laughingwolf_qh33q8 – Page 57

Quick Recommendations

I plan to do a post on what worked, what didn’t, and what fell in between here in a few weeks. Meantime, here are three things I can recommend.

For the absolute state of the art in cooling, go with the Aircast liquid cooling system. They used this in the hospital and sent me home with it. Very good system.

For what professional physical therapists use, I went with the Torex/Mojility standard size cold pack. Not quite as intense as the Aircast, but molds to you and puts the cheap pack I got at the big-box store to shame. Also, the cost was only about $5 more. I’m using a pillowcase to hold it and wearing a shirt, and it is still quite intense. Should be good for years, and am looking at some of the other offerings to keep on hand for general medical preparedness.

Finally, one set of exercises makes use of what I call a slip-n-slide system. This Tumbltrak is the system the PT center uses, and I am glad I bought one for home, even if I did have to buy a pair. Beats the heck out of towel, pillowcase, or other make-do at home. If your PT does something similar, was well worth the money IMO.

More soon.

Pringles, Putin, And More

I’ve been wanting to do an update on the Coup That Hasn’t Ended, but life has been interesting. I particularly wanted to do a link-filled bit of info, but that day is not this day, even if I am not quite typing one handed anymore. Call it 1.2 handed, as I am limited as to how much and how I can use the right hand and arm.

If you are believing anything in corporate media, drop as much as you can to my fundraiser as I have a bridge for you! As I noted earlier, if you think the fat lady has sung, I’m not sure she’s even in the building yet, much less warming up. Even by Russian mores, this is the most bizarre coup in history. It makes the Kornilov affair seem straightforward. And I do recommend looking that over to better understand what is going on now.

Short version as I have to go to the doc this morning: as noted before there were silent partners in the Wagner revolt. For reasons I’m not completely sure of myself, I find myself loving the nickname “Pringles” for Prigozhin so get used to me calling him that. Pringles would not have launched his “revolt” if not for those silent backers, which included much more than some of the Russian generals. We are talking major players at the highest levels.

Kamil Galeev was the first to speculate that Vladimir may have been the lead silent backer, but I’m not sure even he believed it but was just raising a posibility. Is it possible? Yes. If true, it is the worst miscalculation by a major player since Kornilov. Vladimir’s internal and external reputation is damaged; the idea that the military senior leadership is corrupt and incompetent has found new and eager audiences (and is spreading rapidly) amongst the population; and, it has further eroded the concept of Russia as a major military power. None of which put Vladimir firmly in the driver’s seat.

The number of key players that were late showing back up to things is astounding, and telling. That some still haven’t really shown up is also telling (never count video footage of someone somewhere that can’t be verified). To say the Russian power structure is off balance is an understatement, and many have clearly lost a step or three in the dance.

All the more interesting is that Pringles and company, if they truly were guests of Luka, were almost immediately back in Moscow. If you want some fun, track Pringle’s favorite jet. Initial reports were that he and key associates were in Moscow concluding negotiations for the truce just a day after allegedly seeking asylum. Then there were talks of other talks. Today, even the BBC is reporting Luka as saying Pringles is in St. Petersburg.

Which tends to suggest that Vladimir was either one of the silent partners, or he’s so weak that he can’t do anything about it. I admit, given what all is going around in Russia, going after Pringles would tend to do Vladimir more harm than good immediately, as it would legitimize what Pringles has been pumping out non-stop about incompetence and corruption. Long term, that’s a different story.

Before I forget, there are rumors that the families of Wagner leaders and troops were used as hostages to stop the coup. If so, I’m surprised as the plan as seen was well developed, and clearly not developed on the fly at the last minute. Using families against “enemies of the state” goes back to times before Moscow was formed. Rape, torture, imprisonment, and death are typical for such. If any of the families were indeed left open, it says quite a few things about competence and cold-bloodedness.

The coup, if it was indeed such, is far from over. There are still a LOT of pieces missing. About the only thing I feel safe saying right now is that I will be surprised if Vladimir is still in power in a year. I will also note that the likely replacements (as currently standing) are not people we will enjoy. All of them, including jailed media darling(s) are even more ultranationalists and devoted to Russkiy Mir than Vladimir.

