Re: [Harp-L] Harmonica Injuries

[Joe and Cass Leone <leone@xxxxxxxx>]

On Nov 4, 2004, at 2:18 PM, IcemanLE@xxxxxxx wrote:

> You do not (need) much more effort than is used in breathing normally 
> and drinking a
> glass of water to play a harmonica. Any additional effort used is 
> unnecessary
> unless you are going for some EXTREME effect (ie - jumping around the 
> stage
> like a mad person while playing).
>
> The Iceman
> _

  I GOTTA tell ya that I have been trying my dambdest to keep quiet on 
this issue, but you guys keep pulling me back in. I have been thinking 
about this "serial-hernia" thing and came to some conclusions as to why 
I don't think it's a very swell idea.

  Some of the fellows mentioned are not exactly A#1m emperor of the 
north pole when it comes to their standing in the overall harmonica 
world. No dis-respect intended. But it seems to me that the effort 
being expended is incongruous to the ultimate result(s).

Scenario: Let's say a man is 45 yrs old and has a 
transcipital/oxcipital hernia. A surgeon will usually try to fix it 
without mesh. He will usually dictate anywhere from 30 days (MIN) as a 
starting point on up to a day per each year of age of the patient. 
Thusly, we are talking about 45 days recuperation. This comes to 6 1/2 
weeks of which 13 days are normal days off.
                Some employers are going to pay you for 32 days sick 
time and you "eat" the 13 days off. Others will cover your days off as 
sick time and pay you the whole 45. THIS equates to anywhere from 
$3660.54 NET to $5147.64 NET (using myself as a guide). That's just for 
the PAY. Then there's the OR, lab costs, surgeon, antisthesiologist, 
dressings, medicines, fluids, and on and on. It could easily cost 12.5K 
to 19K to do a hernia.
                So the first time this happens, there shouldn't be any 
sweat. A SECOND time will lead to problems.

Note. While you are off, someone else has to cover for you. Beings that 
economy is based on very little profit margin and in this country (at 
least) it is held bouyant by high productivity, someone is loosing 
somewhere. This will come back to haunt. Resentment, undependability, 
etc.

Scenario: Let's say that you are self employed. If you have your own 
HMO coverage, you don't have as much pressure from your employer to 
"get back to work", but a subsequent operation will put you into the 
"watched closely" area, and subsequent surgery will probably result in 
your being dropped or having your rates go through the roof. Of course 
if you have NO coverage, you just simply pay out of your pocket. 
Arrrrrgh. So HERE's a good argument against socialized health coverage, 
eh wot?

There are some employers out there who have certain guidelines for what 
you can & cannot do. A lot of places don't like (some don't even 
PERMIT) you to partake in sojourns which are deemed to be of the, shall 
we say, "Too Risky" nature. THIS is exactly why. They don't want the 
burden. And why SHOULD they be burdened. It's one thing to seek nifty 
types of recreation, but some people go to extremes. Your employer 
hired YOU, not your hobbies.
 Example: after 27 hrs of flight instruction, I went and got myself a 
"weed-hopper" (ultra-light). I was told to get rid of it.

Scenario: I know a man, who over a period of years, kept advancing at 
his job. With the advancements came greater pay. He used some of these 
excess monies to get involved in ever increasing risk (sports?). 
Repititious injuries kept him away from his job more than he was 
present AT it. The employer finally got fed up and ushered him out on a 
disability. They realized that he was NOW getting 70% pension. If he 
would have retired normally, he would have gotten only 50+- %. They 
said they didn't care because it was costing them too much to keep him 
around.

Consclusion: I had intended to write about 3 pages, but I didn't have 
the heart to subject you fine people to this  any longer. I go back to 
the closet now. But my suggestions to anyone contemplating a hernia 
risk:
 1. Stop using tungsten-carbide reeds
 2. Stop setting them at 8.5 mm (about 1/3 INCH)
 3. For assisting on draw notes, consider using a refridgeration vacuum 
pump
 4. For assisting on blow notes, consider using a scuba compressor pump
 5. Bind the fragile parts of your abdominal area with steel belted 
radial tire(s).

 smokey-joe & the cafe s