I went through Mayo’s Pain Rehab Center and I can honestly say it was life-changing. It’s definitely a commitment — 3 full weeks and yes, you do cover your own housing/food — but the program is very structured and comprehensive. They focus on retraining how your body and nervous system respond to pain, with a mix of physical therapy, occupational therapy, psychology, group work, and education. The goal isn’t to make the pain magically disappear, but to give you tools so you’re not ruled by it anymore.

I met people there with all different kinds of chronic pain conditions, and the common thread was that by the end, most of us felt stronger, more capable, and more hopeful than we had in years. It’s not easy — it’s intense, and you have to be willing to put in the work every day — but the staff are amazing and the community support makes a huge difference.

On the practical side, I personally found it better to stay at an Airbnb instead of a hotel. Being able to cook my own meals and have a place that felt more like home made the three weeks much more comfortable and manageable.

If your doctor thinks you’d be a good candidate, I’d say it’s absolutely worth considering. It gave me my life back in ways pain meds and procedures never could.