One can write a book on what is going on, but I’m not yet up to that. In fact, I have to run to the doctor’s as we may be changing wound treatment protocols given an area that has done funny post surgery. Between that and some issues the last few days that put me back on full pain protocol, and I’m glad to get this much up.

Oh, for those who don’t want to dig, Kornilov did indeed take care of some issues. The affair, however, ended up throwing open the gates to the Bolshevik Revolution.

More soon.

Independence Day 2023

In Congress, July 4, 1776

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, –That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.–Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

Text provided by the National Archives. Wise and wonderful words we should all strive to live up to, and not just live by.

Recovery And General Update

Sorry for the lack of posting, but it has been intense and interesting on several levels. Been getting to test both surgical and general preparedness a bit.

This last week, we started kicking things into high gear. I am now doing “real” PT with a therapist at a facility three times a week. This is an hour or so of the home exercises, additional exercises, and range of motion manipulation. Great results so far, almost enough to make me nervous as I don’t want any shoes to drop as it were. That said, I’m most happy to report that in one area we got a 20% increase in the range of motion.

Now, in addition to that, I get to do the home exercises twice a day on every day that I don’t do real PT. It does make a difference, but is also a bit tiring. I’ve actually invested in a gymnastics slider like we use at the therapist for a couple of exercises, as it works so much better than the make-do’s. I also have invested in the same professional grade cold pack that the therapist uses. I think it was only $5 more than the home-use pack I got at the big box store. For all I do love the Aircast liquid cooled system, it gives me something intense but not quite as intense.

We are still having to keep an eye on that area of the incision that did funny. Very glad to be finishing the antibiotics today! So far, so good.

Interestingly, more discomfort and pain in my biceps/triceps than the shoulder as he apparently he had to move some attachment points for those muscles. I’ve been very lucky on pain, and suspect the pain management plan worked very well. Thanks to the re-arrangements, my right arm has guns like it hasn’t had in years.

Yes, I am driving (with permission) though I try to limit it to essentials as it is one handed. Mostly to PT or for groceries. Okay, I may have driven to the taco truck once. Not comfortable doing much more than that, especially with Indy traffic. The sling comes off July 4th, which is quite appropriate. No weight and limited use, but no sling. Some trepidation as the sling has kept me from doing stupid things, particularly in my sleep or upon awakening. Probably another four to six weeks before I’m anywhere near starting back into real two-handed operations.

Now, on top of all this, we’ve had some interesting weather. Canadian smoke was so bad one day you literally could not see the downtown skyline, even downtown. Then came the storms, and more than 80,000 lost power in Indy, with some 20,000 still without power this morning. More than 140,000 others lost power across the state. Truly sad to see the number of 30+ foot trees that came down in town.

We did lose power, though thankfully for only 5 or so hours. The big complication for me is that both the recliner (where I’ve been sleeping post surgery) and my bed (head raises up like a hospital bed) depend on electricity. The idea of a battery backup for either never crossed my mind before this. It has now, and if anyone has suggestions please let me know. Meantime, I’ve adjusted the bed as best I can while we have power. Sadly, adjusting the recliner in advance just isn’t feasible.

I also never contemplated initiating various preparedness protocols one handed. Need to think, make notes, and consider some specialized SOPs. Also considering a few additional items for purchase.

To make life interesting, we have a good chance of more severe weather both today and tomorrow. Joy. Few things I would like to get today, but thinking that’s not going to happen.

So, that’s a bit of what has been going on. Need to do a Russia update, invest in popcorn as the fat lady has not sung and may not yet even be in the building. On France, I’m wondering if Col. Kratman is going to be right yet again. Be prepared, and keep your things where you can find them in the dark — especially if the power goes out.

Well, Wow

I knew last night it was going to be interesting when I heard from multiple sources that FORTRESS had been activated in Moscow and loyal troops (or at least troops with loyalty that could be assured by various means) were being sent to secure key facilities. Lots of RUMINT flying around along with some interesting reports.

