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Mayo Clinic Pain Rehab Center (PRC) - What’s Your Experience?
Chronic Pain | Last Active: Nov 19 1:12pm | Replies (116)Comment receiving replies
@rwinney, I found out last week that I got into the PRC program!! They decided to change their mind on their initial decision. I will be going to the Rochester, MN location and will begin the program on November 29th. (This Texan has gotten get ready for some major cold!! brrr) Would you mind sharing your best advice with me? I'm excited and also a little scared but trying really hard not to let fear get the best of me. But I do want to mentally prepare myself. What should I expect going into it and what will help me going through it? I know you talked about going into it with an open mind and also what you get from it will be what you put into it. Anything else that will be helpful?
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Hi, Michelle!
So sorry for my delayed response. I'm not sure how I missed your post.
I am ECSTATIC that you have been accepted to PRC and they reversed their initial decision on the delay. Wooo hooooo, girl!! This news just made my day. Good for you!
I believe you have everything it takes to accomplish your goal, you just don't know or necessarily feel it yet. Taking a leap of faith is not always easy. I was scared and excited too, but mostly scared. As I've mentioned before, I almost backed out. Everything overwhelmed me about going - my physical inability, my emotional state of mind and my behavioral patterns, but one thing I knew was that I did not feel like I had any other choice, option or plan for living the rest of my life the way I was. I had done and tried everything and nothing got the job done for me the way PRC did. It changed my life and the way I respond to pain. It was like a rebirth for me as a person, pain aside. Just a remarkable experience.
What should you expect going in and what will help you prepare? Great questions. Going in you should expect your first day to be exhausting, but all about you and your needs. You'll meet with your assigned nurse and go through an intake process. You'll be evaluated and asked to complete a self assessment. You'll be assigned a locker and be shown the facilities. The next day you'll begin the program.
The best preparation, in my opinion, is to have an open mind, believe in yourself, and know that change is good and necessary in this case. Find that one person who is strong for you, will encourage and support you. For me it was my husband who had to fly back to NY 2 days after dropping me off, but he remained a phone call away.
Remember that you are stronger than you think. I told myself that this experience was literally not going to kill me. I would focus on children and their strengths in fighting cancer or being disabled, or paralyzed and used that as inspiration for a more positive mindset, telling myself that I can do this. Sometimes you have to dig down deep. Also, my family, I did not want them to have to deal with me the way I was anymore. Mostly though, I did it for myself because I was worth the investment.
You will be in such good hands with the PRC program and their staff. You will be supported by your peers and not be alone in this journey, trust me. You are worth this investment.