This Recovery Might Take A While

Take your own good advice, Mark, and don't be impatient to get out there.  Damn, that's a lot of stitching.

Be well.

We already have Dennis fresh from rotator cuff. Come on out to the Sportsmen's Show and volunteer in our booth/recovery ward. If you guys are off the pain pills I'll make jello shots! What's your favorite flavor?

We already have Dennis fresh from rotator cuff. Come on out to the Sportsmen's Show and volunteer in our booth/recovery ward. If you guys are off the pain pills I'll make jello shots! What's your favorite flavor?

 Thanks for the offer of Jello shots Chris, but in my case---- I have to pass.
 When I was making Mini-drifters and fiberglass kayaks --- I spent 5 years working the Puyallup Sports Show, 12 hour days for 5 days straight talking to thousands of potential customers. It was a lot of fun and I had a great time talking with people about a passion of mine. Even sold a few boats that way and did a lot of demo rides with folks new to the sport after the show.

  but..... 3 days out of surgery with about 6 inches of muscle cut on my neck making any movement uncomfortable and if I move wrong or too quickly downright painful---- I think I'll just keep eating pain killers for another day or two. I'm a pretty tough and orinary old bastard but this time I am gonna live better through chemistry and pass on your generous offer. Maybe later this year we can partake of a few of them "Jello shots" together. Hell--- I'll bring a nice Single Malt we can add to the mix and make it even more interesting.
  Hope you have a good time at the show.

Heal up well, my friend, always a seat on the iHop for you.

  Well........ it's been 3 weeks since I got out of surgery and a few people have inquired how the recovery is coming. So here is my update.

  Got the 15 stitches removed last week after only being in for 15 days. Not too shabby. Started PT last Friday. Not much so far--evaluating range of motion, asking what is going  on and just a few very minor exercises that really don't amount to much. Got a schedule worked out for twice a week. So will see how that progresses.
  I have been able to work (sparingly) on some of my wood projects. Even got the power saw going a few times. No real serious whacking away yet... just some light vertical cuts that were needed on a couple of projects in the works. I still don't have much strength in my arms and shoulders. That is frustrating as hell. Never been a weak link before. I don't think I could self- rescue at this time , much less load up the Outback without help. So it will be a while before I get on any serious water. I'll be working on that part really hard . I might even ask the physical therapist about pumping up things and to not be so damn conservative. That after only one visit....
  This isn't a very well lit photo-- and I apologize for that--- but it's all I have at the time. Healed up pretty good if I should say.
  Thanks to all that have asked about me. I appreciate your love of gore.

         Mark

Wow, that was a serious slice, Mark.

I'm happy to hear you're making progress and hope to hear that you've made a full - and comfortable - recovery.

- Kevin

I'd like to update my status

My neck wound has healed up pretty good. I still have to deal with a severe loss of strength and range of motion . But I have been doing what I can with what I've got.
I'm still dealing with orthostatic hypotension. That is passing out when standing from a sitting or reclining position. Have had a multitude of testing done and have tried multiple different drugs looking to control this issue. Still haven't found the answer yet. Did find a drug to control the passing out but it has serious side effects of swelling up my hands and feet to the point of not being able to use them. Not acceptable.
 Was trying a drug my neurologist suggested for the third time about 2 weeks ago.  Everything seemed to be going okay until this past Thursday morning. I got up , went to the john, put on my robe and started out to the front room. Bam.......started falling down and couldn't do anything to stop it. I collapsed in a heap and somehow broke 2 bones in my foot. Confirmed this later at ER. Got a walking boot and no cast. After a few days my foot is still swollen and has grown a weird blister on top. Not sure about the blister--- but go see the doc on Tuesday. Haven't put on a shoe for several days so maybe there is just a lot of fluid working to get out. I'll find out in a couple of days.
Here is a picture of the swollen foot showing the blister.
 I will recover from this but my wife and I think it's time to sell one of our Outbacks. Will try to post pictures and price when I can move it out of the garage.

Well damn, Mark.  If it's not one thing it's another.

Heal quickly, recover fully, and I wish you a better year in 2017!

Thanks Tinker and everyone else for better times ahead. Yeah 2016 has not been my best year. Never got out fishing all year.....and for me to say that..... There has to be something seriously wrong.

Thankfully I can fish vicariously through you guys on here. I read your posts and say to myself---yup, I remember doing that, or been there done that.  I know it's not the same as participating....but sometimes that is all you can do.

Again ---thanks to all for your positive thoughts. I will be better.