This morning sees a so-far successful march towards Moscow that I’m having a hard time believing happened on the fly. All the Wagner ops so far show prior planning and preparation. Rather than a coup, this comes across as a revolution and yes there is a difference.

The Russian governmental response so far evokes the term-of-art “clusterfuck.” They appear to have been caught flat-footed and without a clue on how to respond. Attacks on the Moscow column appear to be piecemeal and uncoordinated. The only active opposition in Rostov is coming from Kadyrov’s Chechen troops (apparently). Attacking fuel depots is an interesting choice that will have little immediate impact in this case.

Which brings us to the heart of the matter. This may succeed, even if completely crushed. For all that a number of regional politicians and others are swearing loyalty to Vladimir, one does have to question the sincerity. Others are either hopping on the Prighozin bandwagon or stirring the waters on their own. At least one nominally independent member of the Federation has informed Vladimir that his country regards this as a purely internal Russian matter.

More concerning for Moscow should be how fast things went from ‘who are you and you need to go’ by the citizens of Rostov-on-Don to the Wagner troops, to the citizens bringing food and drink to those same troops. Look at the reactions of the average citizens to the March on Moscow. Hell, if the SIGINT intercept reports are true in regards the chatter in and between various Russian units in Ukraine/Crimea, the Russian MoD might be getting ready to have a Very Bad Day, if not more.

What’s more, Vladimir’s attack dog turned on him. This matters to Russian mores in a way few Westerners can grasp. Here, we are used to politicians having all the loyalty of jackals coming upon road kill. Things work different there. This is going to be seen as a weakness, a vulnerability, even if Prighozin fails.

For now, we can but wait and watch. I think the only sure thing is that it is going to be interesting.

UPDATE: Interesting is one word, that’s for sure. Does not add up based on what we know. Ergo, there’s more, and more people, involved than we know. Knowing who’s fingers were in this is even more important now. Keeping the ears open and waiting to see what happens next.

What A Week

Had my post-op visit on Tuesday, my first real PT session Thursday (yesterday), and my second this morning. Things are moving out and I’m glad for it!

The PT is actually sorta fun. Discomfort is expected, but pain is avoided as a bad thing. I can already notice a difference in a few areas, and am looking forward to the upcoming sessions, which will be several times a week for the next few weeks.. There is homework too, to keep things going. Icing the shoulder down reduces the discomfort level and pain has been minimal.

For those interested, I have decided against getting the guitar. Learning to play the guitar had been suggested by someone as a means of PT. It might help with the arthritis, would test my ability to learn new skills post lightning strike, but it will not help with current recovery. Part of me really would like to try it, especially as I found a nice used guitar; but, I cant justify spending the money without it being a major help with recovery.

The infection issue seems to be under control for now. Glad the antibiotic works! Yes, I have resumed driving though I’m keeping it minimal for now.

I’ve followed the saga of the Titan, and am very unsurprised at the implosion. For whatever mercy it may be, they were probably dead before they even knew they had a problem. Two people I’d love to hear from on this are Subsunk from Blackfive, and Robert Ballard who found the Titanic. Actually met him a few years back and got to chat briefly a couple of times. Would like to hear his take on this. Also, the oceans are full of interesting noises and if you know someone who listens to such (ASW or otherwise), invest in a few drinks and see if they might share some of the interesting tales.

On Russian politics, I’m eating a lot of popcorn and wondering what it is keeping Prigozhin alive. Pretty much anyone else would have done a swan dive off a roof by now. Also, note that some of the cracks in the Russian Federation are starting to show. Been there, but growing. Suspect things are going to get even more interesting, and possibly much faster than anticipated.

More soon. May even be allowed to type two-handed here soon.

Getting hit by lightning is not fun! If you would like to help me in my recovery efforts, which include moving once we have medical issues cleared up, feel free to hit the fundraiser at A New Life on GiveSendGo, use the options in the Tip Jar in the upper right, or drop me a line to discuss other methods. It is thanks to your gifts and prayers that I am still going. Thank you.

