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,
Learn
more about Celeste’s books at her website or find
links here onCeleste's
blog.
Subscribe to posts by using the information in the upper right hand corner or
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All
answers and blogs are based on the author's opinions and writing and are not
meant to replace medical advice.
There
is nothing charismatic about chronic
pain regardless of its source. Pain and
chronic illness are greedy and demanding. Either or both can consume our time, our
relationships, and our function. Chronic pain and
illness can rob us of our dignity if we let it. But, there are things we can
do, perspectives we can make that prepare us for the untold side effects of
living with daily pain and chronic invisible illness.
“Remember, no one can make you feel inferior
without your consent.”
~Eleanor
Roosevelt
Day Twenty-three - Whole Heartedness
The winter season metaphorically offers time for our old thoughts
and destructive behaviors to die off. The barren land of winter uses the season
for rest, to lay sallow in preparation for the birth of spring. The books in
the Broken Body, Wounded Spirit series allows
us to go of old thoughts by offering daily thought prompts, exercises, and words of
inspiration, such as those in the above quote. Our readers are given tools to
fight the ogre of doubt that plays on our fear, agony, loneliness, and
resentment in the Winter Devotions edition.
Come with us as we walk the barren winter land, appreciating that
it is necessary to rid ourselves of previous conceptions in preparation for the
spring season of rebirth.
Read more about Broken Body, Wounded Spirit, Balancing the See-Saw
of Chronic Pain: Winter Devotions by Celeste Cooper, RN and Jeff Miller, PhD on
my website, Celeste Cooper.com. Follow me on Facebook, Google+,Twitter, Pintrest, and Linked-In. Other resources include:
A respite in the Rockies is something my husband and I have enjoyed
for thirty-five years and since we are in our sixth and seventh decades of
life, we are grateful to have done it yet again. It’s a marriage retreat of sorts,
a time to appreciate my husband’s hard work, allowing me to use my photography to
escape into the bowels of majesty.
I feel an intimacy with nature, wild flowers coloring the
landscape, wild animals outside our RV door, rainbows that astound us and pink
sunsets that devour our sensibilities. I am touched by my husband’s desire to
find joy in something I love. My soul is awakened when I hear these words…
Early fall makes itself known in the mountains where summer is
short. The aspen’s are beginning to turn and as their leaves shudder to meet the sun’s rays, I
am reminded that the warm days of summer will soon give way to crisp chilly air
that awakens the season of harvest and preparation.
Chronic pain and illness dictates that we adapt to change. But, unlike nature’s beings, it isn’t always instinctive. I know
I need daily reminders on how to apply the things I learned when writing our first book (with contributions of my co-author, Jeff
Miller, PhD).
Fall is looming and change is upon us. Find out how you can adapt
as nature does by using the daily tips in the Fall Devotions edition of the
book series. If you already have the book, it's time to get it out and
re-explore. I suspect you will see things from a different perspective this
year, and you will learn something new to share.
September is pain awareness month and a busy one for those of us
who advocate for balanced affordable care for everyone. My greatest desire as
an RN is for patients to have choices. It’s empowering to reclaim control over
the thing we can change, and I hope you find Fall Devotions helps you do
that.
Learn
more about what you can do to help your body function to its potential in the
books you can find here onCeleste'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.
It comes as no surprise that when we are sedentary, our mind shifts without provocation. And for those of us who live with persistent pain and illness, its source sticks out like a thumb that was just smashed with a huge hammer, red and swollen, throbbing, and begging for attention. But unlike a sore thumb, chronic pain and illness does not heal with time. Want to or not, we must acknowledge it. Through acknowledgement, we learn to accept it. And, when we learn not to scream, ridicule, or judge pain, fatigue or chronic illness, we do better.
“But only a person in the depths
of despair neglected to look beyond winter to the spring that inevitably followed, bringing back color and life and hope.”
