Wednesday, July 29, 2020

Staying Healthy Takes Work


When I recently went in for my Carpal Tunnel surgery the pre-op nurse asked me a bunch of the usual questions. When she asked if I have had any previous surgeries I started laughing. It hit me at that moment that I have had a bunch of surgeries. And they just keep adding up. Yay for medicare and medicare supplement as of last year. No more $10,000 deductible and co-pays. No more waiting to get my body repaired due to cost or timing a surgery around the start of a new annual deductible. 

I've lived a physical life and leverage and gravity conspire to break down my 6'1" frame. However I am very fortunate that nothing has been life threatening  (except for a little heart attack in 2011). I think of those unfortunate souls who are dealing with serious life threatening and quality of life issue conditions and it helps me put my issues in perspective. I realize that at 66 shit is going to happen and I'm thankful it's shit that I can manage. I may be paying the price for lifting too many stones in my younger days and poor genetics but I wouldn't change anything. Well maybe a better diet in my younger years could have helped me avoid a heart attach. But the plumbing seems to be in good order now.

I hate going to doctor offices but I've learned to accept at 66 years old it's a reality of my life. It plays havoc with my "white coat" hypertension. I keep a record of my "at home" blood pressure readings so I don't have to listen to the high pressure lecture when I visit a doctors office. 

Don't need a fancy gym.
Staying active and maintaining my quality of life doesn't come easy for me. Exercise is a daily routine. I'm not genetically blessed, more like cursed. I work hard at keeping myself moving so I can enjoy life and family. Cycling 200 to 350 miles a month, regular exercise with weights, and a lot of stretching. Old muscles tighten up fast. Also a healthy vegetarian diet (really more like a sushitarian diet, I enjoy Sushi but no other fish). The most I ever weighed was 227 some 30 years ago.  In the last 15 or so years I've kept my weight between 185 and 190.

A life well lived is better than a life long lived.






I have 15 reasons to stay healthy...
9 grandkids,
5 grown kids, 
and waking up next to my beautiful wife every morning.

_________________________________________

Haha...this is what it has come down to, a list of surgeries so I don't have to stress my brain when filling out a new patient form. I'll be adding my left Wrist Carpal Tunnel release to the list in a couple of months. 


Surgeries - Mark Rackow


Knee right arthroscopic 

Knee right arthroscopic...again

2008 Shoulder right rotator cuff repair

2009 Back L4, L5 - Foraminotomy

2009 Back T5, T6 - Foraminotomy

2011 Heart 2 stents LAD

2012 Hip left arthroscopic

2012 Hip right arthroscopic 

2013 Hip left replaced

2013 Hip right replaced

2020 Back  L1 to L5 and S1 - Foraminotomy, partial  

         laminectomy, Discectomy, Coflex clip L4,L5

2020 Wrist right - carpal tunnel release

2020 Wrist left - Carpal tunnel release




Tuesday, July 21, 2020

Instagram Post


ONLY ON A RECUMBENT TRIKE...ride 4 days post op after Carpal Tunnel surgery.




Top gray buttons are for the E8000. The lower ones control the Shimano Di2 electronic shifter. The display panel is the Shimano E6100 panel used with the E8000 assist motor.

Friday, July 10, 2020

Lazer Blade Helmet Replaced With Another Blade


Why replace a Laser Blade helmet with a Laser Blade helmet? I've had my old one for five years and my research tells me a helmet should be replaced every five years (some say every three years). You know...degradation of the materials over time.

Why the Laser Blade?

1. The Lazer Blade withs MIPS has a Five Star rating from Virginia Tech Helmet Lab.  (update 11/20/20, Adventure Cyclist profiled Virginia Tech Helmet Lab in the Dec 2020/Jan 2021 issue of Adventure Cyclist Magazine.)

2. It fits me well. It comes in sizes from XS up to XL. The Large fits my big head.

3. The retention system is adjusted from the top of the helmet. For recumbent riders this means no knobs and plastic between you and the headrest (if you use a headrest).

4. The back of the helmet is rounded. No point on the back to interfere with a bike rack or the tire when really laid back.

5. Now it comes with the MIPS (Multi-directional Impact Protection System). Extra protection for rotational impact.



The old helmet (red accent) and the new one. 


Inside the old helmet and inside the new helmet with the yellow MIPS insert.



No retention adjustment on the back of the helmet. Instead...

 
..it's on the top.

Rounded in the back.