Mihos runs gingerly after hurting back and shoulder

The handshakes now come with a wince.

Christy Mihos, 57, has been playing hurt, after the independent candidate for governor tore his rotator cuff in a boating accident about a month ago. Two discs in his back were also damaged, he said. Doctors have recommended surgery, but he told them it will have to wait a few more weeks.

``We can't do surgery, because we're in the midst of a campaign," he said, ``so you grin and bear it."

The accident occurred last month in Nantucket Sound, when Mihos and his 21-year-old son were getting ready to start up their Zodiac CZ7, a boat with the slogan ``Outrageous. Extreme. Extraordinary." Mihos said he was sitting near the helm near a plastic oil drum with a small leak. As the boat was powering up, Mihos stepped off the seat and onto the oil. As he was slipping, he tried to steady himself with his left hand.

``My head and my neck went one way, and my arm and my shoulder and my body went another way," he said. He said doctors at Brigham and Women's Hospital confirmed his injuries yesterday.

For his shoulder and back problems, he has been taking pain medications at night. ``It's been a pretty ugly four-week period," he said. ``The real problem is sleeping at night. You can't turn at night."

For a candidate running for the state's top elected office, though, the lack of sleep isn't the worst problem. ``People will shake hands with you, and they'll tap you on your left shoulder," he said. ``It's meant to be pleasant, but it's not. And a lot of people hug these days, which hurts."

When he walks on stage, he can no longer put both arms in the air. ``We're giving the thumbs-up," he said, ``with just the right hand."

Matt Viser can be reached at maviser@globe.com.