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Mentor

Mayo Pain Rehab Program: Signing off and my comeback afterwards

Posted by Rachel, Volunteer Mentor @rwinney, Oct 5, 2020

Hello to all my friends on Connect. Today I began the pain rehabilitation program. It was advised that I sign off for now and work on myself exclusively. My best wishes to each and every one of you while I'm away. It is my hope that once I have completed the program and return, I am able to share positive experiences to help all of you in some way, shape or form.
Rachel

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Chronic Pain Support Group.

Mentor
Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Oct 8, 2021
In reply to @jetsetter "I can understand having guilt due to so much attention needs to be taken to deal..." + (show)
@jetsetter

I can understand having guilt due to so much attention needs to be taken to deal with these health issues.

I can tell you that if you look around, there are always people who have it worse than we do. You can be empathetic to their plight and help out with a smile and a look in their eyes as you encounter them. It’s so easy to just look away because we don’t want to interact or acknowledge their physical disability. But they are like us, we who have the invisible disabilities which are no less difficult. Treat yourself with kindness!

I found a book called “Chronic Babe 101: How to Craft a life beyond Illness” that really tells it like it is. I bought it on Amazon for my Kindle.
Jenni Grover starts by reminding us that our illness is not our fault.

Each chapter has lessons for us to do. One involves having a 10 minute pity party. Set the timer, yell, scream,
stomp your feet or whatever you feel like doing to get that anger and frustration out that often comes about when you have a chronic disease. When the timer goes off, end of pity party!

Venting about your feelings here is a great help, because in some measure we understand and can relate to your pain and heartache. Hang in there!!

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This "But they are like us, we who have the invisible disabilities which are no less difficult. Treat yourself with kindness!" was a very hard lesson for me to learn.

It has taken me many years to learn to say "That [task, activity, hobby] just isn't for me. I know if I do it, there will be days of regret." What is very interesting to me is that 3 of my siblings have confided the same thing to me in the past 2 years as we pass through our 60's and into our 70's. All 4 of us have "invisible disabilities" that we spent decades trying to ignore - perhaps with age we are gaining a bit of wisdom?

I have been working very hard to manage my pain, with the help of excellent docs, my magical PT and an understanding of my body and mind. I am even teaching my grandsons, who are very empathetic little boys, that Grandma loves to run and play, but sometimes just can't. We are developing a cache of quieter activities to share.

Everyone needs to find their own way...and accept that some pain will be part of the journey.
Sue

REPLY
kenyalama | @kenyalama | Oct 15, 2021
In reply to @lorirenee1 "@rwinney Rachel, You do know that where there's a Winney, there's a way!!!! Everyone here just..." + (show)
@lorirenee1

@rwinney Rachel, You do know that where there's a Winney, there's a way!!!! Everyone here just wants the best for you. Learn, conquer, and even eat a few good meals there. Love to you, Lori Renee

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The very best to you!
I did the pain rehab program at Mayo about 10 years ago but i had a car accident a few years later that triggered all kind of problems ( diseases )
I look forward to your opinion after you complete the program
Best wishes!

REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
Rachel, Volunteer Mentor | @rwinney | Jan 10, 2022
In reply to @kenyalama "The very best to you! I did the pain rehab program at Mayo about 10 years..." + (show)
@kenyalama

The very best to you!
I did the pain rehab program at Mayo about 10 years ago but i had a car accident a few years later that triggered all kind of problems ( diseases )
I look forward to your opinion after you complete the program
Best wishes!

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@kenyalama Hi there. I believe you intended your message for me regarding the Pain Rehab program at Mayo. I apologize for being late with my reply. Thank you so much for your well wishes!

Wow, you completed the program 10 years ago!! I graduated over one year ago. I'm sorry to read you had a car accident after PRC and were triggered. How are you doing? Have you been implementing any PRC tools to this day?

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