Not to make light of Rush's problems but I always have some tension when Rush is not at the microphone. It is a strange coincidence but big breaking news always seems to occur when he is not there (including the September 11th hijackings). It's just a coincidence but even Rush has observed it.
It's not that I believe that the hosts are not capable, it's just what "could happen" (it seems to tempt fate).
I was given some muscle relaxers for back pain associated with an accident (after 30 days the massage therapy was no longer responding as well). They made me sluggish and when I tried to stop them after just a few days I had very painful muscle spasms in my legs (which had been unaffected by the accident).
I'm assuming that Rush is still fighting pain. Again, I suggest that he at least look into the surgical arrangement that Mr. Lewis endorsed.
At least with Mr. Limbaugh away from the microphone leading into the 2003 fall election, the hosts will be able to focus on issues and not Rush's private matters.
IIRC, from Rush's call to his own show from that day.
His absence during September 11th was a consequence of the hijackings. When all the planes in the sky were told to set down, he was on his private jet and it was not allowed to return home. As a result, Rush could not broadcast, since he was not in New York and could not drive to the Florida studio on time either.