A Problem That Will Slow Down My Posting for a While

21 February 2007 by The General Published in: General News 16 comments

When I was in college, I worked hard at trying to make the college baseball team as a pitcher. At my very best, I was a very mediocre right handed relief pitcher. During the winter and spring of my sophomore year, as I worked at getting ready for the season, I did a lot of pitching with a friend of mine catching. In the process of working on my slider, I developed an absolutely hellacious case of tendonitis in my right elbow. Specifically, it’s tennis elbow, as then tendons on top are the ones causing the trouble.

I spent a lot of time in trainer’s room, missed the season, and thought I was over it. That summer–1981–I ran the baseball program at a summer camp for rich kids in Massachusetts and spent way, way too much time pitching. This time, I did pretty much irreparable harm to it. That ended my baseball career, such as it was. It took a lot of physical therapy, prescription strength Motrin, and a lot of rest before it finally settled down to some semblance of normalcy.

The problem has periodically flared up from time to time over the past 25 years. I had one in November, thought it was nothing out of the ordinary, and treated it as I always have. However, this time, it didn’t get better. Instead, it got steadily worse. I finally broke down and saw the orthopedist today. He gave me an excruciatingly painful cortisone shot right into the aggravated tendon, and told me to rest it. That includes typing.

So, I apologize and regret to tell you that posts will probably be short and somewhat sparse for the next couple of weeks while I try to limit my typing to that which is really necessary for my job. I regret any inconvenience that this might cause and ask your indulgence. I will be back. I just need to rest it for a while.

Scridb filter

Comments

Steve Ward

Wed 21st Feb 2007 at 8:33 pm
Eric: I have the same bloody problem in the bursa of my left shoulder. I have given up on the shots and simply take an anti-inflam and a pain killer until the inflammation settles down. It usually takes about a week. Hopefully yours will settle down soon. Thank goodness, my hearing room is now paperless, so I don’t have to fiddle around with files and evidence. Moving the mouse and typing, the little I do, is bad enough. Happily, I can dictate my decisions. Will you be at Mansfield? I am looking forward to picking up a copy of your Rush’s book there. Your last two books are first rate. I especially enjoyed the Monroe’s Crossroads book. Steve Ward.
The General

Wed 21st Feb 2007 at 8:53 pm
Thanks for the good wishes, Steve. This is my first cortisone shot for that elbow. Hopefully, it will work–and soon! I wish I could say I din’t have to type, but that is not the case. I type faster than my secretary, and have not dictated anything in over a decade.

Thanks for your kind words about my work, I really appreciate it. I hope to be at the Mansfield show, probably on Saturday, before we leave for our North Carolina vacation. If I make it to Mansfield, we will have to make plans to get together there.

Thanks to Susan for being my typist this evening. She (I) am forcing Eric to NOT TYPE.

Eric
Ray Todd Knight

Wed 21st Feb 2007 at 9:30 pm
Good luck with the arm, Eric. I had a bursitis attack in my right elbow about a year ago… Swelled up the size of a softball. I hope it doesn’t interfere with your appearance at the Nashville Civil War Symposium. I’ve been looking forward to seeing you there. Just incase you hadn’t noticed… The Predators are playing your team that night here at the GEC.
Ray
Mike Peters

Wed 21st Feb 2007 at 10:09 pm
Eric

Please let me know if there is anything I can do.

Mike
J David Petruzzi

Wed 21st Feb 2007 at 10:58 pm
Ouch, pard. Hang in there. Well, once not too long ago you had to be Susan’s legs, and now she has to be your arm.

Good thing she doesn’t have to be your brain. She’s far and away the smarter of you too, and I just don’t think she could pull it off.

🙂

Get better.

J.D.
Steve Basic

Wed 21st Feb 2007 at 11:54 pm
Eric,

Somehow I know you will be coming off the disabled list a lot quicker than Carl Pavano. 🙂

Hang in there, and hope you feel better.

Steve
Mark Peters

Thu 22nd Feb 2007 at 7:34 am
Eric,

You and Susan make a fine pair. Who’s walking the dogs now?

Cortisone injections? Are you sure that it’s not ‘equine dermatitis’ that you’re suffering from?

Anyway, hope that you and Susan carry on up that road to recovery.

Best wishes,

Mark
Paul Taylor

Thu 22nd Feb 2007 at 10:34 am
Eric,

Best wishes for a full and speedy recovery! My baseball “career” was likewise cut short with a throwing injury.

Paul
Don

Thu 22nd Feb 2007 at 10:42 am
Eric,
Hope you feel better soon, and that the road to recovery is a short one.

Don
David Corbett

Thu 22nd Feb 2007 at 12:33 pm
Dear Buttermilk Ranger ,
You’re an attorney ; get a dictaphone or some such device. Legitimate business expense isn’t it ?
I enjoy your blog immensely .
all for the old flag ,
David Corbett
Bill Satterlee

Thu 22nd Feb 2007 at 7:20 pm
I hope that you recover quickly with a minimum of pain.
Brooks Simpson

Thu 22nd Feb 2007 at 7:24 pm
Next you’ll have a bloody sock. 🙂
The General

Thu 22nd Feb 2007 at 8:54 pm
Thanks for all of the good wishes, guys. It actually feels a bit better today. The fact that my office computer had a meltdown and was in for repairs today probably helps, as I went all day without typing.

And Brooks, if I had Curt Schilling’s fastball (or money), do you think I would be practicing law? 🙂

Eric
mannie

Fri 23rd Feb 2007 at 12:03 am
Eric,

F**K pain!
Do the thing you need to do to get better, all the while knowing that your thoughtful posts will be missed.

Here’s looking to a comforable future which includes you sharing your insights with the rest of us.

Best wishes (and step away from the keyboard),

Mannie
Michael Aubrecht

Fri 23rd Feb 2007 at 10:32 am
Been there and done that my friend. Here’s wishing you the very best and a speedy recovery. Your Rush Lancers review will run in the next 2 weeks and maybe that will make you feel a little better. After all, think of all those books you will have to autograph. 🙂

PS. Even Mariano Rivera’s arm needs some R&R every now and then.
Paul Fabian Mullen

Sat 10th Mar 2007 at 10:31 pm
Ouch, good luck

Of course, I’ll raise your finger for my back, going in Monday for shots in the spine.

I thought of you as I was working on application for Miami U. Ohio. I want to leave the current job and come back to the United States.

We shoud hook up via phone soon.
Great blog you have here.