Beginning To Figure Out

Why my efforts to move keep getting thwarted. There’s a long version, and a more condensed I will try for this morning. In short, I think I was looking to move at least in part for the wrong reasons.

In part, I was looking for an alone place, a place to finish up various projects then see what life had in store for me. To put off things like the shoulders for a while longer. The old lone wolf off happily in his remote lair.

Fact is, I both can’t put off some of it any longer, and I need to be around people. I need the interaction (at least to some extent as it is easy for my introverted self to get overwhelmed), I need help on occasion, and I need to be able to help.

I’ve been getting smacked on the nose and muzzle a bit about accepting help here recently, and about the need to be around people. And a couple of reminders that I still have a few things to offer as well. So, it’s less about the where and more about the why and the who. Which means looking at things with a fresh eye, and maybe revising some of the conditions at the starting point.

Last year was all about testing and recovery, and ensuring the Big C wasn’t trying to put in an appearance. Going to have to stay vigilant on that, but maybe this year is about taking care of all I can (on several levels) so the move can be at the right time for the right reasons. We shall see.

Onwards.

Moving On!

Yesterday afternoon I had my post-op visit wth the PA. Overall, it went very well.

The dressing and incision tape were removed, which was an interesting but not painful sensation. What I did feel was weird, but not even that unpleasant. A small segment of the incision looks like it wants to misbehave, so I’m on antibiotics four times a day for ten days. We are NOT playing games or taking chances with infection!

Her manipulation of my shoulder proved interesting. While we hit some issues, the range 0f (possible) motion was amazing. While I am to continue to wear the brace (my version of the cone of shame) for two more weeks, I am also now to take it off several times a day to do arm curls and straighten it out. Still no weight in that hand yet, and I’m good with that.

Big surprise is that if all the paperwork goes through, I have my first real PT session tomorrow. May be a couple of other firsts tucked in there, will see.

More soon.

Week Plus

Been more than a week now, and things seem to be going as well as they can. Which is not to say a bed of roses unless you are counting all the stems and thorns.

On the plus side, pain management continues to go well. I’m very lucky in that regard as I’m hearing horror stories of “tylenol only” pain management both locally and nationwide. This despite a lack of any real-world studies showing any real link between surgery/pain management and addiction. Lots of thoughts on that, but they need to wait until I can type again. I’m continuing to wean as I can and am grateful to have on hand if needed.

With PT and general life, it can be needed especially when you discover what all is tied into a shoulder. At this point I would not be surprised to find my left little toe has a direct connection to my right shoulder. There is also the fact that you know intellectually not everything can connect back where it did before; and, there is discovering the reality of that the fun way.

I’m also at a point various nerves and other delights are waking up and going WTF? It’s not phantom pain, but something I’m tempted to call ghost pain as the body figures out some circuits aren’t there anymore, and others have been changed.

For someone who asked elsewhere, I pretty much had all feeling back in my fingers the day after surgery. The thumb was still a little numb late that Saturday, but by the time I got home… Also, starting to get back on a normal sleep cycle and a normal digestive cycle. Both have been interesting processes.

Have my first post-op exam tomorrow afternoon, and will hopefully know more then. Right now, just happy to be able to basically bathe and dress myself without help. In fact, am even able to do laundry and some housekeeping on my own. The cats appear fascinated by some of my work-arounds…

Meantime, on the science front keep an eye on Betelgeuse and also on Leslie Eastman’s work at Legal Insurrection. The good folk at Hot Air are covering a lot of good stories, as is the team at Instapundit. As for internal Russian politics, I’m not sure there is enough paleo-popcorn and adult beverages for the comi-drama (all puns intended) ongoing. If Thunderdome suddenly appears in Red Square, I wouldn’t be surprised. I am a bit surprised official patience hasn’t run out with Prighozhin, especially after the sworn statement circus.

There is a lot going on here at home as well. I really should do a post on the fight that broke out Saturday while I was shopping, as it covers so much… For now, let me just repeat: preparedness always pays; keep your friends close; and, keep your things where you can find them in the dark.

This Thing On?

