Research Letter Alert

[Chuck Bishop]

On Monday August 4th I'll be having rotator cuff surgery on my right shoulder. This will have an impact on doing research letters. How much impact this will have on my ability to type and pull records, I don't know right now. I may or may not have the ability to use my right hand to type and if I don't, I'll be reduced to a 1 finger hunt and pecker! For sure, my wife is going to have to pull the books for me and help me quite a bit.

What I'm asking is if you can hold off sending in research letter requests on those guns that you've been putting off and are now just getting around to sending in, please do so. I realize that sometimes you need the info quickly and that is not a problem, send them too me. Also, please do not submit multiple requests right now. I don't want to be overloaded.

I'll let everyone know when I'm back to 100% but it may be a couple of months.

Thanks,
Chuck Bishop
PGCA Research Chairman

[Daryl Corona]

Good luck buddy. Do your therapy religiously and you'll be back shooting and cranking out those letters in record time.

[Mills Morrison]

Good luck with your surgery. The research letter request we discussed . . . if you just want me to remind you when it is all over, that is good with me.

[Gary Carmichael Sr]

Chuck, I wish you well, and a speedy recovery, I will keep you in my prayers, like they say " you do not know how much you miss someone till they are gone" Gary

[Dean Romig]

Good advice from Daryl - do your PT religeously and don't over-do your exercises, do only exactly as your surgeon and therapist prescribe or you'll likely be sorry.... but you and I have discussed this before.

Good Luck Chuck! You will eventually be very glad you had it done.

[Rick Losey]

good luck Chuck and get well soon-

maybe you can get a left hand premium for rush letters :rolleyes:

[Mark Ouellette]

Chuck,

Fair winds and following seas concerning your recovery. Hang in there and you'll be crunching the keyboard soon enough!

Respectfully,
Mark

[Mike.Smith]

My Dad had that surgery a few years back after a nasty fall on some ice. Good Luck with it Chuck, and a speedy recovery to you.

Mike

[Eldon Goddard]

Chuck
To good health and a speedy recovery.

[charlie cleveland]

may GOD be with you our prayers for a speedy recovery..charlie

[Bill Murphy]

If you can't do your job for health reasons, I'm sure the State of Pennsylvania has an unemployment and disability program that will pay at least a percentage of your salary during your recovery. Good luck and good healing.

[Eric Eis]

Good luck buddy. Do your therapy religiously and you'll be back shooting and cranking out those letters in record time.

Chuck do what Daryl says, I know and the physical therapy (no matter how stupid it sounds....) works, I am proof of that ! Eric

[Craig Larter]

Get well soon Chuck. After surgery you will be able to swing a 8 gauge. Craig

[Dave Suponski]

Chuck, If you wanted a break from the letters you coulda just asked....:) As I am sure you know Danny and I wish you a successful procedure and a speedy and complete recovery. If you get bored enough and need your chops busted just let me know and I'll give ya a call.....:whistle:

[Rich Anderson]

Don't overdue things after surgery BUT do this. Start looking vigorously for a small bore Parker AND make sure your surgeon and hospital will accept what Medicare and your supplement will pay. With the cutbacks to Medicare you can be charged up to 15% over and above the approved amount and if that happens YOU will pay that amount.

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Chuck,
Dean gave you great advise--do the physical rehab as instructed---don't try and hurry the process, and you will be back to breaking 100 straight.

[Jim DiSpagno]

Chuck, I know this sounds like nagging but your time in rehab is best spent obeying and heeding the pros advice. Just ask Edgar Spencer and if all else fails, you can learn to type with your toes LOL. All kidding aside, Gods speed in you recovery. Jim

[Erick Dorr]

My thoughts and prayers are with you during your surgery and recovery.
Erick

[Brian Dudley]

Best wishes for a smooth surgery and recovery.

[rufus thames]

I would like to second all of the above
Rufus

[edgarspencer]

The surgery is a piece of cake. All you have to do is lay there and let the doc make a couple holes in your shoulder. You'll wake up in recovery and blabber that it was nothing. That night, that's right, just hours after the procedure, you'll walk up to a wall and trying to make your hand "spide-crawl" upwards. It won't, you'll panic and see your pitching career go down the hopper.

That is exactly what they told me. They were right too. The therapists will seem as though they were trained by the CIA, but turned out to be too mean to work at GITMO.

Every-Single-Day, there will be almost immeasurable progress, until you suddenly find out, Dang! I can throw a ball again. You will be elated, until it hits you, you're too damn old to play ball.

I threw righty with modest speed, and had my left shoulder worked on. I can now throw southpaw with blistering speed, sans accuracy.
I've just had my fourth major surgery in 30 months, after a 64 year run of good luck. I've just decided, This crap isn't going to hold me down because there's still a lot of summer left, and predictions are great for a good grouse season. You just gotta say "I can do that" and you'll be back to the 99% you always were.
It sucks to be a Second Hand Lion

[Dean Romig]

The therapists will seem as though they were trained by the CIA, but turned out to be too mean to work at GITMO.



