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

Hi John, we also live in california. I would very much like a video meeting to pursue my pain management. Thank you

Hi, I'm sorry you are in so much pain. Have you reached out to your primary care provider for a referral to a pain medicine program or pain rehabilitation center in your local area? Also, local teaching hospitals may be a place to inquire.

Connect is unable to set up video or telephone meetings, but as mentioned, your PCP should offer help and guidance.

How is navigating Connect going for you? Are you getting the hang of it?

Hi, thank you for the reply. Yes I reached out to my primary doctor, she referred me to the pain clinic. Just started so I’ll see how it goes. Thanks.

Hi Rachel, not sure if I responded earlier but I am enrolled in our local pain clinic. So far it’s just a group of people complaining.mi need more results of how I can help myself with pain. Any suggestions?

Hi there - yes, I do have a suggestion, but first a few comments and questions so I can better understand.

Pain management through pain clinics are not typically the same as pain rehabilitation centers or programs. It's good you recognize that you don't want to be a part of a group of people complaining, that's toxic and doesn't accomplish much. I admire your willingness to want to learn self-help pain management.

Did you mention that you are not near any of the 3 Mayo Clinic's nor are able to get to one for their world-renowned Pain Rehabilitation Center?

Hi Rachel, I truly appreciate your time. No I did not know there is a difference in pain clinic and programs or pain rehab. Do you have suggestions how I may find a rehab within the kaiser facility? I will heck local hospitals for a program. No we live in california and unable to afford travel.
Thank you

Hi Rachel,b finally got into see a pain specialist surgeon who will give me cortsoid injections in the stomach. This will be my second treatment. Sure hope it helps.

Hello there,

I'm happy to hear you got in with a pain specialist and are trying steroid injections for relief. How'd that first one go? Sometimes it takes a series to achieve max effect. I sure hope it helps too!

The difference between pain clinics/pain management and pain rehabilitation centers are the methods used to achieve relief. Pain clinics focus on medications and procedures like injections, nerve blocks, radio frequency ablations and implants whereas rehabilitation programs are more of a holistic self-management method not relying on medications and doctors to treat chronic symptoms.

Please learn more about rehabilitation here:
Mayo Clinic Pain Rehabilitation Center -

- https://www.mayoclinic.org/departments-centers/pain-rehabilitation-center/sections/overview/ovc-20481691

Many people, including myself typically start with pain management like you're doing. We hope for help, a quick fix, buying us time from pain. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't, each of us is different. If or when procedures, injections and meds run their course and that band aid is no longer cutting it, we are left with other choices such as rehabilitation and learning self-help tools like moderation and modification through physical therapy and occupational therapy, emotional and behavioral therapies, sleep hygiene, diet, calming and relaxation techniques. I could go on and on, but I think you get the point.

Considering you aren't able to get to a Mayo Clinic and have started with a pain management clinic locally I say keep on trucking and see how those injections help you. One step at a time. Try not to get too far ahead of yourself. Learning how to calm your body and mind can be very helpful in symptom management. Do you practice diaphragmatic breathing? How about mindful meditation?
Are you interested in learning other self-help tools?

Hello , I am in the middle of the application process for the Mayo clinic chronic pain rehab program in Arizona. Is there anyone who has attended this program who can help me with an issue concerning the application travel requirement. ? They have just received all my application materials and have now requested that I travel to Arizona to be interviewed .
This seems rather bizarre .. a program designed for people with severe pain that is unresponsive to treatment, being asked to travel long distances ( I live in Canada ) as part of an application process in this day and age when huge parts of the workforce are working from home . Travel is very challenging for me and needless to say I have written back making a case for an exception to this request . It seems obvious when we’ve just come out of a pandemic when it was all done remotely , to make this request .
Has anyone else found this a problem and been successful in doing their interview remotely ?

Hey there @alh123. I agree, given your distance I would think Mayo PRC would make an exception on travel. What you received may just be standard protocol. Give the AZ program ditector a call. It may be easier to speak with someone personally.

I attended during COVID so my interviews were remote on Zoom. I live in NY and attended the Florida program.

Pease keep me posted on how it works out.