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

Posted by robyn @boltz7555, May 13, 2022

Hello - my Mayo neurologist recently recommended the pain rehabilitation center (PRC) to me. They have scheduled my consultation for next week. I’m interested in hearing from others who have gone through this program. What was your experience?
@rwinney Hi Rachel - I had you in mind when I came to make this post and I found the helpful feedback and information you shared in a post from April, here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/residential-chronic-pain-treatment-programs/
Did your condition impact your ability to work? If so, were you able to return to work with no special accommodations after PRC?

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

@boltz7555 Hey, Robyn - I'm thrilled to hear you have a consult with the Mayo PRC. Yay!! This is great news! In speaking with you prior, I 100% think you'll benefit from the program given your symptoms from migraine and neuropathy, plus your positive, want to move forward attitude. You'll do great.

Yes, my condition prevents me from working regardless of PRC. Please understand however that each person's journey is unique to them. Success may look different for each student. Many people are indeed able to return to work, many people begin to volunteer (me, here on Connect 😉) or manage their daily living and household more efficiently (that's me too), some people arrive to class in a wheelchair and then leave on their own 2 feet by the end of the program. Work the program and it'll work for you. Keeping an open, optimistic mind will serve you well.

I'm glad my feedback has been helpful to you. Is there anything thing else you are wondering about? Which Mayo are you having a consultation with?

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@rwinney

@boltz7555 Hey, Robyn - I'm thrilled to hear you have a consult with the Mayo PRC. Yay!! This is great news! In speaking with you prior, I 100% think you'll benefit from the program given your symptoms from migraine and neuropathy, plus your positive, want to move forward attitude. You'll do great.

Yes, my condition prevents me from working regardless of PRC. Please understand however that each person's journey is unique to them. Success may look different for each student. Many people are indeed able to return to work, many people begin to volunteer (me, here on Connect 😉) or manage their daily living and household more efficiently (that's me too), some people arrive to class in a wheelchair and then leave on their own 2 feet by the end of the program. Work the program and it'll work for you. Keeping an open, optimistic mind will serve you well.

I'm glad my feedback has been helpful to you. Is there anything thing else you are wondering about? Which Mayo are you having a consultation with?

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@rwinney Thanks for the (super quick) reply! My main goal right now is to be able to manage simple life/household activities and also have better quality of life. Anything beyond that is a bonus! When I met with my neurologist, she explained CSS and suggested I have that, too. I instantly thought of you! I’m still going through tests, biopsies, etc. to try to identify an underlying cause to the SFN, autonomic dysfunction and POTS. I’m in good hands with my Mayo doctor and thankful she introduced me to the idea of PRC. I’m very fortunate as I live in Phoenix. PRC would only be about 20-25 minute drive. The doctor I see is at the Scottsdale location, but still only a 45 minute drive to see her. Your post I referred to earlier was so informative and answered many of my questions. You talked about the anxiety of the program; that really resonates with me! I haven’t been able to “function” for a full 8 hours in a long time, so to do so everyday for 17 days is terrifying. My dog and I have become very co-dependant on each other, we’ll both have some separation anxiety! 😂
Do some insurance policies cover PRC or is it all out of pocket? I’m sure I’ll learn all of this next week when I have my consultation. Even if the program might help just a little, it is worth a try!

Thanks for being a wonderful mentor, Rachel!! I appreciate you.

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@boltz7555 Thank you so much for your kind words of appreciation. You are very welcome, I'm happy to help.

Girl, you speak my language. I was terrified to leave home, my family and my dog. I was physically terrified to fly, I used handicap access. I live in NY and went to Jacksonville, FL. My husband flew with me there and got me settled then flew back home after 3 days. I was alone, living in a hotel for 23 days, going to PRC M - F 7:30 - 4, and weaning off addictive meds. Weekends were lonely. It was tough stuff and no joke, truly the hardest thing I've ever done in my life. BUT, I did it! With the help, support, structure and encouragement from PRC, I prevailed. I realized PRC gave me the formula, but I wanted it and applied it. I fought, and was desperate for a better existence, just like you. The first step is bravery...
REHAB = Bravery with acceptance of doing things differently

You are definitely in good hands with your Mayo doctor. What a blessing that you have been lead in the right direction and are continuing to find underlying SFN cause and finalizing testing. It's so important to get to the bottom of things so you know the what and the why. Then, its all about how to live with the what and the why more productively.

Medicare covered my rehabilitation at Mayo. I just needed to pick up a higher cost supplement plan to cover out of network. It was worth a higher monthly premium in order to get PRC covered in full. Its about 52k out of pocket, last I knew 😱

Please let me know how your consult goes this week. One step at a time. You got this!

