Might be a short paddling season

[Andy is OptiMystic]

Went in for a cortisone injection this morning. Same shoulder was injected last Summer. Doc had the shot on the tray and was just finding the spot on ultrasound when he noticed the tear is bigger. No shot for you! MRI and surgery.

I won't know for sure until he sees MRI, but the recovery will be somewhere between 1 and 6 months before I would be able to paddle. One of my paddling buddies responded to my pity party email to remind me he bought a 19' center console over the winter. Might also be bugging Jeffrey sooner than I thought since some other plans may get scuttled.

[Jim Gronaw]

Wow, man...bummer. We're all falling apart!

Looks like a long 'pole-n-line' weekend with Jeffrey about late May or June.

[Andy is OptiMystic]

Wow - I actually just sent him a PM pretty much along those same lines. Literally seconds ago. 

[Jason Preslar]

Shoulder problems suck. I had major shoulder surgery a few years ago. Still bothers me. I learned to sometimes perform a 2 handed cast, it helps. Also, a sidearm cast helps. Paddling aggravates it some. Good luck. After my surgery and lots of therapy I knew something was still up. I insisted that they investigate further before releasing me from treatment. They did a "arthrogram mri" or something like that and found that some of the surgery had actually came loose and they wanted to do another surgery. I declined. Didn't like the idea of them re-entering the shoulder. Scar tissue is no fun. I'll live with it until I have to do something.

[Andy is OptiMystic]

"scar tissue" - I am guessing they weren't able to scope yours then. That would be a tougher call. If they mess up with the scope, they're going back in. The same guy did my knee and that went well and I have spoken to others who had shoulders and ankles done by him and are pleased. The pain I am in right now when I move just the wrong way is pretty excruciating; doing nothing isn't a reasonable option for me.

[DAVID L EITUTIS]

GOOD LUCK ANDY !!!!!!! HOPE IT ALL GOES WELL , had mine done 6 years ago and it's great. That was the left shoulder for me . Had my collar bone shortened by a 1/2" and scraped out all the arthridtis and fixed two bone spures and a torn ligament also. Couldn't fix my torn bicep at that time . My recovery was fine however with lots of theropy . I absolutely hated the theropy cause of the pain but glad I did it now . You don't ever want a froze up shoulder buddy, do the theropy religiously and you'll be ok ......

[Andy is OptiMystic]

Thanks. I know about pushing through the pain to do the PT; I had to do it after my knee operation and aftermy spine injections (that was different than surgery, but you have a limited window of opportunity while the cortisone keeps the arthritis at bay to build the muscles). It's worth it.

[Slip Sinker]

you might have to upgrade....

i had to give up my kayak last year because neck shoulder arm and hand pain... as of now i cant fly fish... so i love fishing out of a kayak and im not giving that up... this nucanoe i think is the way to go for me

[Andy is OptiMystic]

Going that route, there is so much stuff on it that it may need trailering. I think I would start looking at a 13' RiverHawk or Gheenoe. 

http://www.riverhawkboats.com/boats.htm

http://www.gheenoe.net/thirteenft.html

[Slip Sinker]

oh i love the 13 gheenoe... i remember as a teenager ripping out an add for a thirteen footer from my dads popular mechanics mags and keeping it in my wallet. its still on my list. but Andy why take the chance on tearing a tendon again or dislocating your back. Trailer...with my bad back i have it down to an art dropping the boat off etc. its a breeze and you dont risk your health.

[Andy is OptiMystic]

What I meant is that if you start loading a yak up to the point where trailering is the best option, I don't see the advantage in having the yak over a small boat. I see the advantage if you are also going to sometimes use it in more of a yak type situation - dragging it down a bank to a small river where you are likely to hit a few rocks. But once that sort of trip isn't on the radar anymore, why choose a NuCanoe over a Gheenoe? The trailer makes the extra weight inconsequential IMO.

Take a look at the RiverHawk 13 Duck model also. Not only can you stand and fish, you could pace...

[Slip Sinker]

wow im looking at the riverhawk model right now ... looks exactly like a gheenoe

[Andy is OptiMystic]

Except they ripped out the middle seat/livewell and put in a dance floor instead.