowreflect]

138. Heal quickly.

I had shoulder surgery a little over a year ago. Right shoulder, right handed, it was challenging.
You can ty posting on pain meds with your left hand. It could be very entertaining.

[DoBotherMe]

139. Best wishes for a speedy recovery!

I'll miss you and your posts. Dana ; )

[Disorientedx3]

140. Speedy Recovery, OS! nt.

[Granny M]

141. wishing you a speedy recovery.

[midnight]

142. Have a speedy recovery.

[Oldtimeralso]

143. Wishing You a Speedy Recovery.

Steve you are the voice of labor here at DU, your presence will be missed.
In union solidarity
Oldtimeralso

[Renew Deal]

144. Feel better!

:pals:

[KansDem]

145. Good health to you, sir!

We'll miss your union news and updates! :D

[barbtries]

146. get well soon!

i hope it goes perfectly for you. will miss you.

[hayu_lol]

148. Best wishes...

and you are cleared to use ALL CAPS for the next few weeks. Will miss your usual posts.

[mahina]

147. Good luck brother

wishing you speedy recovery with no pain. Aloha!

[struggle4progress]

149. Have a happy experience in surgery and a quick recovery!

[JDPriestly]

150. We will miss you. You have been the voice of labor here for a long, long time.

Get well and come back soon.

[Tikki]

151. We'll be thinking about you...

We look forward to your return...


The Tikkis

[Demoiselle]

152. All the best...get well soon. Wishing you good kind care and excellent pain meds..

[s-cubed]

153. I HAD THIS SURGERY: GET A CIRCULATING COOLER FOR PAIN.

The coolers than circulate cold water around the shoulder work better than pain medicine. If your doctor doesn't suggest it, ask for it. Good luck.

[yellerpup]

154. Will look forward to your return.

I wish you a speedy recovery.

[liberal N proud]

155. Good luck with the procedure

[jwirr]

156. Thank you for what you have been doing. Take care of that shoulder

and come back soon.

[NJCher]

157. thanks for letting us know

We will be thinking about you and looking forward to your return.


Cher

[MrMickeysMom]

158. Recover well, Omaha Steve...

... and as the doc agrees and spirit moves..... use one finger at times to "recommend" !

:hi:

[H2O Man]

159. Do well!

We'll be missing you.

Thanks for all you do for this forum.

Your friend,
Pat

[aquart]

160. Speedy recovery but don't jump the gun.

I'll be very pleased when you return.

[NEOhiodemocrat]

161. Take care of yourself

I will miss your posts. I enjoy reading all the union articles, especially the ones that tell what happened in the past. Take care and follow directions so you can come back soon :)

[classof56]

162. Today's the day!

Trust all went well, Steve, and you are properly mellowing out. Give yourself plenty of time to heal. Hope it helps to know we're all thinking of you and sending good thoughts and vibes your way. We'll miss ya!

Peace and blessings.

[WillyT]

163. Take Care, Heal Fast, And Come Back Soon !!!

:grouphug:

:hi:

[XanaDUer]

164. Good luck and speedy recovery to you!

nt.

[gateley]

165. Wishing you a successful surgery and speedy recovery! nt

[RaleighNCDUer]

166. Aw, cmon, you can type one-handed.

And the pain meds just make the posts more interesting - if somewhat less cogent.

good luck, and take care.

[indepat]

167. May you have the best possible outcome and quick recuperation

:hi:

[Beacool]

168. Here's to wishing you a speedy recovery.

Take care!!!

:-)

[TheKentuckian]

169. Be well, Steve.

[thanks_imjustlurking]

171. Best wishes. Thanks for all that you do.

:patriot:

[valerief]

172. Don't cold shoulder us! Ha! Best of luck! nt

[Plucketeer]

173. Be well! n/t

[bear425]

174. Good luck with your surgery. Hoping for your speedy recovery

so you can get back to us soon. :hug:

[KatyaR]

175. Take care, Steve!

Here's hoping everything goes well!

[Chemical Bill]

176. All the best! n/t

[mstinamotorcity]

177. Get well soon!!!!

And whatever you do DON'T DRINK ANY REPUBLICAN KOOL-AID!!!!!!:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :spray:

[proud patriot]

178. Sending you positive energy Steve

:hug:

[unapatriciated]

179. Don't bogart the pain meds...

The best to you
get well and recover soon

[Joe Bacon]

180. Hope for the best, Steve!

Hope everything goes well for you! :-)

[williesgirl]

181. Steve - install Dragon software - cheap - you talk, it types.

[Pool Hall Ace]

182. ~~ Healing Vibes ~~

Get Well Soon! :hi:

[CherokeeDem]

183. Good Luck....

Hope you have a speedy recovery...we'll miss you!!

Get well soon!