Hence, their name shall be "The rapist".... oops - did I put a space in there? :shock:

[Harry Sanders]

Best wishes for a exceptional surgeon, speedy recovery, and a physical terrorist with a sense of humor.

[Fred Preston]

Chuck, The best for you on this. Sounds like a lot of guys (including me) have done this and survived. In my case things seemed to go ok till my first appointment with the PT amazon. She turned that arm/shoulder everywhere but loose. I went home and took a break. It was August and bow season was a few weeks away. I thought that if the shoulder can take the amazon, it should be ok to practice with the bow. I drew to full draw and something snapped. I let the bow down and looked at my bad arm and saw the top attachment for the bicep had given way and it rolled up on the inside of my elbow. I drove over the ortho guy's office and since I didn't have an appointment, he was a little short with me till I pulled up my sleeve. Then he sat down on his little stool, put his head in his hands, and I thought he was going to cry. The net result was considerably more surgery to staple the bicep back in place; but, after a few months healing it has been real serviceable the past twenty years or so. My suggestion would be to take a pass on this bow season and be ready for the next.

[Marc Retallack]

First the bad legs excuse and now the bum shoulder excuse. I'm starting to think you don't want to get out on the creek with me Chuck...:whistle:

Best of luck with the surgery and your recovery Mr. Bishop.

Marcus

[Chuck Bishop]

Thanks everyone for your thoughts and prayers. Don't worry, I have no thoughts of throwing a baseball or pulling a bow and my last 100 straight was a long long time ago. I just want to be able to shoot before the end of the year. I plan on doing exactly what the PT Nazi instructs me to do:bowdown:

I did try on the sling and it may be possible to use my right hand to type but those order books must weight at least 15 pounds so the wife will get a real workout taking them in and out of the shelves!

[George Bagley]

Chuck, get well soon fall is coming The Lord be with you and your family

[Mark Conrad]

All the best to you my friend. Follow the instructions of the doctors and you will be back to normal in no time.

[Bill Murphy]

I thought our Research Chairman Emeritus was going to offer to take up residence in Harrisburg while Chuck is recovering. I guess I was mistaken, as usual.

[Chuck Bishop]

Damn does this hurt!

[Dean Romig]

Damn does this hurt!


Hey, Take it easy! Margaret is supposed to be doing the heavy lifting! :nono:

[Bill Zachow]

My first Parker was/is a DH 12 that my wife forced me to buy after I dragged her a 100 miles to a hunting camp auction up near the St. Lawrence river. I have written about the gun twice in the old Parker Pages. A pretty standard D in superb condition--12 gauge, 30" bbls, and a 2 frame. Besides the condition, the neat things about the gun were the original hang tag, the Parker (1916) catalog the owner used to order the gun, and the 6 tiny notches on the edge of the skeleton butt plate. Always wondered what the notches were for.

[Gary Carmichael Sr]

Chuck, to paraphrase, just a little bump in the road! I am trying to put that off as long as I can too! First injury was doing deadlifts, but that was in another life, along time ago, I will keep you in my prayers for a speedy recovery, Gary

[Harry Sanders]

Chuck,

Howyadoon?

[Chuck Bishop]

Thanks for asking Harry.

I had the surgery last Monday. The rotator cuff was only a partial tear and didn't require anything. They did find a torn bisecp tendon which was repaired, a torn labrum, and removed bone spurs. They also removed the end of the collar bone where it attaches to the shoulder A/C joint. Why they did this I don't know but that's what is the most painful. I was off pain meds on Friday but on Sunday I made the mistake of pulling a 13 pound Order Book off the shelf with my left hand and arm. This transmitted forces over to the right shoulder and wasn't a good thing to do. They said no lifting but I figured they meant with the right arm. Guess I was wrong! Back on the pain meds for a while. It's getting better. I see the Doc on Monday.

Thanks to everyone for not sending in too many research requests I'm only backed up 2 letters right now. I'm getting them out 1 or 2 a day.

[edgarspencer]

Chuck, you're too young to have figured this out yet, but I have found that every time I see a doctor, something goes wrong. I went home last month( from Maine) just for a 6 month check up. The doctor couldn't just let me go without finding something wrong. What was to be a quick trip turned out to be a month of more surgery, a trip to the ER, and most tests. I told my wife I wasn't looking for a total restoration , just a tune up.
I'm glad you didn't do more damage than you did. Get well soon

[scott kittredge]

[QUOTE=Chuck Bishop;145058]Thanks for asking Harry.