~Mary Balogh
Biofeedback gives us hard evidence that our mind does have an effect on our body. This mindfulness boosts our defenses against the myriad of problems living with chronic pain and illness can bring to our door. So, what can we do to calm down the brain when it wants to take on a mind of its own? We can learn to be mindful. Our pain or other illness is not the villain here; it is the result of a bad character insulting our body. It doesn’t want to exist anymore than we want to experience it. So, being hard on it isn’t helpful, it won’t make it go away, and it won’t make us feel better.
In your journal, or in this book, write down what you think you MUST do. Now, go back and decide what it really is that you NEED to do. I suspect you will find the Must Do's that keep getting pushed to the bottom of your inbox resolve on their own. If you are having trouble giving up the driving force of stress inducing thoughts, pick up a good CD on mindfulness. There is a difference in living a packed life and living a full life.
Ten Lessons from Pain:
Acceptance of what is.
Compassion for the less fortunate.
Change is not a bad word.
Humility is a virtue.
Strength in not surrendering to stressors.
…
Can I make a list of my own ten lessons on pain?
[The above is an excerpt from: Broken Body Wounded Spirit: Balancing the See-Saw of Chronic Pain, SPRING DEVOTIONS, Day Seventy-five]
Remember, there will be times when no matter what we do to negate it, pain will demand its just course. During these periods, we should be particularly
aware so our mind-body interaction can heal. Whatever means you use to become mindful, whether it be prayer, meditation, structured action, silent retreat, creative visualization, T'ai Chi, just do it! Procrastination is not our friend.
You can find other topics, tips and exercises in our books (Jeff Miller, PhD, coauthor), and more. Take a few minutes to go through the table of contents for Spring Devotions.
"We
are all subject to the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune; they are around
us, in a space we do not control. This book is a gentle, yet forceful reminder
that the best defenses against them reside within- in a space we do control,
welling up from resources we can learn to cultivate. Hope here is equally soft
and irresistible, much like Spring itself."
~Dr. David L. Katz,
MD, MPH, FACPM, FACP, Director,Yale University
Prevention Research Center
Celeste’s Website: http://CelesteCooper.com Learn more about what you can do to help your body function to its potential in the books you can find 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. Celeste’s other books can also be found at Author Central.
All answers and blogs are based on the author's opinions and writing and are not meant to replace medical advice.
“Is the spring coming?" he said. "What
is it like?” …
"It is the sun shining on the rain and the
rain falling on the sunshine…”
~Frances
Hodgson Burnett
As one who lives with chronic pain, I know how important it is to have daily reminders, because as many of us do, I am easily distracted and can lose focus. That’s what inspired me to write this series of books with my co-author, Jeff Miller, PhD. Our readers and reviewers have told us Spring Devotions is inspiring, well written, and offers practical advice in an easy to read format. They appreciate that each day offers visually stimulating photographs thoughtfully connected to inspiring quotes that are carefully positioned to stimulate self-reflection from the thought provoking questions and exercises.
Spring is just around the corner, so it’s time to prepare for the season of new growth, a time that allows us to plant roots and establish a core from which we can continue to cultivate wisdom and learn ways to treat our body with the care it needs and deserves.
Broken Body,
Wounded Spirit: Balancing the See-Saw of Chronic Pain
The paperback version allows space for documenting personal interactions when applying thoughts and practice and our paperback readers tell us how much they appreciate this. Our Kindle readers tell us they keep their journal close so they can write in it as they address each day. Please see what our reviewers have to say, here. And, be sure to
check out the Table of Contents too. We want you to know about our books before you buy. While the series does provide opportunities for exploring our spiritual nature, and we feel our readers will find this is important to finding balance, none are Christian Devotionals. We received a poor review from a reader who thought the books were something different. We want to make sure you feel this is the right book/s for you. We want you to feel connected and engaged, inspired and successful in meeting your goals. And we would love for you to write a review for Amazon when you feel it's time to prepare for Summer Devotions, the next in the seasonal sequel.
Each season offers change and this winter reminds us of how different each season can be from year to year. We have seen some game changers, new
records, and new challenges, because like pain, this winter is turning out to be anything but
predictable. So as we think about the winter of our symptoms, maybe we can
imagine the beauty of being able to sculpt our thoughts like the driving force
of a winter storm creates a beautiful snow drift that inspires our imagination and leaves us in awe.
