I can understand what you are saying brother Because I am not that far from ya (Quote)


Ah, a fellow unfortunate denizen of the Midwest ! It's good to know I'm not alone here in the armpit of creation ;-)

I hate to butt in here and gloat, but - ahhhhh it's so beautiful here in the deserts of Southern California. Right now it's 47 degrees with a light rain. Pretty cold for us !

Ahh, you are truly blessed to live where it never gets bone-chilling cold. We are entering the part of the year that keeps me aching til spring(4-6 months away). Soak up some o' them rays for me, brother!

I haven't had any surgery on my back...yet. 15 years of driving forklifts and manually moving things much larger than me has left the right side of my bottom 3 lumbar vertebrae worn down to the point that a coughing fit from bronchitis threw my back out so bad I could barely walk. Somewhere down the line I'm probably looking at having the offending members fused(shudder), but for the moment I'm taking it one day at a whack.

I have a good friend here that had the neck surgery you mentioned, and was at nearly complete recovery in just a few months, which says volumes about current surgery techniques, but doesn't make me eager to go under the knife...yet. I'm not fearful of the unknown-the downtime is what I dread, 'cause I'm not a good patient. Too much nervous energy!

I gotcha. Yes, you would be out of commission for a while. Both back surgeries I was told to stay off work for 6 weeks and the only activities I could do was Physical Therapy. I'm a fast healer though and was only off a little over 3 weeks. Unfortunately the surgeon told me I can never lift more than 25 pounds for the rest of my life. I've pushed that limit a couple times and paid for it. But you know, God is good and He's blessed me with a family that will drop anything to come help me lift or move something. (Not to mention my wife, she's rather impressively strong for a petit lil thing ).

Wow, this thread took a turn for the "old and decrepit". (you sure know how to derail a thread don't you G/F). Just reading the last several posts makes my lower back hurt. Makes me glad I didn't spend any more than 2-1/2 years in construction.

Try 31 years in factories, warehouses, machine shops, construction, and a copper tubing mill. I thank God for His providence in keeping me vertical. This back issue I'm dealing with is a daily reminder that I have nothing without Him. As far as "old and decrepit" goes-yes I am! and proud of it!
50 ain't near as bad as I thought it would be!

I know, my apologies to Rob.

I blame this on Joe61, he started it !

I can't complain about Joe, at least he is posting something.

My apologies for spotty appearances in the recent past, Gary. My daughter was married a little over a year ago and has had a very difficult pregnancy, resulting in a premature birth of a baby girl(Alaina) who was born with no small intestine. We have been traveling between home and Nashville at least once a month to visit them on top of working 50-58 hours a week. We are also searching for a church to attend, and keeping tabs on my parents (both in their 80's) and my father-in-law(late 70's). My plate has been rather full because of all this, but y'all here at CHM are never far from my thoughts. Guilty/Forgiven is right-I hijacked this thread. Sorry.

It's all good, there's no "thread-nazis" gonna stop you.

You are in my prayers though bro. That's definitely some tough stuff there.

((Good job Gary !! You da man))

I can say that I am doing pretty well. My only two real problems physically are my weight and my blood pressure. I've had both feet operated on, but that left me pain free. I've had my gall bladder removed, and that also left me pain free. My 21 years of manufacturing didn't have its toll on me like it did Joe.

My mom just had her gall bladder removed at 68. She's wishing now that she'd done it years ago. She feels so much better.