May 1, today, met at 3:30 with my Primary Care Physician at the VA. I do have a double Inguinal hernia and right side is the worst of the two but there is nothing showing "coming thru" and even the right one was very hard to find. So, they said that if I keep doing "strenuous" mechanical work, I will need surgery. I may need surgery anyway, eventually, but I may be able to just go about the rest of my life and never have to have the operation. Basically, I can still do mechanical work that is not strenuous, like oil changes and changing spark plugs but stay away from doing water pumps and brake work, where I would have to handle taking tire and wheel assemblies off and back on. These are just examples and I will just have to learn to be picky and keep on doing what I want to do.
Also, I do have arthritis in my right hip and that will limit some of my movement.
I also have a prostrate problem and they are going to do a "consult" with a urologist. I gotta go in when they set up the time.
At this point, it looks like I can decide to have double hernia operation and 2-3 months recovery later, I may be ok to go back and work on what I want but will still be limited with the right hip. That can mean hip surgery and that will mean that I will still be limited after that surgery.
At this point I am going to talk it over with my girl and I may be selling my big Snap On box and lots of some tools and specialty tools. I would be keeping my US General roll around cart and some basic tools for light duty work.
Just thinking out loud at this point. It may take some time before I make any solid decisions but I am just putting it out there.