The winter season is often compared to death. In this case,
it is the dying off of old thoughts and destructive behaviors. Because of this,
we must experience many feelings, good and bad, so we can be born into a new
way of thinking about chronic pain and how it affects us all.… Confronting
chronic pain takes constant reminders…motivation to stay focused on goals and
achievements.… Come with us as we walk the barren winter land, appreciating the
necessity to rid ourselves of previous perceptions and prepare for the spring
season of rebirth.
Excerpt from Broken
Body, Wounded Spirit: Balancing the SeeSaw of Chronic Pain, WINTER DEVOTIONS
Day 34 - Ice Wonderland
The goal is to sculpt our thoughts so they lift us up, so
they gleam like a beautiful ice sculpture. Paul Gileno, Founder/President of
one of the largest pain advocacy groups, the US Pain Foundation said in his pre-publication review of Winter Devotions what
many of our readers have shared.
"Anyone with chronic pain can and will be helped by
reading and using this book as a tool. It is the perfect blend of inspiration
and helpful information to guide people on their pain journey, in fact, as a
person with pain; I have learned some important techniques that have helped
me."
So, as I look back to the beginning of winter, I reflect on
what it has offered thus far. I spent four weeks recovering from pneumonia. I
have had many interventional procedures for my pain and tests for those yet to
come. But, I also celebrated with my dad as he reached a personal landmark in
his life, ninety wonderful years. Talk about an inspiration. After bouncing over
rough terrain as a heavy equipment operator nearly his entire adult life, his spine shows the wear and tear and it causes him pain. But that’s not all, he also has severe neuropathy, which has affected his ability to drive safely. As one who retained his driving skills
to this day, this was troublesome. But, he did not wallow in self-pity;
instead, he set about accepting the danger that could be involved, and began to think about how he could move forward. He got hand controls installed on his truck and passed the special drivers test with flying colors. The point is that in his 9th decade of life, he still knows how to adapt, to embrace change, and to make the best of a given situation. We talked after
his big bash (over 100 people there). I asked, so dad, “what’s next on your
agenda?” he said, “Well, I guess I will shoot for 100!” He is a champion; he
has had more struggles than I would ever want for him, but despite any
adversity, he sees opportunity. If his purpose is to inspire me, he has
certainly done that.
So I leave you with this…I hope you will pick up a copy of
Winter Devotions. You can use it as your guide every winter, because like the unpredictability of each season, our thoughts and
ideas change too. We need reminders on how to go about creating a new sculpture,
one different than the season or year before.
One of the dearest people I have the pleasure of knowing, Myra
Christopher said, “I love the very idea of 'Winter Devotions'. The struggle of
living with chronic pain is compounded for many by the winter months when it is
cold, damp, and often gloomy. Bones ache, joints hurts, and the spirit
sometimes become depressed. This wonderful book provides a tool to help with
those issues. The quotes, photography, and motivation of authors Celeste Cooper
and Jeff Miller all bring much needed hope and relief.”
An Amazon reviewer of the Spring Devotions book in the series shared her disappointment thinking the book was a Christian devotional. So, I want you to understand that
each season (book) has daily “DEVOTIONS”, that offer inspiration, interaction,
and information on how to care for ourselves. When we heal any aspect of our
being by embracing the power of physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual
balance, we reduce our suffering. Using our own experiences, we can inspire
others who share our journey, and that is empowering. But, these books are not
religious devotionals.
I encourage you to visit my website so you know what WinterDevotions is about by following the highlighted text. And if you are one of our readers, please leave a comment on Amazon.
Learn more about what you can do to help your body function to its
potential in the books you can find here onCeleste'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.
I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Lynn Webster for a
second time, the first being at the gala and symposium Healing What Hurts: The Politics of Pain, which was also organized by the Center for Practical Bioethics
for their initiative, the PAINS Project. You see, before he talked to a full auditorium of people eager to hear what he
had to say, he visited in private with our local patient/citizens leadership
group, Relieving Pain in Kansas City. He wanted to get to know us on a personal level, because
frankly, that’s how he rolls.
