Pain Reprocessing Therapy to help and even eliminate chronic pain

I read a book by Dr. Sarno many years ago. I’ll check out your link.

Hi there @menetski4. Thanks for sharing the podcast on reprocessing therapy. I think it's wonderful that you are having success and not only talking about chronic pain management ideas but implementing them.

Dr. Sarno lines up with the overall belief system that Mayo's Dr. Sletten and Pain Rehab Center team teaches. The brain - our computer, our command center, is one of our biggest tools. My personal experience going through Mayo's PRC program was incredible in understanding ways to help reduce pain, manage it and accept it. I believe it's important to know that chronic pain may never leave but certainly is able to lessen and in a lucky case perhaps dissipate.

Here's a peek at the concepts of the PRC program and Dr. Sletten's approach (in case you've not already seen):

Good Afternoon.
I had been evaluated for the program at Mayo. I have a lot of pain issues and the program they have can help you manage (I do mean MANAGE). My personal experience suggests that I would address and own getting some of the issues addressed medically first. That is that they are reparable. Then consider the program more seriously. It does require time commitment. If you think you are worth it (and I hope you are!) then it will be invaluable.

If, for whatever reason, you can not find yourself to engage in the commitment I would recommend a great read: Full Catastrophe Living. It outlines the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program (MBSR) that was developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn. It is not a fast read but it outlines the program and how it works. Some similarities to the program at Mayo.

Years ago I was told by a doctor to "live with it". Not necessarily the best advice. I recently became empowered to let go of that advice. I also had to trust that some of the people who would help me, doctors among them, were human. I had to learn to speak up, advocate and set some rules for engagement to make the relationship work.

Best,
Ann Marie

Thanks for the info, Rachel. I did not know that Mayo Clinic was offered this therapy. It is wonderful to know there is a center to refer people.
I have been able to accomplish this therapy on my own with the help of Dr Sarno’s books, listening to a lot of podcasts. Plus, I am a retired RN and a Functional Medicine Health Coach. So I understand the power of neuro plasticity and reframing neuro pathways. A technique that I developed for myself is that I have named the pain wherever it occurs in my body. I call her “Trixie”. Every so often Trixie gets out of the barn (my brain) and starts stirring up a ruckus causing pain in my body. I don’t treat Trixie with disdain. Instead I acknowledge her by name, because no one likes to be ignored. I coax her back in the barn with some deep breathing. Follow with thoughts of gratitude and affirmation and ‘voila’ the pain is gone. Sounds crazy but it works for me after years of chronic pain.
I have also had headaches for a 30+ years. I don’t say I am a ‘headache sufferer’ because that is such a victim mentality. I name headache pain “Pixie” and with the same technique I have been able to get her to stop stomping around and abort the headache in the aura phase. I will have to medicate if the headache gets too bad, but I have cut my usage of medication more than half. I’m still working on it.
I am glad to see that Mayo Clinic promotes; movement (exercise), nutrition, sleep, stress management, and useful purposement in their therapy. These are the foundational principles of Functional Medicine. Without them the therapy is a little harder, but not impossible.
By the way, my brother named his chronic pain “Mr. Pain”. My husband named his recurrent pain “Volver”. Both have eliminated their long-standing pain.

I did a residential chronic pain rehabilitation program last fall. I found it invaluable.
Although after the 2nd day I went up to one of the instructors letting them know I was in extreme pain from all the exercise,I thought I may need the hospital my thighs felt injured. By the beginning of the next week, not only was that pain gone(it was my muscles tearing as they do when you workout) my everyday pain was also lessened. I learned to use and love yoga, tai chi, and meditation.
Yoga and Tai chi can be done sitting in a chair which I did because for the last five years I needed a wheelchair or walker to get around. I also realized even with my mobility issues I can do water exercise and gym movements. I attribute this therapy to being the biggest factor in helping me heal after back surgery in January. I am out of wheelchair and don’t need a walker. I am mobile and know that I am stronger than I thought I was. I still have pain it is less and when it pays me a call I send it to the background and move on.

It’s hard to let go of pain when you’re feeling it. Movement of any kind seems counterintuitive when you are “in pain”. But it is a good antidote to ignoring the pain and concentrating on the activity and the marvelous way your body can move. I love to move outside whether it’s hiking or biking. If pain arises I acknowledge it, then I turn my attention to the beauty of the trees, the foliage, the path under my feet. Breathe! Thoughts of gratitude. This chronic or recurring pain becomes deminished or gone because I don’t give it the power of dwelling on it.
Misssuezq, this is what works for me just as yoga and Tai Chi seems to work for you. Plus, you get the socialization of classes.
To others this must sound too simple or even crazy. I encourage you to find what works for you it!

how did you find this program? was it by MD referral? covered by insurance? my husband has had degenerative disc disease dx'd 15 yrs ago, 2 surgeries, facing 2 more and is in pain, plus the chronic insomnia Throw in some new gout issues for good measure
It's exhausting to ask the MDs and pain management MD and get blank looks

I found out about it from a nurse at Allina and the program is thru Courage Kenny. Mine was covered through insurance and I asked my doctor to give me a referral.

Rachel, there is a comment later in this thread (terry 1976) that you may have info for. Is Mayo's Dr. Sletten and Pain Rehab Center program covered by insurance? Can it be conducted virtually/telemedicine?

Oh and it was in the Twin Cities area in Minnesota