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Any experience with Residential Chronic Pain Treatment Programs?
Chronic Pain | Last Active: 5 days ago | Replies (48)Comment receiving replies
Rachel ,I notice that you are a volunteer mentor as well as a graduate of the PRC.
What is the role of a mentor in this context? Help in coordinating and directing the general conversation or individual help for people such as myself who are considering a jump into an evaluation and application?
I do have questions about the PRC process …some are about nuts and bolts , some about process and some about $$ .
I have the phone numbers of Rachel in Phoenix and Erica in Fl . Where best am I directed ? Demographically , I’m a 62 yr old male , ex Emerg Physician and type A personality ,still pretty bitter and twisted at the random circumstance that has landed me at the bottom of the chronic pain cycle of misery having been at the top of my game before a tiny little sensory nerve got tweaked during a routine ACL repair . Fickle finger of fate , indeed . As you say in the video ,I’m guessing I’m not special and you’ve seen it all before . Guess I have to tuck all that away somehow to succeed in your program …sounds very difficult.
Replies to "Rachel ,I notice that you are a volunteer mentor as well as a graduate of the..."
@alh123, Connect Mentors are trusted members. You can read more about Mayo Clinic Connect volunteer mentors and their role here:
- About Connect Volunteer Mentors https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/about-connect/tab/volunteer-mentors/
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@alh123 A mentor's role is to welcome members and encourage conversation through compassion, sharing and caring. This may be done through personal experience, reputable resources, or by connecting members with similar situations or locating prior conversations that may be impactful. Mentors are not medically trained. We do our best to share the knowledge and experience that we've gained along our journeys in hopes that other members join the conversations and support each other.
I started out like you, coming to Connect to seek information about my diagnosis. I found a caring, knowledgeable group of people in @colleenyoung, our Connect director, our moderators, mentors and members. While I was a member, I attended Mayo Clinic's Pain Rehab Center. When the time felt right for me, I had been asked to come back to Connect in a mentor role and share my personal journey and rehabilitation experience to help others. I wanted to pay it forward so here I am. 😊
I have no role in coordinating, but can offer you this application link for Mayo Clinic where you can be directed accordingly:
http://mayocl.in/1mtmR63If you wish to directly contact either of the two numbers you mention, it's best to chose the location you'd most likely consider attending. Mayo staff is very helpful and friendly and will definitely get through the nuts and bolts of your questions.
Here is a discussion I began in 2020 prior to going to PRC. You may find some helpful info woven throughout:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/central-sensitization-please-share-your-stories/
And a more descriptive conversation about my experience with PRC:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-pain-rehabilitation-program/
Please know that I understand how you feel about the fickle finger of fate and the chronic pain cycle of misery. You are not alone my friend in this shock of a plot twist. As a matter of fact, us Type A's know each other quite well and the PRC is full of them because those are typically the type of people who can't accept no for an answer and drive ourselves out of our minds seeking perfection when there can't always be. Good luck with your phone calls. See if PRC makes logistical sense first then go from there. Keep hope alive!