Mayo Clinic Pain Rehab Center (PRC) - What’s Your Experience?

Can you try Aloe Vera juice or supplements for the constipation. There is also
Herbs and Prunes by Nature’s Life. Just a thought.

Hello @kendra75, I moved your discussion and combined it with an existing discussion titled:

"Mayo Clinic Pain Rehab Center (PRC) - What’s Your Experience?"
- https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-prc-whats-your-experience/.

I'd like to invite @rwinney, @boltz7555, @medic7054 @jefferie who have all gone through the PRC and may be able to share a bit more about their experience. I'd also like to invite @skier who previously applied to the clinic to see if they had any updates as well.

@kendra75, if you are comfortable sharing, when do you start the program? What specific questions do you have about the program itself for those with experience?

Hi Larry, it's so nice to meet you and learn that you are a fellow graduate of the PRC. I join @colleenyoung in appreciation of your contribution on Connect.

I graduated October 2020 from Jacksonville and am always looking for fellow PRC'ers to share their positive experiences with members of the Connect community. 13 years out and still singing praise! I think that is a testament to the lasting impact the PRC has on lifestyle changes, and one's overall well-being and self-management.

Please allow me to introduce you to @tallyteresa who is also a PRC graduate and thinks the program should be taught in high schools because it's that valuable. It definitely is a total package experience, one that completely transformed my life and out look on life.

It's very cool to learn that when you return to Mayo, you speak with students still. I also am a graduate guest speaker and agree, it does me just as much good as it does them. Which Mayo Clinic location do you visit?

Hi Rachel! I just read this post. If you could tell me a few things about the PRC program I would really appreciate it! I’m going there for the program next month. Thanks!

Hi @kendra75, congratulations on taking a big step and committing to artend the PRC program in February. Thanks @JustinMcClanahan for tagging me to assist with Kendra's post.

Girl, I'm here to tell you that it might just be one of the best experiences of your life - It was for me who, like you, experienced chronic pain and a lot of central nervous system dysfunctions which couldn't be quite figured out or explained until I got to the PRC and started to really understand what central sensitization is and how to work with it

To answer your question - the goal of pain rehab is to regroup, retrain and realign your body and mind as a whole to be able to manage symptoms better. As a result of having a good amount of tools and a game plan to follow, symptoms do seemingly settle down or become less for some. The truth is is that chronic pain may never truly go away but it may become less and when the body goes through flares you are much more equipped to know how to handle them.

As far as the day-to-day, yes you will meet with occupational therapy physical therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. You will be assigned a nurse who will work with you to reduce any medications and also work with a biofeedback technician. You will be in a group filled with peers, folks just like yourself but you will not discuss symptoms or what brings you there, you will simply stick to the plan in the program and support each other.

I'm very excited that you're investing in yourself for better quality of life. Pat yourself on the back because that in itself takes bravery. When I was going it felt like such a daunting scary thing and I had a lot of Self Doubt but managed to work my way through it and have zero regrets.

What other questions do you have that I may not have already answered?

Hi Rachel!
Thank you so much for writing back to me. I am really excited (a little nervous) but excited. From what you’re saying it sounds like it can be life changing for me. I’m going to miss my family but maybe I’ll come home on my way to getting back to a normal life. I’m sure I’ll have more questions if that’s ok! But for right now I’m just happy…I have a little hope! Thank you so much. And I’m so happy for you that the program really helped you. Good for you 😊. Thank you Rachel!

Hi Justin…thanks so much for helping me! My start date is February 10th…just next month. I’m still trying to process my diagnosis since being at the Mayo Clinic back in March. I was diagnosed with a brain gut disorder and they are putting it under IBS. But even if I’m still dealing with the diagnosis (I thought I was literally dying for 2 years with the amount of symptoms and severe pain I was in) I think I need this program. My quality of life isn’t good at all. I want to live my life again and enjoy things and not be in constant pain. My questions about the program are probably: do people learn to live with the pain or the pain can actually get better. Or both. And what could I expect on a day to day basis. I know I’ll be working with different people for different things. Just curious for more details. Thanks so much again for including me in this!

Hi Justin…thanks so much for helping me! My start date is February 10th…just next month. I’m still trying to process my diagnosis since being at the Mayo Clinic back in March. I was diagnosed with a brain gut disorder and they are putting it under IBS. But even if I’m still dealing with the diagnosis (I thought I was literally dying for 2 years with the amount of symptoms and severe pain I was in) I think I need this program. My quality of life isn’t good at all. I want to live my life again and enjoy things and not be in constant pain. My questions about the program are probably: do people learn to live with the pain or the pain can actually get better. Or both. And what could I expect on a day to day basis. I know I’ll be working with different people for different things. Just curious for more details. Thanks so much again for including me in this!

You're welcome. Don't be afraid to ask any questions that come to mind. I'm happy to share my experiences and help ease you. Missing family was a big one for me as well. I live in New York and flew to Florida with my husband but he only stayed for the first two nights then went home so, I was in the nearby hotel for 3 weeks including 3 weekends (but who's counting 🙃). What will your accomodation situation be? How far do you need to travel?

HOW ARE THEY TREATING YOUR PAIN CURRENTLY?