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Any experience with Residential Chronic Pain Treatment Programs?

Chronic Pain | Last Active: Jun 9 2:32pm | Replies (48)
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@joelhoward1092

Hi Rachel,
I was in Jacksonville in January 2018. I bet a lot of the same people were there when you went. Was Dr. Sletten was there when you were?

I had been doing very well since my time there. Sadly, I recently had to have a back surgery and I am not recovery well. I had 4 spine surgeries before I went to PRC in 2018. Although each surgery was necessary and successful I was left with all sorts of residual pain. I was constantly trying to find what might “fix” my pain. PRC really helped me get my head right.

That being said, I am kind of back in the same boat. I had to wait almost 5 months before I had surgery. By that time, I had been in pain for so long that I didn’t think I was ever going to get better. I am now 9 weeks post surgery and I am once again left with a lot of residual pain.

I now find myself doing the same things I did before. I am constantly looking for something that will make me feel better. I had been doing ok and had a good attitude, but as I type this I am having my worst flare up since I had the surgery. So I am pretty discouraged. I had been doing so well for so long that I had sort of forgotten what I learned at PRC. I am trying to remember some of it, but not doing so great.

Sorry to vent!

How are you doing since PRC?

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Replies to "Hi Rachel, I was in Jacksonville in January 2018. I bet a lot of the same..."
Rachel, Volunteer Mentor | @rwinney | Jun 5 5:44pm

Hi Joel, no worries at all about venting. I'm sorry about your recent setbacks from back surgeries and your most recent flare up.

Yes, Dr. Sletten- the man, the myth, the legend, was there during my time and still is. I keep in contact with him and the PRC staff as needed and am occasionally a guest graduate speaker for current classes, which is rewarding and helpful for me as well.

I'm doing pretty good, thanks for asking. Have better days, have worse days, and continue to work the program. PRC has greatly helped by providing a blueprint of pain management...heck life management really.

You are not alone in having setbacks. especially from acute issues. Please give yourself grace. Life ain't easy having CSS...you know that, everything is amplified.

Have you ever reached out to PRC staff through the Mayo portal? Once you've graduated, you're always welcome to remain in contact to run concerns or obstacles by them. Also, there is a PRC private Facebook group which supports the principles (no pain behaviors etc, etc.) and serves as a support group to help, encourage and motivate each other. Noone quite understands like fellow PRC grads and there are plenty that have been through surgical set backs and flares as you describe.

One thing that has really helped me is to re-read the PRC manual and stay refreshed. Do you still have your manual and notes from class?

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