3Rd Time Around

[iwannabeacowboy]

Well I really dread this again. I had left shoulder surgery on Aug. 13th 2009, and the 2nd surgery on left shoulder Nov. 19th. Now I just found out I go in on May 3rd for surgery on my right shoulder. It's hard to get better at the things I make when I can't spend more than 10-15 minutes at a time in the workroom. This is all a result of falling down a flight of stairs 6 years ago. Oh well, I guess I can still plan on things to make when I recover again.

charlie

[iwannabeacowboy]

Here I sit with the nerve block starting to were off. He removed bone spurs did some scraping on the shoulder joint. Cut the bicep tendon and lowered it down with screws(same procedure as the left shoulder). It's worse for me this time because I'm right handed.Hydrocodone sucks for pain relief. I've been off work since mid August, and have to be back by mid August this year or lose my job.On top of all this I take care of my disabled wife(she had a stroke in 2001 & various other surgery). I feel like such a fool for investing so much money into leather working tools. i thought I had finally found something I really enjoyed and haven't been able to make more than 1 knife sheath in the last 9 months. I know this sounds like "poor me" but typing somehow eases the pain. Typing left handed with one finger makes it take longer to. My only hope I can get back to work in time(for insurance). We don't have light duty work so it has to be a full release from the Dr.

charlie

[joet]

Here I sit with the nerve block starting to were off. He removed bone spurs did some scraping on the shoulder joint. Cut the bicep tendon and lowered it down with screws(same procedure as the left shoulder). It's worse for me this time because I'm right handed.Hydrocodone sucks for pain relief. I've been off work since mid August, and have to be back by mid August this year or lose my job.On top of all this I take care of my disabled wife(she had a stroke in 2001 & various other surgery). I feel like such a fool for investing so much money into leather working tools. i thought I had finally found something I really enjoyed and haven't been able to make more than 1 knife sheath in the last 9 months. I know this sounds like "poor me" but typing somehow eases the pain. Typing left handed with one finger makes it take longer to. My only hope I can get back to work in time(for insurance). We don't have light duty work so it has to be a full release from the Dr.

charlie

iwannabe, I can't help you with your problems, but I can assist in the slow leather work. I'm in about the same boat you're in, but my problem is with the lower back. I was forced to retire on a disability from the Post Office due to a back that just would not work like it was suppose to. I've had seven surgeries and none of them helped stabilize the back, or relieve the pain; so it was retirement for me.

I love doing leather work, so it's not "foolish for investing so much money". I don't know how much money I've dropped into the craft since I started over 30 years ago, but the back problem happened about 15 years ago and I've had to work around the problem. I can only work for about 15 minutes at a time; and if I'm lucky I can get in about half an hour. It's those long stretches between the work that keeps me going; that and pain killer (Percocet) and now I'm on decaf coffee. I have many projects lined up to do, and I'll be lucky if I get a small part of them done. But ..... that's half the fun. The planning of any of my projects keeps my spirits up and helps make the time go by. Then when I do get around to doing what I plan, I take my time and it may take a couple of weeks to do a simple wallet. You have probably been told how to do things to ease the pain and to make doing anything easier on your shoulders, so I won't cover something a specialist has already told you. Besides, what works for one person doesn't always work for another.

Basically, what I'm trying to say is, if you love doing something, you'll do anything to continue with your hobby. And hobby's are a necessity to sanity in this day and the age we live in. Even though I can't do everything I want to, I still go to the different leather shows and rub elbows with other crafters. Some of them are in worse shape than I'm in and it's interesting to compare notes on the different surgeries that a lot of us have had. I still spend money at Tandy and other leather companies. I'm in the process of ordering a side of leather from Wickett and Craig, and the bad thing about this is, I don't know what I'm going to do with it after I get it. I'll still order tools and dye, in fact I have an order on it's way from Springfield Leather Company right now and should be here tomorrow.

I am handicapped and I'm NOT going to let it get me down. Hang in there and smile a lot, even if it means gritting your teeth when you do. If you think you love, or even like what you are doing, don't let a little pain get you down. I know that's probably the wrong thing to say, but if I can bare it, it's classified as only a little pain. My wife wonders sometimes how I make it through the day, but I do. Keep up your work and don't let life get you down.

I guess it's now time to get off my soap box and turn it back over to you.

[Penden]

Well I really dread this again. I had left shoulder surgery on Aug. 13th 2009, and the 2nd surgery on left shoulder Nov. 19th. Now I just found out I go in on May 3rd for surgery on my right shoulder. It's hard to get better at the things I make when I can't spend more than 10-15 minutes at a time in the workroom. This is all a result of falling down a flight of stairs 6 years ago. Oh well, I guess I can still plan on things to make when I recover again.

charlie

here's hoping for a speedy recovery

[iwannabeacowboy]

Joet-I read your post a couple of times ,and really appreciate the sharing of how you cope and learn to deal with limitations. I do try to plan on things(ya it's a big list) I want to make and design and will have to learn what my new limitations are going to be. I remember when I first tried leather working my only regret was not knowing about it 30/35 years ago. I found out how relaxing and peaceful like I felt in the workroom and the pride of something hand made.I've never been to a show, almost made it to Mich City last week but wasn't up to it. But look forward to going to one. This is a great forum to be a member of with so many talented people willing to share their experience and knowledge. Thanks go out to you and Penden

charlie