Knee surgery has been resheduled finally......

[MAD6Gun]

 My double knee replacement  surgery was supposed to be done on the 18th of August. But the insurance company denied it for a unknown reason to me. Finally after darn near a month of screwind around it is back on. I go in on Sept 18 to have both knees replaced.

I quit my job on July 21 to give me time to get labs and blood tests done and to see all of my docs for clearance before the day of surgery.  I took a withdrawal out of my IRA to cover bills until I can get back to work.

 I know what you are going to ask. 'Why did you quit your job". Here is why.  When I hired in at this shop I told the owner that because I have stage three kidney disease I was going to have to take time off for doctor appts. He said OK at first but after 9 months or so he started riding me about taking time off. I told him again when he hired me that this would be the case. He didn't care. So when I found out when my surgery was I knew he would have a problem with me taking time off for the setup appts so I just quit. Told him I was not coming back afterward. I am done being a auto tech. After 33 years my body is telling me no more.  Over the years I have had back problems,cartilage in my right thumb has deteriorated (years of pounding on my hands with impacts and such) ankle pain,a herniated disc in my neck,a broken finger and now the knees. So when I am able to walk again I will try and find something else to do...I hope.

I have not ridden my Valk for anything more then a few miles since coming back from Inzane because my knees hurt to much. Twila and I will be going to the Dragon Roundup but we will be driving. My bike will be going up on its jack before my surgery and probably not come off of it until spring.

 What do you guys think? What do you think a ex auto tech with 33 years experience can do? Service writer,parts guy what?

[old2soon]

Mark with All your automotive experience Something gotz ta be out dere fer ya. I've turned a wrench or three and have worked in a Lot of labor intensive fields. Even driving truck as long as I have has taken a toll-but not to joint replacement-YET.  Have you kept up on all this new puter stuff that have come down the pike recently and most likely Will git more complicated for the managed systems in a modern motor vehicle? You know and I know that if man built it-it WILL screw up and need work sometime. Fill out some resume's and/or job applications and see if anyone wants an Experienced worker and what they respond with-providing they do in fact respond. Every time I turn on the flat screen-wuz gonna say tube-I'm hearing how dire the shortage is for auto techs. Course those dire warnings are coming from the schools that want ya ta pay fer Their brand of training. Good luck there Bro.  RIDE SAFE.

[scooperhsd]

Sounds like you know your industry pretty well - You might want to consider getting some IT type training - most jobs in that field would be pretty easy on you physically. Heck, knowing your way around a computer is getting to be something necessary in many jobs - start with your local Community college about courses in MS Office.

You should also check with your states unemployment services offices - they can give you some guidance on what else may be helpful and useful.

Best of luck..

[3fan4life]

My double knee replacement  surgery was supposed to be done on the 18th of August. But the insurance company denied it for a unknown reason to me. Finally after darn near a month of screwind around it is back on. I go in on Sept 18 to have both knees replaced.

I quit my job on July 21 to give me time to get labs and blood tests done and to see all of my docs for clearance before the day of surgery.  I took a withdrawal out of my IRA to cover bills until I can get back to work.

 I know what you are going to ask. 'Why did you quit your job". Here is why.  When I hired in at this shop I told the owner that because I have stage three kidney disease I was going to have to take time off for doctor appts. He said OK at first but after 9 months or so he started riding me about taking time off. I told him again when he hired me that this would be the case. He didn't care. So when I found out when my surgery was I knew he would have a problem with me taking time off for the setup appts so I just quit. Told him I was not coming back afterward. I am done being a auto tech. After 33 years my body is telling me no more.  Over the years I have had back problems,cartilage in my right thumb has deteriorated (years of pounding on my hands with impacts and such) ankle pain,a herniated disc in my neck,a broken finger and now the knees. So when I am able to walk again I will try and find something else to do...I hope.

I have not ridden my Valk for anything more then a few miles since coming back from Inzane because my knees hurt to much. Twila and I will be going to the Dragon Roundup but we will be driving. My bike will be going up on its jack before my surgery and probably not come off of it until spring.

 What do you guys think? What do you think a ex auto tech with 33 years experience can do? Service writer,parts guy what?

I know when I was in High School Auto Shop was one of the most popular classes.

There should be both high school and community college/tech school teaching positions to be had.

I did 30 yrs in EMS which is certainly a young man's job.

Now, I teach others to do what I used to do.

[Jess from VA]

What about auto (and small engine) tech on a small scale, at your house, appointment only basis?  Cash and carry (and it never happened).

[Valkorado]

You have acquired many transferrable skills that you might not even be aware of, including and beyond the automotive realm. Customer service skills, warehousing and parts management (warehouse supervisor, etc.), shipping/receiving training and supervision, inspection and diagnosis, probably some engineering and don't forget conflict management (dealing with a-hole bosses).  

