Obama fist bump led to Easley surgery

Who knew a fist bump could be so painful?

Gov. Mike Easley says the fist bump he shared in June with Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama helped convince him he needed surgery on his right shoulder.

Easley, a Democrat, held a news conference Thursday to sign legislation expanding state authority during droughts, David Ingram reports.

He signed the bill with some difficulty, but he appeared in good spirits and was not wearing a sling two days after his surgery at Duke University Medical Center. He then told a couple jokes, mentioning that each of his four shoulder surgeries has a story behind it.

The latest story? Easley said that the fist bump with Obama — which drew some national attention — was actually a little uncomfortable.

"He wanted to go up high with that right arm," Easley said.

Video from the event shows the two bumping fists, giving a thumbs-up and then raising an arm up high - not an easy position for someone with an injured shoulder.

"I was smiling," Easley said, "but I was like, 'I gotta get this fixed.'"