This gathering of providers of all pain care disciplines,
patients, medical students, caregivers, and concerned citizens were going to
hear about the journey of an internationally known pain specialist. We walked not
in front or behind him, but beside him, with him, as we learned about his passion
for healing an America that hurts from the stigma of chronic pain.
All those in attendance got a copy of his new book and as we
were gathering, I noticed people were not merely leafing through their copy, THEY
WERE READING IT! Stay with me and you will find out why.
Dr. Webster’s message is irresistible. He tells us The Painful Truth is not a self-help
book, but it is a helpful book. I am in awe of willingness to share his personal
stories, his motivation for being an advocate, researcher, author, and
physician with a dream to make a difference. He underscores the importance of
heart, listening, and understanding that pain is more than a symptom of
disease. He wants everyone across America to know the benefits and risks of opioid
prescriptions, the cultural attitudes, the role caregivers take in our lives and
most of all—the hope of a fulfilling life despite pain.
The Painful Truth Book Trailer
The Painful Truth:
The Documentary
Dr. Webster teamed up with Craig Worth to produce a
documentary. Together this physician and New York and Los Angeles Emmy Award winner
and former network correspondent documented important and truthful messages
from patients and the many people who touch their lives in some way. The documentary
itself is a testament to the spirit and determination this advocate has for
people living with pain, the seriousness of not only untreated or undertreated
pain and suicide, but also addiction.
Dr. Webster and his wife Holly funded the documentary (of
the same title) because they wanted a raw, unfiltered portrayal of chronic pain,
a guttural reaction that would create change in the perceptions associated with
people living with pain, and those who care for them. Though different in some
ways, the theme is the same as the book…
There is a difference
betweenhealing and curing.
The Painful Truth Documentary Trailer (worth every second)
The message is one of hope for a better America, one with compassion
for fellow human beings, an example the rest of the world can lean on.
Physician – Patient Encounter
Dr. Webster told us the first thing he asked new patients was
“What do you want [from pain care]? The answer was always the same, the same
words he continued to hear while doing the documentary, one that resonates
across this nation...
“Doc, I just want my life back.”
He also shares with us that his patients succumb to a primal
release of emotions when he says these three words, “I believe you.” You see,
he found that no matter our life’s experiences, ethnic background, age, or religious
or cultural beliefs—we all share something—the need to be validated. He knows chronic
pain is a thief that robs us of our self-esteem. Sadly, there is a historical—albeit
irreverent—concept that people in pain are weak. Some of us are stuck in a grieving
process because the healing process begins with feelings of trust and respect;
something Dr. Webster admits doesn’t happen often enough. Dr. Webster is a
leader in his field because of his education and experience, but mostly because
he has heart and he knows how important those three words are.
“I – BELIEVE – YOU”
* The documentary will be released later this year, slightly
behind its original production schedule.
In Conclusion
I wake up every morning to pain. On average, three mornings
of seven begin with what I call my 4 a.m. migraine reveille. I stagger on
swollen feet to where I keep my pain medicine of need. My arthritic hands fumble
with the lid as I coax them into action using loving words like, come on you
can do it, and sometimes—though I don’t like admitting it—expletives about the
packaging. Some days that is the only trip I make to that area of my world,
other days, I visit more often than I wish. But I am always grateful for the
many tools that help me function. I am grateful to have a doctor willing to
work with me without making me jump through a hundred hoops. He understands the
unpredictability of the many pain sources I face. He understands that I have no
control over the cause of my pain, but I do have control over knowing what works
best for me. Many are not as fortunate as I am.
I suppose pain defines who I am, but in different ways.
Because of pain, I live a life interrupted. But, I am determined to live a full
life, a grateful life that respects my capabilities. I have learned not to take
things for granted; I appreciate the opportunity to meet the many advocates and
heroes in my life. I am inspired by each, and every, person who is touched in
some way by chronic pain.
So you ask, “What does this have to do with The Painful Truth?” It has everything to
do with it. Reading The Painful Truth
reminds me that I am not on this journey alone. I now begin each day by reading
this book because it provides me with the other medicine I need, inspiration—a
feeding of my mind, my spirit, and my soul—a reminder of the many encounters I
have had with champions, because I live with chronic pain. This is MY painful
truth.