I almost hate to say it, but check with your local state workforce center.  I worked in L&E for years, was a WIA counselor.  Despite the constant frustrations of government bureaucracy and over regulation, I was able to arrange training for many individuals leading to gainful and rewarding careers -- funded by state and federal coffers.  Everything from commercial truck drivers to police officers, solar engineers, nurses -- you name it.  I even trained a young lady -- a dreadlocked flower child with no direction.  Trying to find a career path for her was interesting, she didn't want to do much.  Got to know her interests, and discovered she was in to music.  She just lit up talking about music.  Was she a musician?  Nope.  Hmmm.  Ended up sending her to a sound engineering school in Chillocothe, OH.  Last I heard she was making big money (100,000k +) and having the time of her life running sound equipment and multi-channel mixing boards for large name musicians and bands at a venue in New Orleans.  She even sent me an impressive list of the musicians she'd met!  

If you want some details about tge WIA program PM me.

Anyway like I said in your birthday post, you're in your prime, son!  Get them thar knees better and the world is your oyster!

Best of luck with both the knee surgeries and the career change.

[baldo]

This might sound crazy, but hear me out.

Amusement park tech, I'm not sure what the correct term is.

I had a brief period of unemployment at one point. As an experienced aircraft mechanic, that was a field that was actively recruiting A&P techs because of the many systems with which one must be proficient.

Based on your certifications and skills, it might be a good fit for you. Much of it is computer based, not changing motors on the Tarantula....

[Robert]

Working for most in the automotive trade stinks, but you might try the AC trade as a spin off.

[old2soon]

Stationary Engineer. Boilers and the like and the associated systems. But probably Requires a license. I had looked into it a long time ago. RIDE SAFE.

[fudgie]

Yea something behind the counter of a parts place is a good Idea. You already know the field.

I hear ya on what to do now. My knees are bad, I go to chiro once a month cause my back is always out. Bad thumbs and a occasional wrist. Most is from hard landings in my rodeo days but its catching up to me. 20 yrs in EMS and I guess I have another 20. Don't know anything else. 

[FryeVRCCDS0067]

You might look for a maintenance managers position at a medium size industrial facility. Most medium size and up facilities have maintenance managers whose job is purely management, not climbing ladders and crawling all over machines.

[Hooter]

Don't know how old you are but did you ever consider retirement.  Get stuff fixed and enjoy your life if you can swing it.

[bassman]

Teach; small engine repair out of your garage; private mobile mechanic......?

[MAD6Gun]

Don't know how old you are but did you ever consider retirement.  Get stuff fixed and enjoy your life if you can swing it.

Hooter. I just turned 53. I would love to retire but I can't at this time.

[RDKLL]

Mark, glad you are getting that knee stuff done. Hope you get healed up quickly. I am sure when you start looking you will find something...I have tried to go to the last couple of InZanes but I just cannot get my PTO balance to allow it...the funny thing is that riding to it really has not even been considered. To me the InZane events are social and that I will spend time with friends. Those that ride, awesome because it is a Valkyrie event.
Be safe and you have my number and I like to talk LOL.

And if I were to ride to an InZane it would be on the KTM...blasphemy 

[Hooter]

Don't know how old you are but did you ever consider retirement.  Get stuff fixed and enjoy your life if you can swing it.

Hooter. I just turned 53. I would love to retire but I can't at this time.

Well now, that's a whole different ball game. Get healthy first and see how you feel when you do. Then make a career decision. Good luck!

[Doc Moose]

Mark,

Hope all goes well for you jobwise.

I am 5 weeks out from my left knee replacement.  Still gets sore and stiff, feels better if I work it out exercising.  I can do short stints at walking but it gets sore by midday and end up using the cane for help.   Ice packs are a big help.

Definitely do the PT!!!!   It will help in keeping your knees flexible and getting the muscles and new hardware functioning normally.

Get your self a walker with 4 wheels - it will help you to walk normally behind it while giving you support.  An added plus is that you can get it with a seat to sit on if you need a break.  Also get a cane that you can adjust the height on & with a bigger tip that allows the cane to stand up on it's own.  Yeah, looks like a little old lady cane, but keeps it from falling over all the time.

First two weeks are a b*tch, but it gets better every day.  You'll need help getting on socks, etc so be good to your helper.  Baggy shorts are a plus!

Hang in there and best wishes.

[fudgie]

Yea what doc said. Plus if you can get the ice water wrap machine that is a plus. It circulates cold water around your knee. #1 had a machine and it was tits.

[DanL]

and it was the best thing I ever did. There are two types of knee replacements: one is "off the shelf" where the surgeon opens you up and guesses which size knee you should have and the other is a custom where you go in for a CAT scan 6-8 weeks before the schedule operation and your new knee is built specifically for you.  I had the custom (and yes it is more expensive) & in 4 years I've had no problems.  I came out of the hospital with less pain then when I went into the hospital.  I can go for 4-5 mile walks without any problems.  I have a friend (who also owns a Valkyrie) who had one of his knees done with an "off the shelf" knee and he had to go in for a "revision" (another replacement) because the 1st one didn't fit and he was in a lot of pain.  And he is still having pain after the 2nd replacement (using an off the shelf knee).
Good luck on your replacement