Is it difficult to get an appointment with Mayo in MN?

Because I “violated” the terms of my contract they make you sign when you first become a parent at Pain Management.
I’ve have insomnia all my adult life, and would sometimes take Valium (prescribed by my primary care doc) to help. In CA, I did that for over 1O+ years with nary a word from Pain Management. Then…..we moved to FL, and, suddenly, it was taboo. Pain Management said bye-bye and here I am.

I’m sorry about that. My signature is on one of those too. But hey , let’s look the other way at the fentanyl and whatever else is pouring across the border. The lawmakers certainly have no concern for pain patients. If only they could spend one day in our bodies, maybe then they would understand.
Praying for you

I had Boston Scientific pain stimulator put in my back Seven years ago . The trial for one week , worked fantastic but when the permanent one was put in , it never really helped much I was always getting it adjusted . Now that I’ve had my spine surgery and every vertebrae is fused together the doctor took it out during surgery and said I didn’t need it and they never worked that well anyway .

Yes…..I had mine “adjusted” many times. Never worked at all!

I completed all the tests and had them forwarded to Mayo last October. I was excepted but the first available appointment is next spring. Because the extreme numbness in my leg s seemed to be worsening and progressing I felt that was not a reasonable wait. I had surgery 3 weeks ago at CentraCare in St. Cloud rather than wait the six months to be seen and then wait for surgery.

What really surprised me is how difficult the recovery from an L 345 laminectomy and Discectomy is. Thee weeks out and finally feeling better!

Exactly how bad does one have to be to get an appointment at the Spine Center at Mayo? I’ve been “declined” 2x with no reason given. It’s all very discouraging!

I do have an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic coming up, but I don’t know it this doctor will have any treatment options for me either. His office is quite a distance from my home and I really didn’t want the expense, etc, if this doc can do nothing more for me.

I realize this post is mainly me venting about my frustration of living with pain as long as I have, so please forgive me. I just need to thank the Almghty it’s not any worse than it is!

Perhaps, Mayo’s refusal to see me has spared me from the disappointment of nothing more can be done to help me, however, it would’ve been nice if they’d given me a reason!

I had the same problem 2023. I kept calling. After having been a patient at Mayo Clinic FL since 2017, they no longer accept my UHC Medicare Advantage ppo. It was many calls and messages before I learned this. I don't know why it took so long.

Did you receive the notice that Mayo is not accepting Medicare Advantage plans? You can also call billing to find out if that is the issue.

As far as I know, I only have plain old Medicare, plus TriCare for Life. I suspect all my past spine surgeries spooked them, but I guess I’ll never know. Even with the expense involved with flight, hotel, food, etc, I would have liked to’ve been told….,”Nope…nothing can be done about your pain. Just try to make friends with it. Next!”

Thanks for responding.

I have been going to Rochester for 18 years and had my 3 back surgeries there. The last surgery was a fusion. You can try a referral from your Doctor. That might be easier. I self referred because I have a history there in the spine clinic. I also took a 3-day pain management class there and found it to be extremely helpful. You could look at the website to see is they still offer the classes. We haven't always been accepted for treatment, but 90% of the time they have been able to see us. I don't have a Medicare advantage plan (thank goodness) and I am 75. I am in pain daily, but I only take one celebrex daily. I worry about my future too because of the limited mobility I have.