Saturday, March 25, 2017

Leg Circulation, Skin Cancer and My Second Pump: Another Three?


The first week in January, I had a squamous cell skin cancer removed from the inside of my foreleg. You could nearly drop a marble in the hole when the cancerous tissue was removed. A vertical incision was done so the edges would come together for healing. Unfortunately, it did not stay that way. I developed blisters, sloughing, excoriation, and eventually an open and deep wound.

Healing Stages

Healing with chronic illness

The surgeon asked me if I had other medical problems besides having thin skin, a history of cellulitis, Raynaud's, and idiopathic edema. Other than having Hashimoto’s, fibromyalgia and ME/CFS I didn’t have an explanation, I didn’t have an explanation. I don’t know if I will ever know why my body reacts this way. I do not take a medication that would cause skin thinning, poor healing or easy bruising. I wonder if the immune factors elevated in my FM/a test might play a role. But, whatever it might be, I needed to manage this wound successfully. As a nurse, I knew it was going to take time and careful attention.

Stagnation and movement

I was sedentary with my legs elevated for two months, and it was grueling. I knew the importance of keeping blood and lymph moving and this is a perfect example of why I write about it. Lack of movement was not only detrimental to my leg healing, it also caused my fibro, arthritis, and myofascial pain to flare. I had to find a way to get the blood and lymph moving for my general health and for this leg!

The second heart pump: a win-win motivation spin

In my search I found many ways to keep circulation chugging along like the little engine that could. Most I already knew but none was as motivating as thinking of my legs as a second heart pump. It made it easy to include mindfulness and visualization with movement and help with mind/ body balance.

*These movement strategies are also helpful for restless leg cramping and more.

Dr. Sam Robbins’ You Tube video gives relatable information on how our legs, as a second heart pump, are important to our health. He gives us three valuable exercises that no doubt help with healing. Once I was able to start my daily walk again, my leg wound began to heal at a faster rate.

A plan

So, how did I go about moving while tethered to a chair?

·        Exercise on the hour.
·        Three repetitions. The number three is my start-low and go-slow strategy. Repetition is not my friend because of myofascial trigger points. So when I progress any routine, I increase the frequency, not the repetitions. Maybe that doesn’t work for you, but whatever you prefer, the goal is to stay movement motivated.
·        When up to the bathroom, I swung my leg back and forth and kicked the air while holding onto something. The “pumping” motion helped return blood and lymph back into circulation. Dr. Robbins inspired me with his information on “rebounding”, which works something like bouncing does for astronauts.
·        In the chair, I did leg lifts, bicycle peddling, flexing and extension of my ankle, etc. These are essential elements for those of us with leg circulation problems. 

This has been a great learning experience for me. Sure, I wouldn’t ask to have this happen again, but it did happen. I practice T’ai Chi, but the conscious awareness I now have for my second heart pump has added a new meditative movement that will help all of my leg problems and I hope sharing my story will do the same for you.

“When confronted with challenge,
I discover my inner strength.”

Celeste Cooper,


In healing,,Celeste
"Adversity is only an obstacle if we fail to see opportunity."

~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~

Celeste Cooper, RN
Author—Patient—Freelance Writer at Health Central & ProHealth Advocate

Celeste’s Website: http://CelesteCooper.com

Learn more about Celeste’s books at her website or find links here on Celeste's  blog. Subscribe to posts by using the information in the upper right hand corner or use the share buttons to share with others.


All answers and blogs are based on the author's opinions and writing and are not meant to replace medical advice.  

Saturday, March 18, 2017

Steep Drop-offs: Nagging Pain and Our Sixth Sense by Celeste Cooper


Nagging pain and our sixth sense, are you in touch with your body? Do you listen when your body talks?



  • Listen to what our body has to say.
  • Identify new activities, medication, food, or disrupted sleep pattern that could be contributing to our pain.
  • Surrender to our sixth sense.
  • Know the “yeast beast”.
  • SAM-e?
  • Sort the mail of our mind.
  • Identify and pay attention to perpetuating factors.
  • Keep our candles burning?
  • Know our body and mind stress signs.
  • Surrender is not an option.
  • Hellerwork?
  • Kindness is an antidepressant.
  • Medication safety and reporting.
  • Plan-Implement-reevaluate.
  • Watch out for steep drop-offs.
  • … and much more.