Damn Mark! Been one hell of a year!! From the spinal zipper to the outrigger! We'll see you out somewhere in 2017. You're too tough to be held down. Lots of fisher folk here to support in whatever way we can. In the meanwhile, take care of that flat tire!!

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

Damn Mark! Been one hell of a year!! From the spinal zipper to the outrigger! We'll see you out somewhere in 2017. You're too tough to be held down. Lots of fisher folk here to support in whatever way we can. In the meanwhile, take care of that flat tire!!

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

Amen to that. Chin up Amigo!


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Your arse better be fishing in spring or we're going to get a mob of guys together kidnap you and your yak and I'll tow you around myself if I have to. Speedy recovery.... you get my email?

Your arse better be fishing in spring or we're going to get a mob of guys together kidnap you and your yak and I'll tow you around myself if I have to. Speedy recovery.... you get my email?

Never got your e-mail Shannon.

Heading to a foot doctor this afternoon to see what the next step is for the broken foot. I haven't driven for a week now. That seems really strange to me . Been listening to Dr Lori too much. Gonna have to start pushing it a little bit.

Hey Mark-

Here's to your recoveries....as you see they are not speedy in some cases. I can see its been a long road so far.  Let me pass on some info that may lighten your spirits a bit.

My uncle had a lami around 1961 at Virginia Masons after he lost all use of one arm.
My best friend had a lami done around 1981 at Virginia Masons after he no longer could lift an empty styrofoam cup with the affected arm.
Both had the surgery through the front and were in neck braces and horse collars for six months and restrictions for another six.
My uncle who passed a few years ago never experienced any further trouble with his arm. My friend has never had any recurrence of his disability since then either and he worked in heavy construction.
So the future should hold a lot of promise with your eventual return to full functionality and pain free.

Regarding your water blister....been there done that X10. Broke my hip but not fully(95%). ER doc sent me home with a pair of crutches, 2 pain pills in my pocket and a prescription. Three days later the paramedics came and removed me from the chair I had sat in for 3 days without moving. Pissed in a coffee can when I was conscious that a friend once a day would stop by and empty and refresh my water. Pain pills plugged me up with no appetite and I couldn't rise to even go to the bathroom anyway as the pain was off the chart even with opiates. I could tell something was happening down in my feet from that pain but couldn't bend over to see.  When the ER nurses removed my pants and socks it looked like I had held my feet in boiling water and blistered every inch.

When your legs remain immobile in a low position your lymph (clear fluid) system does not circulate your tissue fluids back up properly causing those water blisters and tissue swelling. But yours is probably due to your bone trauma.  I'm sure you have found elevating your legs at your waist level has relieved some of that pressure. Like when wearing a plaster cast on your leg too.  You should try keeping your feet elevated when you can. It also helps prevent blood clots which is a disastrous condition to avoid.

BTW, I have so much stainless steel in my femur and in the 11" plate and 9 screws at my ankle (another story) that I need to lean to the left in my kayak to balance it. Well, almost. 

Here's to a Happy Holiday season for you among family and a progressive recovery to keep you encouraged! I hope your doc visit turned up some encouraging news and prognosis.

  KK,

 Thank-you so much for your wonderfully stated words of wisdom. I'm guessing you were saluting with a cold beverage in your hand as you wrote your titilating response. And yes ..... Your comments brought a smile to my face.
  The stories about your uncle and friend are certainly encouraging. Obliviously my surgery went in From the back.... But I was told by the surgeons that that success rate was pretty similar going in either way. Regardless , I can only hope my recovery will be close to their stories. Don't know if I'll ever be pain free... too much abuse for too many years. Some restoration of functionality would be great...even though that will probably be a very long term goal. And if that is what it takes that is what will happen.
  Your broken hip situation sounds really fucked up. Makes a few broken bones in a foot sound pretty insignificant. The docs didn't seem too concerned about blood clots releasing from the foot area. Said they usually release from above the knee and can then become a problem. And I did ask about that.  Bigger concern would be infection or a malformation from an earlier trauma. Will have to get a C T scan to confirm the later. Hoping for the best from that test. And I do keep my foot elevated as mu.ch as possible . But damn son.......getting tired of staying on my butt. I don't have much padding back there and it gets really uncomfortable sitting too long. I guess things could always be worse though. Many people don't even have a leg.
  I hope you and your family will also have a wonderful Holiday Season. And again....thank-you for your words of encouragement . They mean a lot to me. Besides that I like your writing style and content. Your writings are a great pleasure to read with your knowledge and personal thoughts thrown in to boot. Makes for a good combination. Keep 'me coming. You are a wise man......something not seen enough recently.

  To all my NWKA brothers an sisters -----have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

  Mark