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

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.

Yes! Thank goodness , my appts have been scheduled by video . Really didn’t make sense the other way with someone battling severe pain .. so I’m all go .

My friend, Tom was diagnosed with GBS. He is in chronic pain with no help except the Tylenol 4, 3 times a day. He can walk only enough to bath and cook because he has no help. I help by buying his food, taking him to his Dr. Apts etc. It's very sad. He is suffering. Plz help

Hi @goyf29, welcome to Connect. How sad to hear about your friend. Does GBS refer to Guillain-Barre-Syndrome as described in the following Mayo Clinic link?

- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/guillain-barre-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20362793

You are a good friend for doing your best to help him with food and appointments. I can imagine how hard it is to want to help even more.

How has your friend's medical team been assisting him? Does he participate in physical therapy or occupational therapy?

Yes, he has Guillain-Barre-Syndrome.
Thomas-Blake's Primary physician has sent him to a pain specialist and they changed his medication from tylenol 4- 4 times a day, to Gabapentin, which set him back and did nothing to relieve his pain. He is back on tylenol 4-3 times a day. I don't believe we have many cases or support for people with this condition down here in the "Rio Grande Valley!" When I asked the pain specialist "Have you had many patients with this condition," he replied, "why do you think his doctor referred him to me?" I was stunned at his answer, and he was the one who changed his prescription to Gambapentin and caused him so much pain. He has suffered since he was diagnosed in January.

He received both occupational therapy and physical therapy but he has not been going because he claims it's too much for me. I cannot lift his wheelchair into my vehicle. I had major surgery in 2020 and am told not to lift over 20 pounds. I will finally take him to physical therapy this coming week since it's been over 8 weeks since he has gone and he's gained a bit of weight. He needs so much help. My heart hurts.

He is awaiting approval on Social security-disability benefits but it is taking a long time. He is on a waiting list for Section-8 or Housing but that is a long list. The Salvation Army is booked for men and I've been told that they won't take those with disabilities since he needs a home health provider. The Catholic Charities are only helping the refugees, we live near the border of Mexico.

The gentleman whom he resides with does not want anyone in his home anymore and is giving him until October 20th to find a home.

Thomas-Blake wanted to go into in-house rehab at the hospital but he has exhausted all of his insurance with "Ambetter" for that. By January, he will not have insurance at all.

I have been told that he can't get Medicaid if he is not getting Disability checks, nor can he has a home with housing or section 8 unless he has an income. He is a young man of 29 and was fully employed and had his home and lived alone.

I am desperately reaching out for help from anyone. I used to live in Spring Valley MN in the early 80's. As a community, our church helped a whole family from Vietnam. I know there are good communities out there but with this condition, they see him as normal and he even had a brother say he was faking it. He has been assaulted by 2 brothers, taunted by his grandfather, who told him to get a job, and a sister that screams and yells at him. His family has abused him in so many ways.

I know now that there is no COVID up there. I pray that someone can help him. He can recover but has no help.

Please help me!

Yes, he has Guillain-Barre-Syndrome.
Thomas-Blake's Primary physician has sent him to a pain specialist and they changed his medication from tylenol 4- 4 times a day, to Gabapentin, which set him back and did nothing to relieve his pain. He is back on tylenol 4-3 times a day. I don't believe we have many cases or support for people with this condition down here in the "Rio Grande Valley!" When I asked the pain specialist "Have you had many patients with this condition," he replied, "why do you think his doctor referred him to me?" I was stunned at his answer, and he was the one who changed his prescription to Gambapentin and caused him so much pain. He has suffered since he was diagnosed in January.

He received both occupational therapy and physical therapy but he has not been going because he claims it's too much for me. I cannot lift his wheelchair into my vehicle. I had major surgery in 2020 and am told not to lift over 20 pounds. I will finally take him to physical therapy this coming week since it's been over 8 weeks since he has gone and he's gained a bit of weight. He needs so much help. My heart hurts.

He is awaiting approval on Social security-disability benefits but it is taking a long time. He is on a waiting list for Section-8 or Housing but that is a long list. The Salvation Army is booked for men and I've been told that they won't take those with disabilities since he needs a home health provider. The Catholic Charities are only helping the refugees, we live near the border of Mexico.

The gentleman whom he resides with does not want anyone in his home anymore and is giving him until October 20th to find a home.

Thomas-Blake wanted to go into in-house rehab at the hospital but he has exhausted all of his insurance with "Ambetter" for that. By January, he will not have insurance at all.

I have been told that he can't get Medicaid if he is not getting Disability checks, nor can he has a home with housing or section 8 unless he has an income. He is a young man of 29 and was fully employed and had his home and lived alone.

I am desperately reaching out for help from anyone. I used to live in Spring Valley MN in the early 80's. As a community, our church helped a whole family from Vietnam. I know there are good communities out there but with this condition, they see him as normal and he even had a brother say he was faking it. He has been assaulted by 2 brothers, taunted by his grandfather, who told him to get a job, and a sister that screams and yells at him. His family has abused him in so many ways.

I know now that there is no COVID up there. I pray that someone can help him. He can recover but has no help.

Please help me!

@goyf29 My heart also hurts after reading this about your friend. I have to believe there is help out there for him and having you by his side is the first positive step.

Hopefully the website https://myhelpnavigator.auntbertha.com/
that @colleenyoung provided will be helpful in your local search for assistance.

Best of luck to and your friend. May he find the help he deserves.

Hi, I'd like to hear from those who have gone through Mayo's Pain Rehabilitation Clinic that is a 3 week intensive program. Could you share what the experience was like for you - good and/or bad? Did it help you? Would you recommend it to others?