RE: Off the record

Walter....

My suggestions:-

1.) Whatever system you are using, drop down two line/rod designations for your daily practice.

2.) While the pain is still a problem, cut your sessions of practice dramatically ..... OK to do them more often if you can make the time, but no more than about 15 min. at a time.

3.) For some, a change in style helps. (One of our Group, switched to more vertical, elbow forward style and it helped.) My son-in-law found that he had to give one handed casting up for a period of time, yet could still fish using light two handed outfits until he improved.

4.) Whatever system you use, practice with smaller amounts of line out of the rod tip.

5.) As you practice, concentrate on PERFECTION rather than distance. Keep asking yourself, "Could I have made the same cast with half the effort ?"

6.) As you know, I look at surgery as a last resort. Most of them improve without it. It's the impatient patients who can't or won't wait and elect to ask for an operation.

Gordy

-----Original Message-----
From: Walter Simbirski [mailto:simbirsw@xxxxxxx]
Sent: Wednesday, April 23, 2008 3:46 PM
To: Gordon Hill
Subject: Re: Off the record

Hey Gordy thanks for responding and encouragement. I don't like to impose but I really do

appreciate the advice.

1. Pain is sometimes severe but by no means constant. If I cast every day then I hurt every

    day. Typically a few hours of casting or fishing is followed by 1-3 days of pain. Sometimes

    ice is not sufficient to ease the pain. 2 or 3 advils almost always make it bearable but I don't like

    to use advil regularly or use anything stronger unless things are really bad because

    I don't like what medications do to my mental accuity.

2. I've had very little loss of flexibilty or mobility as long as I ignore the pain. I don't think there is

    any real degeneration happening in the joint (no major squishy noises and grinding/clicking noises

    are minor and don't appear to be getting worse) as long as I limit the amount of time I spend

    casting.

I intend to keep teaching and learning for many many years and be very proud of it. I consider

myself to be blessed to have made CCI before the physical problems started to occur. (I needed

a dose of humility anyway.) I get to spend time with tremendous people I enjoy being with and doing

something I love doing. For the past few years I've been fortunate enough to introduce fly fishing to

well over a hundred people each year.

Some physical pain is a small price in my opinion.

I do have some pretty exciting and positive things happening this year with regards to fly fishing. I'll

keep you updated as they occur.

Cheers!

Walter

----- Original Message -----

From: Gordon Hill

To: 'Walter Simbirski'

Sent: Wednesday, April 23, 2008 12:39 PM

Subject: RE: Off the record

Walter...

I don't like to recommend surgery unless one of 2 things prevail :

1.) Pain beyond the capacity of the patient to withstand.

2.) Severe functional disability such that the patient cannot actively abduct the shoulder.

We can still be effective teachers of fly casting even though physical problems limit our distance ability and our ability to handle heavy tackle.

As I've said before, In the 70's, Nadia Comenche from Romania made a perfect 10 score in ladies gymnastics.

HER COACH COULDN'T EVEN CLIMB UP ONTO THE BALANCE BEAM !

Gordy

-----Original Message-----
From: Walter Simbirski [mailto:simbirsw@xxxxxxx]
Sent: Wednesday, April 23, 2008 3:03 AM
To: Gordy Hill
Subject: Off the record

Gordy -

In spite of cutting out practice since October the shoulder is only marginally better. Finally scheduled

for an MRI on May 20. Not sure if there is much point - I don't intend to have surgery or stop fishing and I don't

think the long term prospects for recovery are all that good. Physiotherapy, cortisone and 6 months of almost

total rest haven't made much difference.

The good news is that I've had some time to work on launching a fly fishing business (www.go-wyld.com) and I expect

to have the head mounted display ready for unveiling as a teaching tool at the Conclave.

Looking forward to getting together at the Conclave. Has anybody suggested a group meeting time or location yet?

Cheers

Walter