Raiderstation

To my fellow Raiders fans:

As you know, I have been a Raiders fan for a long, long time (since the 1969 season) and been through all the crap the last decades. I have been on a Forum since, I think, the late 1990's. Been here for a while now. And, I see how we all drop the differences when we need to as we have this one thing in common -- the Raiders. But, I know we have more in common than just a football team we like, love, and get frustrated about. We rally around each other no matter our politics, backgrounds, religions, or anything else. I come to you knowing how much you all can give. I need a bit now.

I got the double whammy going. On Feb 7th, I tore my Achilles tendon skiing at Mammoth Mountain with my daughter. I am an advance/expert skier and rarely fall. But, I did fall that day and did a somersault when I hit a big 'ol mogul straight on without my binding releasing. I felt my left heel tear. I had surgery on Feb 17th and it went well. The first surgeon advised against surgery "due to my age" -- I am 74. But, I got a second opinion (push your medical providers you all) and she was great and said "we will get you back on skis if that is what you want to do." I am on the 9-12 month path of rehabbing it but in the early stages. It is slow work (as I listened to Kevin Durant and Jason Tatum describe online). My goal is: Walk the dogs (two big retrievers) by July; hike by August; golf by October; and ski by January.

Meanwhile, tomorrow, Thursday March 26th, I go in for brain surgery. Long story short, I have a connection between arteries and veins on the side of my brain that should not be there. If you want to look it up, the shorthand is called AVF. I won't describe the surgery but it is delicate and takes 2-3 hours. It is a rare condition -- one in one million people get this -- WTF is up with that?!?. I am very lucky in that my Kaiser neurosurgeon is very talented and experienced at this kind of surgery, even though she does not do it frequently. Kaiser send patients to her from around the northern California. It probably has been there for years and finally manifested itself the last few months. I get out of surgery tomorrow afternoon sometime and stay in the ICU overnight. If things go well, I get home Friday afternoon. I won't be posting for a few days as even I have the ability to restrain myself if need be. So, silence from me for a few days after the surgery is to be expected.

I have been incredibly lucky health-wise for a long, long time so 2026 is the time when I suddenly get to feel my age and then some. I know I can count on you to send me vibes, prayers, thoughts, well wishes, and the like. Thanks in advance for that and I'll let you know how it went when I can.

RunOverByHubbard
(Bill in Sacramento CA)

Hang in there big man.

RunOverByHubbard wrote: Sun Mar 29, 2026 10:29 am Bad news guys. I am sitting at emergency and might need a CAT scan as I am having pretty bad inner ear issues. So not out of the woods yet. I won’t be updating much but once again asking for your remote support.

I'm thinking of you and your family Hubbard. Prayers up. It's probably just a little bump in the road - not all recoveries are linear.

RunOverByHubbard wrote: Sun Mar 29, 2026 10:29 am Bad news guys. I am sitting at emergency and might need a CAT scan as I am having pretty bad inner ear issues. So not out of the woods yet. I won’t be updating much but once again asking for your remote support.

Praying for you Bill. Stay tough.

I suspect its inflammation post procedure that's close to the auditory area of the brain.

When the inflammation clears things will get back to normal.

Some anti inflammatory meds like Prednisone should help. Also antivert.

Hang in there brother.

RunOverByHubbard wrote: Sun Mar 29, 2026 10:29 am Bad news guys. I am sitting at emergency and might need a CAT scan as I am having pretty bad inner ear issues. So not out of the woods yet. I won’t be updating much but once again asking for your remote support.

Keep your spirits up and hang in there bud. Modern medicine can accomplish amazing things. You are in good hands and we are all rooting for the best outcome.

"Once a Raider poster, always a Raider poster".

And as it should be, we all come together when one of our Raider Brothers is faced with a challenge.

Stay the course, Sir...and stay positive.

raidersince63 wrote: Sun Mar 29, 2026 5:28 pm "Once a Raider poster, always a Raider poster".

And as it should be, we all come together when one of our Raider Brothers is faced with a challenge.

Stay the course, Sir...and stay positive.

And please keep us updated as you can

Here here you go with an update. Been An emergency ward for seven hours. CAT scan showed no brain bleed. Waiting for an MRI which will be at 8:30 PM and then they’re admitting me to the hospital. I think my neurosurgeon wants to see me in the morning and talk about the results of the MRi. I am thinking along the lines of Rabidraider above — that this is postop inflammation and screwing up my auditory nerves, as well as the whole way my head feels. I had not One, but two catheters wiggling around in my brain a couple of days ago so, there you go.

I did watch the Duke Connecticut game on my phone as I have had to kill hours. What a wild ending — Duke really effed up. Raiders news is slow….

RunOverByHubbard wrote: Sun Mar 29, 2026 5:59 pm Here here you go with an update. Been An emergency ward for seven hours. CAT scan showed no brain bleed. Waiting for an MRI which will be at 8:30 PM and then they’re admitting me to the hospital. I think my neurosurgeon wants to see me in the morning and talk about the results of the MRi. I am thinking along the lines of Rabidraider above — that this is postop inflammation and screwing up my auditory nerves, as well as the whole way my head feels. I had not One, but two catheters wiggling around in my brain a couple of days ago so, there you go.

I did watch the Duke Connecticut game on my phone as I have had to kill hours. What a wild ending — Duke really effed up. Raiders news is slow….

Crazy ending for sure. Take care bro.

Hope you can get some rest; I always hated trying to sleep in the hospital

raider_kin wrote: Sun Mar 29, 2026 7:10 pm Hope you can get some rest; I always hated trying to sleep in the hospital

you literally cant really get too much sleep or rest with the nurses and people coming in for blood and bp checks all the time and dont get me started on the shit food

Inflammation is likely the primary suspect. It also could be some kind of post op infection that is pressing on the nerve. But I am guessing based on the most likely causes.

In either case, take it slow and get the answers so you can get the hell out of there

Think positive Bill. Look at it this way, this is probably as close as you will ever get to having a maid or butler. Live it up! Best wishes

I've been there. Ruptured my Achilles in 1999. I hoped it would get better by itself, but I quickly learned better. I tried if a few days and it felt like I had almost driven my heel bone thru my heel.

I survived the surgery and they got me ready to leave the hospital, on crutches and a large cast on my left leg. I got on my feet - or foot - and was ready to get outta Dodge. When they got me on up, I staggered back a little and put weight on that leg. It took me a long time to ever do that again.

But 27 years later, other than a little trouble when rain is on the way, it has held up pretty good.

RunOverByHubbard wrote: Sun Mar 29, 2026 5:59 pm Here here you go with an update. Been An emergency ward for seven hours. CAT scan showed no brain bleed. Waiting for an MRI which will be at 8:30 PM and then they’re admitting me to the hospital. I think my neurosurgeon wants to see me in the morning and talk about the results of the MRi. I am thinking along the lines of Rabidraider above — that this is postop inflammation and screwing up my auditory nerves, as well as the whole way my head feels. I had not One, but two catheters wiggling around in my brain a couple of days ago so, there you go.

I did watch the Duke Connecticut game on my phone as I have had to kill hours. What a wild ending — Duke really effed up. Raiders news is slow….

Did they ever tell you the location of the AVM? Was it in the brainstem? It would make sense if that was the location because thats where the cranial nerves that govern hearing and balance originate. Incidentally, the doctor who did your procedure is an interventional radiologist. Thats not the same thing as a neurosurgeon. Thankfully, it doesnt sound like you will be needing a neurosurgeon!!!!