Those of you who follow me on social media know that for
many years my signature has been, “In healing and hope, Celeste”. The Painful Truth reminds me of the
powerful message my signature line was intended to send. Healing is not the
same as curing, and when we hold these words in our hands, in our mind, and in
our hearts, we begin to live a satisfied life.
If you are struggling to find your place, if you are still
working through your grieving process (been there), read this book. Every one
of us needs to hear those words, “I believe you.” Begin the healing process; it
will color your world with hope. The landscape of your existence with pain will
begin anew.
“Chronic pain affects 1 in 3 Americans and exerts more than
a $600-billion drain on the economy annually. It is the largest invisible
epidemic in the land. Having treated thousands of patients with chronic
pain-often when they were at their most vulnerable-Lynn R. Webster, M.D.,
continues to believe there is hope. Ultimately, a cure for pain will require
more research, better therapies, and improved policies. But healing can begin
today with a broad-based approach to treatment, including compassionate support
from those closest to the ones who are hurting. The Painful Truth is an
intimate collection of stories about people living with disabling pain, their
attempts to heal, and the challenges that we collectively face in helping them
live meaningful lives. As a physician who has treated people with chronic pain
for more than thirty years, Dr. Webster reveals the difficulties that patients
face in dealing with chronic pain in a society that is often shamefully
prejudiced against those who are most in need of our empathy. He shares how
such biases also affect medical professionals who treat patients with chronic
pain.” Find The Painful Truth on Amazon
The crisp air of fall is almost upon
us, and for those of us who live with chronic pain that can mean many things.
In an effort to help others and myselfthrough the season of harvest and to
have daily reminders of things I could do to enrich my life despite living with
pain, the Broken Body, Wounded Spirit: Balancing the See-Saw of Chronic Pain
series was born. I am grateful for my co-author Jeff Miller, PhD and the many
people who have supported me by writing endorsements for the book, and for the many kind comments from our readers.
1 - This is a great book, simple and
effective! When you live in pain it's easy for the world to seem like it's
falling apart. Waking up each morning in pain doesn't really help your focus,
other than focusing on the pain itself and then building our day around the
pain. It seems that we forget about all of the life that is going on around us
and what it has to offer. This book is a reminder of all that life has to offer
when you're losing focus. The book is well-written and easy to read. +1 for
anyone needing help with kick starting their days.
2 - I purchased copies of this book (and the summer devotions
book in the same series) and shipped them to my mother, who has lupus, and my mother-in-law,
who has fibromyalgia. What a nice surprise and caring gesture, they thought.
They found the daily devotions to be helpful in providing different ways of
thinking about and coping with their pain. Mom is taking care of my dad, who
has terminal cancer, and she said it helped her understand and deal with him
better also. As a counselor, I appreciate the good mental health approach that
the authors take. The book not only provides help for coping with physical pain
but emotional pain as well.
3 - I already bought the earlier book, "Integrative
Therapies for Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue and Myofascial Pain", so I got
this on the recommendation of my pain specialist. It's nicely done and very
helpful. The authors give suggestions, assignments and advice on a page per day
basis. I like the format because I can focus on one thing at a time to help
myself with my chronic pain condition. I can also go back and review
information and rate my progress. I think this is a good tool for participating
in my treatment
4 - Working as a massage therapist we see and help to work
with other health professionals to treat clients who deal with pain on a daily
basis from varied sources. Finding a reference source like this that can help
assist individuals to make constructive creative investment preforming
motivating positive life change is a gift. Thank you for your hard work and
dedication to a medical issue that leaves so many feeling passed over and
unheard. I hope this series helps those in need to see that many caring hands
and hearts exist to help light way toward happy, healthier living.
5 - This book was very informative and helped me in so many ways
as i am living with chronic pain. I am so thankful for the help this book has
given me and I look forward to the next book. Thank you!!
6 - This is an "uplifting" book that is well written.
I even followed the author's suggestion and wrote my own poem !
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