"This, the last of Celeste and Jeff's four seasonal devotions books, may just be the best of all. From its practical suggestions to its inspirational quotes and photos, Spring Devotions offers chronic pain sufferers daily bite-sized, easily digestible tidbits that educate, encourage and empower us to take control of our health and our lives. And as someone who likes to jot down personal thoughts in my devotionals, I especially appreciate the extra space for notes. All in all, Broken Body, Wounded Spirit…: Spring Devotions is a valuable asset for anyone living with chronic pain."
~Karen Lee Richards, Editor-in-Chief, Pro Health

Balancing Chronic Pain in Spring

I thank our readers. It is through your encouragement that I am sustained and lifted up daily. Every time I read a particular quote, a comment from you, a research article or advocacy piece, I think of you!

In healing,,Celeste
"Adversity is only an obstacle if we fail to see opportunity."

~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~

Celeste Cooper, RN
Author—Patient—Freelance Writer at Health Central & ProHealth Advocate

Celeste’s Website: http://CelesteCooper.com

Learn more about Celeste’s books at her website or find links here on Celeste's  blog. Subscribe to posts by using the information in the upper right hand corner or use the share buttons to share with others.

All answers and blogs are based on the author's opinions and writing and are not meant to replace medical advice.  


Monday, March 13, 2017

Ten Lessons from Pain by Celeste Cooper

Ten Lessons From Pain



“There is a difference in living a packed life and living a full life.”
~Celeste Cooper






There is always a lesson in adversity and living with chronic pain and/or chronic illness is no exception. When I sit quietly like the little wren, life’s messages whisper in the wind and fall upon my ear. In these moments I find purpose in the choices I make.  

Ten Lessons from Pain

(1)  Acceptance of what is.
(2) Compassion for the less fortunate.
(3)  Change is not a bad word.
(4)  Humility is a virtue.
(5)  Strength in not surrendering to stressors.
(6)  Commitment to self and others.
(7)  Flexibility to roll with the flow.
(8) Appreciation for things we would otherwise take for granted.
(9)  Empathy, we are on a level playing field.
(10) Patience, our inbox is not supposed to be empty.

[Excerpt, Day Seventy-five]

Each day in the Broken Body, Wounded Spirit series is followed by a thought provoking question and the Spring Edition is no exception. So, what ten lessons have you learned from living with chronic pain and illness?

Spring Edition



In healing,,Celeste
"Adversity is only an obstacle if we fail to see opportunity."

~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~

Celeste Cooper, RN
Author—Patient—Freelance Writer at Health Central & ProHealth Advocate

Celeste’s Website: http://CelesteCooper.com

Learn more about Celeste’s books at her website or find links here on Celeste's  blog. Subscribe to posts by using the information in the upper right hand corner or use the share buttons to share with others.

All answers and blogs are based on the author's opinions and writing and are not meant to replace medical advice.  

Monday, March 6, 2017

The Painful Truth Documentary Is Here!


As stated in my blog in September of 2015 The Painful Truth: A Book, a Documentary, a Meeting with Lynn Webster, MD, Dr. Webster’s message is irresistible. His dedication to writing the book and producing this documentary (with Craig Worth) is a testament to the spirit and determination he has for people living with pain. He advocates for awareness of the seriousness of untreated or undertreated pain, suicide and addiction. (You can view more information at The Painful Truth Documentary  website.)



Over the weekend, I got an email from Dr. Webster and I am so excited to share it with you.

Dear friends,

I'd like to share some exciting news: "The Painful Truth," the documentary I co-produced with Craig Wirth, was distributed by NETA on March 1 [2017] to all public television stations in the United States. On March 3, it aired on KENW (Portales, NM) and on WXXI (Rochester, NY), and later this month it will air in several other states including Georgia and Montana. I am hopeful that the documentary will air in as most major cities, though this is a decision that is at the discretion of each local station. 

When documentaries like this air on public television, it is common for the host stations to include a discussion with relevant community members. If your local public station decides to air this documentary and you would be willing to make yourself available for a panel discussion, I would encourage you to reach out to your station to offer your participation. It could be a great opportunity to discuss how important it is to Transform the Way Pain is Perceived, Judged and Treated as described in the 2011 IOM report Reliving Pain in America.

Dr. Webster is building a list of the stations and air dates/times for the documentary, which will soon be on the documentary's website, 


Please visit the website periodically to check availability in your area and/or contact your local PBS station. 

The release of this film is timely, and it offers the opportunity to have an open dialogue with our healthcare providers and our communities.

In healing,,Celeste
"Adversity is only an obstacle if we fail to see opportunity."

~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~

Celeste Cooper, RN
Author—Patient—Freelance Writer at Health Central & ProHealth Advocate

Celeste’s Website: http://CelesteCooper.com

Learn more about Celeste’s books at her website or find links here on Celeste's  blog. Subscribe to posts by using the information in the upper right hand corner or use the share buttons to share with others.

All answers and blogs are based on the author's opinions and writing and are not meant to replace medical advice.  


Celeste's Website

Celeste's Website
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