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In case you're wondering why I've been on Letterville so much lately making the fool of myself...it's because I've had alot of spare time on my hands...why you wonder...yep...every signman's nightmare...LADDER ACCIDENT...haven't been able to lift either arm above shoulder level for 3 weeks now...and my wrists and hands...well with pain I can barely depress the handle on my car door and escape this place...you know "cabin fever" begins to set in after a while...anyway nothing broken...just a bunch of tendon and ligament damage...without the pain medication I cry alot ...I tried going without it for a day...I was such a cry baby Donna had to leave the house...at 62 you just don't recover as fast as you once did...but I'm getting special treatment and have no house chores...I could get used to this real easy...let's see how long I can stretch this out and get away with it.
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It doesn't sound like fun to me Rusty. I hope you are fully mended soon.
-grampa dan
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8738 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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That does not sound like any fun Rusty. I hope you feel better real soon. Are you doing any physical therapy to speed the process, or is it one of those things where you just need to not strain and let time heal?
In any event, I'll be praying for your recovery.
-------------------- Todd Gill Outside The Lines Potterville, MI Posts: 7792 | From: Potterville, MI | Registered: Dec 2001
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In April of 04, I fell 18 feet when the extension ladder slipped loose at the bottom. The asphalt was at an angle both ways and I had built a heavy plywood base to level it, but it slipped loose on the oily asphalt. No recollection of the fall at all. Knocked me out. Broke my glasses and two black eyes. I came to and the ambulance was there. Trip to the emergency room...$18,000. They said they thought I had had a heart attack, so they wanted to run alot of tests...No heart attack, just stupid judgement on my part. That was a grand a foot!
I was ten minutes away from finishing the week long project and as soon as I was sprung from the hospital, was right back up there finishing it up, but with some better base (pick up bed).
I was lucky. Had insurance and lived to tell about it. Always think serously before you do anything strange or different ion a ladder.
-------------------- Preston McCall 112 Rim Road Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501 text: 5056607370 Posts: 1552 | From: Santa Fe, New Mexico | Registered: Nov 1998
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-------------------- “Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?” -Winnie the Pooh & A.A. Milne
Kelly Thorson Kel-T-Grafix 801 Main St. Holdfast, SK S0G 2H0 ktg@sasktel.net Posts: 5496 | From: Penzance, Saskatchewan | Registered: May 2002
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i took a fall off a 12', one of those ladders with the adjustable joints in it. one of the joints near the top gave out, i felt it, i had a can of paint in one hand and a brush in the other. i knew if i fell into the ladder i darn sure would break something. i was in my mid 30's and still in good shape. when i was in the air force i had a freind who was a gymnast. he got me working on the bars, and some floor work. so i could do rolls and flips with some grace. this is whati did when the ladder broke. i threw the paint and brush, kicked off the ladder, hit the ground on my shoulders, and immediately as i hit, i kicked over into a reverse roll and bounced up on my feet!!!!!!! other wise i woulda broke a shoulder or worse. guy that i was doin the sign also owned the ladder, he comes over and saya.."can you do that again?" i told where to stick his junk ladder and went home. i hurt for a couple days then took my ladder(werner) and finished the job.
-------------------- joe pribish-A SIGN MINT 2811 longleaf Dr. pensacola, fl 32526 850-637-1519 BEWARE THE TRUTH.....YOU MAY NOT LIKE WHAT YOU FIND Posts: 11582 | From: pensacola, fl. usa | Registered: Nov 1998
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I'm on the back side of a broken elbow myself, yes from a fall, Rusty. At 51 I'm pretty sure I'll not be exactly the same again but all things considered it turned out well. Guys and gals I know that as business owners we may opt out of carrying Workers comp. Ins. on ourselves. I carried it on myself and it paid 100% of the medical. We would have been up poop creek without it. Do not count on it to cover lost wages if you return to work in any capacity though. I guess they figure if your well enough to sell on the phone you are smart enough to hire out the production role that you had previously filled yourself. I could go on about the friends who filled the gaps and how nearly every job that came through the door were ones that my wife and her gimp husband could manage. How we did not get behind because of understanding clients. How in the few months just before we had been paid pretty well on some things for the first time since the downturn and had some solid cash flow. But I would be turning this thread into another Faith based discussion. I'm grateful. We love you, Rusty. Mend and grow.
-------------------- Bob Sauls Sauls Signs & Designs Tallahassee, Fl
"Today I'll meet nice people and draw for them!" Posts: 765 | From: Tallahassee, Fl | Registered: Jun 2009
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Oh Rusty, sorry to hear that. It is so scary to hear these stories. Letsee...my advice is to take glucosamine/condroitin to help rebuild those tissues. My second bit of advice is to be patient with the healing process. It may seem that you're never going to get better but ever so slowly there will be improvement.
-------------------- Joy Kjer Art On Display Signs 4001 Randolph St Lincoln, NE
"My life has a superb cast, but I can't figure out the plot." Posts: 445 | From: 4001 Randolph St. Lincoln, NE | Registered: Jun 2002
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I took a fall off a 16' step ladder once. I was up pretty high on it. Everything sure goes in slow motion. I opted to jump and roll just before hitting the ground. I guess that parachute training paid off, as I didn't get hurt. Thankfully it was soil, not asphalt or concrete.
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I remember as a kid I was going up on my roof, to check out a leak, I was really nervous, basically 2 and a half stories, when I got to the top, I leaned in and grabbed the chimney, and a brick cracked off in my hand almost sending me backwards, I always hated ladders since then.
-------------------- "Keep Positive"
SIGNS1st. Neil Butler Paradise, NF Posts: 6277 | From: St. John's NF Canada | Registered: Mar 1999
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I took my tumble in 1997 off a flimsy aluminum ladder. Smashed L1 & L4. Better today, limited mobility. I just avoid ladders. I experienced cabin fever for 6 months! BRUTAL!!
My son got married just 5 weeks after the fall. I danced at his wedding! Wasn't much good after that tho. It was worth it too!
Hang in there, Rusty. You now have an official "sign guy ladder story" to tell
""Good judgment comes from experience; and a lot of that comes from bad judgment" - Will Rogers Posts: 3484 | From: Beautiful Newaygo, Michigan | Registered: Mar 2003
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I jumped off a ladder one time. I was about twenty feet up, removing large reverse channel letters. I pulled one off that had a wasp nest inside. As they attacked, I screamed and got stung inside the mouth. I threw that letter as far as I could, came down the ladder several rungs at a time and leaped off the last third. I was less than half the age I am now. If I tried a stunt like that today, Rusty would be a gymnast in comparison. Of course, nowadays, I'd be subbing out the higher ladder work.
-------------------- David Harding A Sign of Excellence Carrollton, TX Posts: 5084 | From: Carrollton, TX, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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...I tried going without it for a day...I was such a cry baby Donna had to leave the house...at 62 you just don't recover as fast as you once did...but I'm getting special treatment and have no house chores...I could get used to this real easy...let's see how long I can stretch this out and get away with it. ![[Wink]](wink.gif)
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