JP, don't know how that will work out - I have shoulder cuff surgery that I'm putting off until March or April, because NOW is when I make the bulk of my annual salary in overtime, holidays, shift differential and such. It stunk not getting there last year, but I'm doing much better with the issues I had this time last year (thankfully) but surgery is coming and even worse recuperation is a long road with a tendon tear.
My arm has one completely torn main muscle called the superspanatis (sp) which is your main lift and control muscle when the arm is away from the body or above elbow high - mine is laying in a lump completely detached and needs to be reattached using anchors and strong cord while the tendons slowly reattach to the bone. That's three months in a sling and 3 times a week therapy. to get full use back.
If I can postpone it longer, beyond Bud5 then recovery will take all of our "ColdIron Season" and tie me down until nearly August. Not sure if I can wait that long because this is uncomfortable every day, especially being my predominant arm.
Good news is I had TWO muchles torn, one partially and it has reattached on its own over many months, so I have some minor lifting and some control, but that big muscle is the main one and it needs attention before it ratifies, making the surgery an open wound instead of orthoscopic - recover will be much longer.
I'm laying this out in detail so you know it will be tough, but if I have to delay it, then I can make it, but I want to get into surgery as soon as the weather breaks and we turn off the boilers for the season. Spring is the best time for me to do this. If I had the surgery done in October, I would have lost almost $10K in the shift monies mentioned about, it is a huge part of my pay and this was not an on the job injury, so I will be using 3 months of leave time that I don't have. I also put it off to EARN more leave, so I don't have to borrow sick leave (which we can borrow up to 240 hours) just to have eough time.
It sucks my friend, I'm opening heavy boiler valves, climbing and crawling and every inch of it sets me back a day or two, but I need to make it through Winter or not only deal with pay decreases, but creating a work place where 5 of the 10 men will be forced to go on a different rotating watch bill to cover mine. Spring time is the only answer and I'm very certain getting to Bud5 will be traumatic on my healing sling-ed arm.
Only the first week or two is painful, but you need constant manipulation by a therapist to keep the arm moving and healing, it is nearly a month before YOU actually start moving your arm, minus you can take it out of the fancy sling and dangle it and slowly let it swing when it gets uncomfortable. I just don't see a plane seat where my left arm is going to not take a pounding - on the isle I know everyone will smack into it and against the window I'll be taking up half the middle seat.
I soooo want to get to Bud's house and see him and everyone again. I don't want to be the guy curled in a ball hurting for days while others are having fun, I want to man it up and be active with every one there. Just to see Bud again, I miss our time together and it's a great time for all - knocked out on pain killers and muscle relaxers would leave my week there in a fog, it just isn't the trip I want anyone to remember. Mind you, I don't look forward to this surgery either, because after these many months, I hurt most when I wake up from a poor sleeping position or if I grab something heavier than I thought, my arm falls in steps like a slinky going down stairs. It bites.
I have a while to think this out, I really would like to attend, I'm just not sure how it will work out yet.