Re: [Harp-L] Harmonica Injuries

"Chris Michalek" <Chris@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> · Thu, 4 Nov 2004 15:29:11 -0600

Some people are built differenly.  Some can handle the back pressure
and others can't.  It could be a combination of things... what makes
one player blow an ACL on field turf will make another blow an MCL on
astro turf while another pull a hamstring or have nothing happen at
all.

>
>
>
>---- Original Message ----
>From: leone@xxxxxxxx
>To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
>Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Harmonica Injuries
>Date: Thu, 4 Nov 2004 16:09:40 -0500
>
>>
>>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
>>
>>
>>
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>>

Chris Michalek