They also removed the end of the collar bone where it attaches to the shoulder A/C joint. Why they did this I don't know but that's what is the most painful.
I almost had the same thing done, they call it "hook shoulder" the end grows into something so when you lift up your arm it hits another something that make another something hurt,:) hopes all's well for you. scott

[Chuck Bishop]

Scott, you describe things just like I do:rotf:

[Gary Carmichael Sr]

Chuck, How are you coming along just was in the gunroom reading one of your letters and thought I would check in to see how you feel, I had a friend that had the surgery you did , he had to have a pillow under his arm for a couple months, but is fine now, as I know you will be, have you in my prayers, Gary

[Chuck Bishop]

Thanks Gary,

I just had my first visit today with the PT Nazi's. The PT will not be fun but I just have to do it.

So far, I haven't been flooded with letters so that's going well.

[Bill Holcombe]

Got my 1st letter today!

[dwight pugh]

Chuck, if your PT's are like mine were .....
You'll start off hating & end up loving them
When I started , I wondered if I would ever
Use that arm again. They work miracles.
Good luck !!

[Chuck Bishop]

I'm at the point where the only thing I can't do regarding the letters is putting the Order Books back in their shelves.

My thanks to everyone for holding off on the research requests. Let's get back to no restrictions.

Chuck

[dwight pugh]

Good for you Chuck.....!

[Harryreed]

Hi Chuck,

I had total shoulder replacement in 2001. After the surgery, I had no idea how long the rehab would take. I could not reach straight out forward to pick up a coffee cup or shake hands for a year. But, it does get better. It just takes a long time with rehab. One of my best excercising tips is done while in the shower. Let warm water run over your shoulder for a few minutes, then, wet the shower wall, extend arm with hand , fingers up, up against wall and slowly raise arm as high as you can. You can easily use you fingers to help "walk" your arm up the wall. It gets easier over time.

You will never be totally without some discomfort, but in time you will be able to shoot with it and even sleep on it:):):). Good luck and hang in there.

Harry

[bobutler]

Chuck: I sent in a request a couple of days ago before I saw this post. I am certainly fine with any delay required during your recovery. No rush at all. I will still be out trying to bring down birds with my new acquisition.

Best

Bo Butler

[Chuck Bishop]

Bo, your letter went out today. Have fun!

[edgarspencer]

had my surgery today Chuck, same as you, torn bicep tendon, torn rotator cuff.
Space age compared to my left.

[Harry Sanders]

Wishing you a speedy recovery Edgar.

[David Noble]

Edgar, I didn't know you had been hurt. I'm glad your surgery went well. PT, PT, PT, but then you already know that. Good luck and best to you. David

[Dave Suponski]

Get well soon my friend. You gotta stop tearin yourself up.:rolleyes:

[Dean Romig]

You will never be totally without some discomfort.



Not necessarily so - each one is different. Kathy's rotator was torn up pretty badly over a few years. Doc said it was the worst he ever saw. She is pain free/discomfort free and has 100% of the movement of an olympic javelin thrower. It'll all come back nicely as long as you don't over-do and stick religeously to your prescribed PT regimen.





.

[Gary Carmichael Sr]

Edgar, I knew you would do well, Just listen to the advise on here! I am a good one to talk going to have to do the same one day just keep putting it off, heck you will be back to making those beautiful cases again in no time! gary

[Bob Hardison]

Edgar: Wishing you a speedy recovery and hope you continue the informative and humorous posts while doing so. I’m still looking for something worthy of one of your cases and may have it on the horizon. Best to you, Bob

[Angel Cruz]

Get well soon Edgar. No advice from me, you already got enough here.

[Jim DiSpagno]

Hey Pal, now you are just going to have to learn to lift that good Single Malt with the left hand. Good luck with the recovery.

[Chuck Bishop]

Edgar, have you been practicing with your other hand like I suggested:whistle: I hope you have a speedy recovery! See you in Baltimore.

[Mike Franzen]

Edgar, hope you have a speedy and full recovery.

[charlie cleveland]

i hope you the best and a speedy recover...charlie

[edgarspencer]

Thank you to all who wished me well. Dave, I have little fear of arriving at the Pearly Gates with clean fingernails, and no good story begins with "Last night, while enjoying a good cup of tea,...."
Yes, Chuck, I did practice. I had this operation 10-12 years ago, but that wasn't my dominant hand. I can barely use the mouse, let alone type.
Bob, you work on getting the gun you want; I'm pretty sure i have a few more boxes in me
I appreciate all the advise regarding the therapy. I remember it was worth it when it was finally over, last time.
For those interested, I'll try posting a couple of the borescope pictures when i get some use out of the right side. Quite interesting. The tear was 22mm long.

[Dean Romig]

Quite interesting. The tear was 22mm long.



That's no big surprise - we tear, break, bruise, and puncture a lot easier when we start getting up near your age... so they say :cool:





.

[Daryl Corona]

[QUOTE=Dean Romig;183052]That's no big surprise - we tear, break, bruise, and puncture a lot easier when we start getting up near your age... so they say :cool:


Yep. My Quad can vouch for that. Godspeed chum.