Hope so. Just hitting a point where i feel up to long-form on anything: speaking, reading, writing, or anything else. I’m also discovering that a number of things I like to do take two hands to do right. More on that in a bit.

No, things didn’t go as planned. Shortly after arriving for surgery sans mobile as I was only going to be there a short time, I was informed that they had decided to admit me after all. Honestly, I was a bit relieved and it proved to be a good idea. Major pain communicating with my ride home though. Not going to leave the phone at home again.

BTW, if you ever need a sure bet, go for my cause of death as being the result of my being a smartass. When asked why I was in that day, my response was that i was about to have a very one-sided and totally unfair knife fight with the surgeon and that when i lost he was going to amputate my right arm, take some souvenirs, then re-attach it. Cue male nurse freezing, locking up really. A very delayed forced chuckle. Later, the surgeon got a good laugh out of it. Still a bit annoyed they wouldn’t let me keep the ball joint they cut out, and yes i did ask.

The anesthesia team was good, and unlike the open heart surgery I remember the start of the nerve block. Weird, but cool. Remember a bit of being wheeled towards OR then being wheeled into a room post surgery. TV was on, couldn’t figure how to cut it off, so found a channel doing some sort of Harry Potter marathon, muted it. Beat the heck out of being on morphine and watching Cirq du Soleil. [Que the late great Bill Paxton screaming bad trip instead of game over]. An experience I do not want to repeat.

Ate, slept, got to meet my new best friend: the liquid cooled aircast. You can see it above, and it is fantastic! Beats the heck out of any cooling pad/system I’ve ever used. cycle about every hour, and essentially no swelling.

Up until the last couple of days, Ive been on a very intermittent sleep cycle. With the move away from strong pain management has come a return to a more normal sleep cycle. May take a few more days to shift, but getting back on normal routines. I have the strong pills if needed, and boy howdy do you need them on occasion!! Bumps, jostles, and unwise movements can bring pain such that I’ve apologized to the landlord, housemate, and even the cats for the outbursts of invective. And, yes, the move on painkillers is being done VERY carefully. In my case, I’m no longer needing them when I sleep so I dont take them then. Morning/evening when I do PT and such? You bet your bippy I take them.

Years ago, I pushed on pain and on activity after a surgery. Ended up setting my recovery back more than six months. I have no plans to be that stupid ever again. Even if the surgical/care team were inclined to let me, which these are not.

Oh, yeah. Not going as planned. It was a good thing I was admitted, as it let me work with an Occupational Therapist and a Physical Therapist before going home. Can’t say enough good about the OT, much like my nurse/technician teams in recovery. There’s a reason I’m bathing, dressing, and doing therapy on my own… Hate to say it, not impressed with the PT person. Number of reasons including that by the time she finished talking about an exercise and wanted me to do X number I had already done 10-20 iterations. Didn’t help that my BP decided to drop while dealing with her and it took a moment to get a word in edgewise so i could sit and get the BP at least sort of measured. First time was basically 60s/30s, but finally stabilized at 70/40. Thinking back, it is similar to something that happened after the botched colonoscopy, and to what happened every time they tried to stand me up the the first couple of days after the open heart. It did it a bit again today even, and yes it is being watched.

Thank goodness for the immobilization brace, especially since my inner subconscious is a major asshole. It keeps you from doing many stupid things, even if it does invite others by sticking out in odd locations and ways. Trust me, you learn very quickly not to let it bump. No one seems to have a clue what the rubber ball is for though. I have mashed it flat a time or two when I did something stupid and brought on the pain. Meantime the brace has kept me from flailing the arm when the subconscious brings on dreams of tripping, falling, fighting, and other delights.

Other than the PT issue, the only gripe is with the sticks, and most of that falls on pre-op. Out of 6 sticks, they only got one in my book. They brought someone in for the one, and she nailed it. BTW, the back of my hand doesn’t look much better.

That’s enough petty bitching for the day. So far, the surgical team seems to have nailed it and overall things are better than I expected. Post-op care and OT were outstanding. Really looking forward to my follow-up next week. Also, hope to do more here and soon.