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@rwinney Wow, $52k! I have a decent insurance plan, I guess we’ll see how decent 😂 Thanks again, Rachel! I’ll touch base in about a week! 🤗

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@rwinney

@boltz7555 Thank you so much for your kind words of appreciation. You are very welcome, I'm happy to help.

Girl, you speak my language. I was terrified to leave home, my family and my dog. I was physically terrified to fly, I used handicap access. I live in NY and went to Jacksonville, FL. My husband flew with me there and got me settled then flew back home after 3 days. I was alone, living in a hotel for 23 days, going to PRC M - F 7:30 - 4, and weaning off addictive meds. Weekends were lonely. It was tough stuff and no joke, truly the hardest thing I've ever done in my life. BUT, I did it! With the help, support, structure and encouragement from PRC, I prevailed. I realized PRC gave me the formula, but I wanted it and applied it. I fought, and was desperate for a better existence, just like you. The first step is bravery...
REHAB = Bravery with acceptance of doing things differently

You are definitely in good hands with your Mayo doctor. What a blessing that you have been lead in the right direction and are continuing to find underlying SFN cause and finalizing testing. It's so important to get to the bottom of things so you know the what and the why. Then, its all about how to live with the what and the why more productively.

Medicare covered my rehabilitation at Mayo. I just needed to pick up a higher cost supplement plan to cover out of network. It was worth a higher monthly premium in order to get PRC covered in full. Its about 52k out of pocket, last I knew 😱

Please let me know how your consult goes this week. One step at a time. You got this!

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@rwinney Hi Rachel! Just a quick follow up after my consult with PRC. It went well, other than the fact I bawled the entire time lol! I don’t know why, the questions just really triggered my emotions! The poor doc! 🤦🏻‍♀️ Anyway, she obviously thinks I’d be a good fit for the program. I’m waiting to hear from the coordinator regarding schedule and insurance but it sounds like they’re currently booking in Oct, so a bit of a backlog. Hope you’re doing well! 🤗
~Robyn

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@boltz7555

@rwinney Hi Rachel! Just a quick follow up after my consult with PRC. It went well, other than the fact I bawled the entire time lol! I don’t know why, the questions just really triggered my emotions! The poor doc! 🤦🏻‍♀️ Anyway, she obviously thinks I’d be a good fit for the program. I’m waiting to hear from the coordinator regarding schedule and insurance but it sounds like they’re currently booking in Oct, so a bit of a backlog. Hope you’re doing well! 🤗
~Robyn

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@boltz7555 Hey, Robyn - Thanks for touching base. Woot woot! Great news!! 🎊🥳

No worries about your emotions, that's one of many reasons the PRC is there. They are simply amazing and so good at what they do! Fingers are crossed that all works with your insurance and you get scheduled. I also attended PRC in October, after waiting for months. They are in high demand because they are that good. I am super excited for you. Be proud. You can do it!!!

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@boltz7555

@rwinney Hi Rachel! Just a quick follow up after my consult with PRC. It went well, other than the fact I bawled the entire time lol! I don’t know why, the questions just really triggered my emotions! The poor doc! 🤦🏻‍♀️ Anyway, she obviously thinks I’d be a good fit for the program. I’m waiting to hear from the coordinator regarding schedule and insurance but it sounds like they’re currently booking in Oct, so a bit of a backlog. Hope you’re doing well! 🤗
~Robyn

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Hi Robyn @boltz7555, my apologies for losing track, but where did you leave off with insurance and getting to Mayo PRC?

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@rwinney

@boltz7555 Hey, Robyn - Thanks for touching base. Woot woot! Great news!! 🎊🥳

No worries about your emotions, that's one of many reasons the PRC is there. They are simply amazing and so good at what they do! Fingers are crossed that all works with your insurance and you get scheduled. I also attended PRC in October, after waiting for months. They are in high demand because they are that good. I am super excited for you. Be proud. You can do it!!!

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Screenshot shamelessly stolen to share with my daughters...

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@rwinney

Hi Robyn @boltz7555, my apologies for losing track, but where did you leave off with insurance and getting to Mayo PRC?

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@rwinney Hi Rachel-
No worries, I lose track in these forums too! Believe it or not, I still am not scheduled for PRC. When I call scheduling they tell me one person in particular schedules PRC and that she will call me but she hasn’t. I’ve been persistent though and I asked my doctor’s team to help me out and yesterday I got a voicemail with another number to try so hopefully that works. I’m going to try it today. Thanks for checking in!

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@sueinmn

Screenshot shamelessly stolen to share with my daughters...

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Love that!

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