Justice Breyer has shoulder surgery after bike accident
Source: USA Today
Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer broke his right shoulder Saturday in a fall from his bicycle in downtown Washington, the court said.
Breyer, 74, was taken to MedStar Georgetown University Hospital by ambulance and underwent reverse shoulder replacement surgery -- similar to standard replacement surgery -- court spokeswoman Kathleen Arberg said in a statement. Breyer was bicycling near the Korean War Veterans Memorial along the Mall when the accident occurred, the statement said. No further details on the were provided.
"The justice is resting comfortably" and is expected to be released from the hospital within a few days, the announcement said. The justice previously broke his collarbone in an accident in 2011 and sustained broken ribs and a punctured lung in a bicycle mishap in 1993, before he joined the court.
The court has finished holding hearings for the current term, and is now beginning the work on remaining opinions, with a recess for the summer likely in late June. Breyer, a San Francisco native, was appointed to the court in 1994 by President Clinton to replace retiring justice Harry Blackmun.
Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/04/27/justice-breyer-shoulder-surgery/2117649/
elleng
(131,138 posts)Nice weather in the neighborhood. This is probably a busy time at the Court, as they're likely trying to wrap up the most difficult cases.
ISW
(81 posts)consider a stationary bike. I can assure you that it is much safer.
Posteritatis
(18,807 posts)Oy.
CTyankee
(63,912 posts)He's a good one and we want him to be OK. This is his second mishap. At some point (and I am older so I know this only too well), you can't do what you used to do. You have to modify. What's wrong with that? geez...
frazzled
(18,402 posts)He swerved to avoid a car when he was 89, hit a curb, and broke his hip when he went flying. He was riding 30-40 miles a day at that age. He managed to get over the hip thing (walks funny but could still ride a bike). We finally banished him, and he banished himself, to a stationary bike at the gym when his balance and reaction time started getting iffy. He's 96 now, and he still put in 100 miles per week (25 x 4 times a wk) on the stationary bike until just this February, when he was hospitalized with flu and pneumonia. He thought he'd never get back to where he was. He's already up to 20 miles a pop, four times a week. You just can't keep bicyclists down.
My husband broke his shoulder (plus four ribs and punctured a lung) a few years ago. My brother has broken his collar bone and ribs untold times.
As my dad says (when interviewed for the news): "If you haven't had an accident and broken some bones, you're not riding enough."
hibbing
(10,109 posts)Hi,
My folks both bike and they are in their 80s, my mom has had some serious injuries, but they are both still out there. I wish they would stop, but I'm not sure I could get them to. Being a cyclist myself, I know the enjoyment I get out of it. I worry about them out there though. Thanks for your interesting post.
Peace
frazzled
(18,402 posts)My husband did spin classes to build up his strength for about eight months after his accident. And then he finally got the courage to get back on the road, which I regret. I worry about him every day.
It IS dangerous out there, and not just for older riders. A chink in the pavement that you don't see can send you flying. One of my brother's injuries was due to a dog running out and another cyclist swerving, hitting my brother and sending him over a ravine. It's just a dangerous sport because no matter how good you are, unforeseen things can knock you off that thin tread of tire as you're pumping at fast speeds.
On the other hand, it's probably keeping your parents fit and young ... and happy. And you can't treat your parents like children.
KamaAina
(78,249 posts)Remember when the teabaggers thought Sonia Sotomayor was faking her broken ankle during her confirmation hearings? Srsly.
heaven05
(18,124 posts)should just walk. May he heal quickly.
Gregorian
(23,867 posts)tavalon
(27,985 posts)but I'm younger so I didn't need the surgery. hope he gets well soon
Demeter
(85,373 posts)Does a man with such monumental lack of judgment belong on any kind of court?
Hi,
What is the lack of judgment? Cycling at that age?
Peace
Response to undeterred (Original post)
tofuandbeer This message was self-deleted by its author.
davidpdx
(22,000 posts)Please take care and recover soon. We need you on the court!
tblue
(16,350 posts)Haha!
Poor Justice Breyer though. I'm so grateful for him. Sending healing thoughts. I'm impressed he still rides a bike!