Rotator Cuff Repair

[Mek-a-nik]

Wednesday, they went in there and screwed my right supraspinatus back to the humerus. (Top shoulder muscle to upper arm bone.) I managed to tear it completely. The usual is 2 screws, they used 8!
I had to shut my business down for a while. After 7 years of building it, it's really hard to tell people I can't work. I guess I should get used to it (occasional shutdown); I aint getting any younger!
Any one else ever deal with this?

[bgsengine]

I have had to shut down briefly a few times but not for extended periods - Most customers that really like your work will come back as soon as they know you are available again.

It is also another reason we Incorporated - Insurance coverages (Worker's Comp, U.C., etc.) Plus if you were disabled, as a corp. you are already an employer, you could hire a part timer to go out and do the work while you manage the clientele - You'd make less for yourself, but you'd keep your business going at the very least - break-even cash flow is better than no cash flow.

[Mek-a-nik]

I should have been more clear, my mistake. I'm wondering if anyone has dealt with the rotator cuff repair, the business well, it is what it is. I have customers who are leaving me get well messages and sending me cards etc. I'm going to lose a few months revenue, but my wife and I can survive that. The business has been an additional income, not a necessary one.

[bgsengine]

Ahh - Nope dont know anyone personally that had that surgery - as for dealing with it, usually only time it might affect me is when it takes down a player on a favorite sports team..

Although it is possible I may be dealing with it indirectly soon, from your description, I know someone personally with symptoms that might indicate such an issue.

[Mek-a-nik]

6 1/2 weeks since surgery. My arm was in a sling for 4 1/2 weeks with no use allowed. Now I'm doing therapy that involves getting full range of motion back. In a month or so, I'll start weight and resistance.
They're telling me 6 months until I'm pretty well healed, a year or two to be 100%.
My business is taking a big hit.

[bgsengine]

6 1/2 weeks since surgery. My arm was in a sling for 4 1/2 weeks with no use allowed. Now I'm doing therapy that involves getting full range of motion back. In a month or so, I'll start weight and resistance.
They're telling me 6 months until I'm pretty well healed, a year or two to be 100%.

Sounds good - soon maybe you'll be able to do light repairs and maintenance stuff

My business is taking a big hit.

Yeah I imagine.. On the bright side, it is the off-season for OPE repairs... so I imagine it could be worse.. You ever consider kerosene heater servicing? It's light work,and quite easy..

[Mek-a-nik]

6 1/2 weeks since surgery. My arm was in a sling for 4 1/2 weeks with no use allowed. Now I'm doing therapy that involves getting full range of motion back. In a month or so, I'll start weight and resistance.
They're telling me 6 months until I'm pretty well healed, a year or two to be 100%.

Sounds good - soon maybe you'll be able to do light repairs and maintenance stuff

My business is taking a big hit.

Yeah I imagine.. On the bright side, it is the off-season for OPE repairs... so I imagine it could be worse.. You ever consider kerosene heater servicing? It's light work,and quite easy..

I'm fortunate that at this point in my life, the business' profit isn't necessary for survival. It's just frustrating because I've worked so hard to get it to the point it is, that I hate any setbacks.
I've thought about the heater repair in the past, but I don't know anything about it, and whether or not it would be feasible out of the 14' step van that I do my small engine stuff out of.

[bgsengine]

Main thing you need for heater repair is a good source or parts and wicks, other than that they are very simple - Forced Air (Salamanders) require correct air pressure - common things with them are the ignition, filters, nozzles, end caps cracked, rusted out check valve springs, etc. - usually most of them we can have fixed and working in under a half hour - you'll want an accurate low pressure gauge (Desa HA1180 works good, or a Dura Heat 21-1115 ) We are service center for Desa (out of business but still carry parts) , Dura-Heat, and Mr. Heater so we have access to all those parts as well. - Even those are all so much alike, it can be hard to tell which manufacturer you need to get parts for, but there *are* frequent differences that require caution in ordering parts.

For kerosene wick fed heaters they are all generally the same - they need good air flow and good quality wicks and pristine quality K-1 Kerosene fuel. Most of the time repairs simply involve a basic tune-up - new wick, cleaning carbon away, blowing out dust, making sure the mica windows are in good shape, drain the old fuel and put in fresh, let wick soak at least an hour in full down position before lighting - nothing too complicated with them once you have had a couple different configurations apart and understand how they work. - If we had enough customers (We're in coal/wood stove country here) we could turn out 10-15 tickets a day with ease per tech. Judging from our online sales (ebay, amazon, web store) they are still a lot of them out there and we have wicks for just about (probably 90%) of the heaters made since the 70's and every season we're increasing our "on the shelf" stock of heater parts as well (knobs, chimneys, glass mantles, etc. etc.) - It isn't rocket science... and actually diagnostics can be easier than with small engines, the work for the most part is relatively light weight (Hardest part is lifting the heater to a work bench) and rarely ever anything more than screwdrivers, pliers, a couple adjustable wrenches and a pressure gauge needed (a DVOM for testing igniter systems is handy)

That is one of the reasons why I set up the "other stuff" forum (Power Tools and Miscellaneous - at the bottom of the board index) for posts regarding that stuff.

[Mek-a-nik]

Wow, thanks for that! Very detailed info, as usual. Maybe in the future. As for now, I'm not allowed to use the shoulder for anything. I'm working on range motion, and that's it for the next month or so before I move on to strengthening it. I've heard horror stories from customers and friends about people who've had to do this twice. One guy told me he had it done FOUR times! I may never pull start an engine right handed again, just to be safe.

[Mek-a-nik]

I'm about 5 months out from surgery. I've been going to therapy 3 times a week. I also do the therapy at home twice a day, every day. Right now, I'm about 90%. I was able to do a clutch job (with some help) on my pickup this week; so that pretty much qualifies me to be discharged from therapy. A long, tough trail, but worth it.

As a result of my injury, and the resulting recuperation, I've decided to close my OPE repair business. It's just not worth it to me to risk re-injury. I'm going in a totally different direction and will be selling my truck, inventory and customer list.

That different direction is driving a school bus. It pays better than I realized. It sure is a lot easier physically. The biggest challenge is the kids. It's the main reason, from what I'm learning, that drivers don't last. Plus, it's complicated. Today's "sue everybody" society has created a myriad of rules and regulations.

It was a hard decision to make. As I mentioned previously, I've worked hard building the business. By the same token, I'm ready to do something else. I have 10 years until "sosh-scurty" kicks in.

I want to thank everyone on this forum, and it's predecessor PERR for being absolutely fantastic in every way. I could not have run my business without all of your help.

I'll still stop by to check in. Once in a while, I may even have an answer to a problem!