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?