Gov. Mike Easley is out of surgery.

According to a statement from the governor's press office, Easley successfully underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder this morning.

Duke Hospital surgeons Dr. Bill Garrett and Dr. Dean Taylor "removed spurs, excised a bursa, and debrided the cuff tendons." Easley will be in a sling for several weeks.

Easley was not sedated and joked with surgeons during the procedure, but doctors noted he was under a local anesthetic.

"I expect the governor’s mood to change when the nerve block wears off," Garrett joked.

Gov. Mike Easley will undergo shoulder surgery tomorrow.

The two-hour surgery will remove bone spurs from his right shoulder area damaged by "exetensive use of the shoulder during exercise, sports and physical activities over several years," said his doctor, Dr. Bill Garrett, in a statement.

"He will be able to work, but will be wearing a sling for the next three to four weeks.  I am advising the governor to restrict activity for several months and to refrain from high impact or strenuous activity like contact basketball, golf, shooting shot guns, weight lifting or NASCAR driving until next year.  We might suggest he sign bills left handed as well.  His signature will not be any worse."

Easley's activity will be restricted for several months.

The surgery at Duke Hospital in Durham will involve only local anesthesia, and Easley will remain governor during the surgery.

No word yet on whether Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue's right shoulder will act in Easley's place, though.