Gabapentin and Cymbalta

I play a supporting role for my husband who suffers from painful idiopathic neuropathy. We spent lot of time that took a toll on emotions going for testings and seeing what Sletten refers to as "ologists". I appreciated what he said about stopping that, accepting, changing behaviour patterns and practicing self regulation.
...and being a cheerleader not a coach.

Hello @pamelaz Thank you for requesting more of the Mayo PRC videos. I posted the 2nd Family Day -Week 2 video yesterday in this thread to @irishlady1974. Have you had a chance to watch it yet? Obviously you found the first video helpful and wanted to see more. That's awesome! What in particular are you hoping to learn about? How does your chronic condition tie in with the pain rehab principles?

@greenacres Your feedback is awesome, thank you! I must congratulate you on being your husband's supportive "coach" and advocate. That's an important role. My husband was mine and learned just how support me through the PRC Family Day education. Chronic pain is a life change and impacts families as well as those who suffer the pain. Everyone could use help along the way to accept, understand and support properly.

Earlier, you asked about hearing from others who went through the program. I'm attaching an enthusiastic post from @mbcarl who graduated PRC -
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/720579/
She has not posted since which tells me she may be out there doing her best to live her new C-life and enforce the PRC principles, one of which is to omit pain behaviors. As you're learning about pain behaviors from the videos, a pain behavior is "anything you do, say or think that reminds you or someone else you're in pain", and should be omitted.

I've been hard pressed to find many returning members post PRC for this reason. That is a good thing! Not that Connect doesn't want members to return and share their experience post-PRC, but if members are on a stable pain-management path forward and move on, then it was all worth Connects support in the process.

I'm curious how your husband feels about the PRC principles that Dr. Sletten teaches? Has he watched the videos with you?

Hi there @greenacres. You're very welcome. I know you're not new to Connect, or chronic symptoms and searching for a way to manage. Thanks so much for speaking up and showing interest in the PRC videos. I'm hoping there are many watchers out there who are gaining interest, knowledge and motivation to think outside of the medical world box.

Please find these links for PRC conversations, experiences, and tips:

Mayo PRC - What's Your Experience -
- https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-prc-whats-your-experience/

Anyone in or have been to the PRC -
- https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/anyone-in-or-have-been-to-the-pain-rehab-clinic/

Mayo Pain Rehab Program - Signing Off and My Comeback After-
- https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-pain-rehabilitation-program/

As a PRC graduate, I'm protective of the videos as for years they have not been shared outside of the program and viewing ability was only for those who participated in the 3-week program. I'm proud to say that I advocated for material to share from PRC for those who need a jump start and a different approach to chronic pain management.

The interesting part of it is that these videos are just the tip of the iceberg. I stand by the fact that anyone who can get to one of the 3 Mayo Clinic 3-week PRC programs should 100% go. It's no walk in the park, and takes commitment, but very rewarding on every level.

I'll be sharing the 3rd video this week. In the meantime, @greenacres, will you please share some thoughts on the information presented by Dr. Sletten so far? What has been your biggest revelation or take away? What have you learned that you will implement in your pain management plan?

Where are the videos at? Can you please post again here ! Thank you!

@greenacres Your feedback is awesome, thank you! I must congratulate you on being your husband's supportive "coach" and advocate. That's an important role. My husband was mine and learned just how support me through the PRC Family Day education. Chronic pain is a life change and impacts families as well as those who suffer the pain. Everyone could use help along the way to accept, understand and support properly.

Earlier, you asked about hearing from others who went through the program. I'm attaching an enthusiastic post from @mbcarl who graduated PRC -
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/720579/
She has not posted since which tells me she may be out there doing her best to live her new C-life and enforce the PRC principles, one of which is to omit pain behaviors. As you're learning about pain behaviors from the videos, a pain behavior is "anything you do, say or think that reminds you or someone else you're in pain", and should be omitted.

I've been hard pressed to find many returning members post PRC for this reason. That is a good thing! Not that Connect doesn't want members to return and share their experience post-PRC, but if members are on a stable pain-management path forward and move on, then it was all worth Connects support in the process.

I'm curious how your husband feels about the PRC principles that Dr. Sletten teaches? Has he watched the videos with you?

Cheerleader not coaching… I love that phrasing. Having PN that my doctors can’t figure out or give me good advice for, I often resent healthy friends and family who seem so sure about what I need to be doing, when they know much less about it, and we seem equally frustrated with each other because of it. I need to warm up and see the “cheerleading” in the actions, though it’s hard when they are irritated with me when I can’t do what they think I should be able to do. That phrasing makes me realize that when I’m in the supportive role for someone else having an issue, I probably can easily be perceived as being an unqualified boss/coach when in fact I should be encouraging them through cheerleading. Thanks for sharing that piece of wisdom with not just accepting our roles, but probably understanding where our loved ones are challenged in helping us. What I love about this forum is that there are a few great overall coaches here, and folks experienced to coach on a few aspects of dealing with the symptoms, and a swarm of cheerleaders helping each other along!

@greenacres, @dbeshears1
Correction to my comments in the attached post.... I meant to type "cheerleader", not coach. Ugh, I didn't catch myself on that misspoken comment. It's an important one, too.
I'm fired! 😜

Debbie, thanks for the follow up reiterating "cheerleader" and the importance of understanding each person's supporting role. I see it really impacted you. How do any of us really know unless we open our minds to learn and be better. I learned through the PRC that my parents were huge pain behaviors for me even though they thought they were helping by always having sympathy. It can go either way...

- the suck it up, what's wrong with you, non-understanding or believing way

- the do it this way, know it all coaching way

- the poor baby, why can't doctors help or fix you way

Greenacres, I'm thrilled you shared that piece from the Family Day videos as your takeaway. I hope more members watch the videos and give feedback on their take aways.

Thank you both!

100 mg Gabepentin & 30 mg duloxetine made my back feel worse couldn’t handle the side effects and literature says be on gabepentin no longer than 5 months !! I got off that gabepentin!