Pain Rehab Center Mayo

Following for any comments. I was recommended for the program too. I have functional neurological disorder, small fiber neuropathy, dysautonomia, and now possibly myasthenia gravis. I think it will help my central nervous system reset and help me get off all my pain medicine.

I went through Mayo’s Pain Rehab Center and I can honestly say it was life-changing. It’s definitely a commitment — 3 full weeks and yes, you do cover your own housing/food — but the program is very structured and comprehensive. They focus on retraining how your body and nervous system respond to pain, with a mix of physical therapy, occupational therapy, psychology, group work, and education. The goal isn’t to make the pain magically disappear, but to give you tools so you’re not ruled by it anymore.

I met people there with all different kinds of chronic pain conditions, and the common thread was that by the end, most of us felt stronger, more capable, and more hopeful than we had in years. It’s not easy — it’s intense, and you have to be willing to put in the work every day — but the staff are amazing and the community support makes a huge difference.

On the practical side, I personally found it better to stay at an Airbnb instead of a hotel. Being able to cook my own meals and have a place that felt more like home made the three weeks much more comfortable and manageable.

If your doctor thinks you’d be a good candidate, I’d say it’s absolutely worth considering. It gave me my life back in ways pain meds and procedures never could.

Your positive response is so encouraging! I am so grateful to you,Lulu. It really sounds life changing. I am still unsure how to push through the exhaustion caused by long covid in the afternoons and my asthma and lung infections also a result of covid, which leave me pretty sick. I am still trying to figure things out and I'm a ways from seeing a good fit. That's my way of saying things seem scary.
Thank you,Lulu! I'm so happy for you,
Holly

I’m glad you were helped. How long had you had pain and where was your pain located. I have had lumbar pain for over two years and have been trying to find treatment for relief for these two years with no results. I also have osteoarthritis and psoriatic arthritis in addition which also has no relief treatment. I went to the Arizona Mayo Clinic Pain program and they offered a epidural. I’m just discouraged and disappointed.

I totally get the discouragement. I was in the same place for years before I was finally referred to the Pain Rehab Center. PRC is really different from the usual injections or procedures. It’s a whole program that focuses on building strength, resilience, and new ways to manage life with pain. It was the first time I found tools and support that actually helped me move forward. It is a big commitment, but for me it was worth it and very different from anything else I’d tried.

Bless you Samian. I think I probably have the same type pain as you. I have had Post-thoracotomy Pain Syndrome for 24 years. I had to take a complete disability because of it. I have tried every intervention out there. I have been considering the Mayo Pain program but I am so debilitated by this pain, that I don't think I could endure 3 weeks of all day treatment. After 24 years of pain this intense and unrelenting, I am exhausted. I tell people that I am running an endurance race that never stops. How were you able to complete the program ?

I participated in PRC about 11 years ago and it changed the way I dealt with my pain. It was a very worthwhile commitment. No,the pain was not gone forever but when pain arises now and then I learned what needed to be done AND I believed it would help. Before PRC, I thought my life would always be controlled by pain.

What I was doing prior to PRC was simply not working. I was taking so many pills and I could not envision doing that for decades. It had not worked for years and years. I finally decided one day I had to do something . It certainly caused anxiety but the people I met were somehow able to show up every day so I made it a goal to do it also and I did.

Hello, has anyone done the pain rehabilitation at Mayo for chronic intractable migraines. I also, have constant a typical facial pain, horrible photo phobia and fibromyalgia. I don’t know if I can do 8 hours a day for 3 weeks. I’ve read about other pain conditions but nothing related to my conditions. Please let me know. Thank you

Gatormomma, I am with you. I don't think I could endure the requirements for the course. My pain leaves me in a state of continuous exhaustion. I wish I could figure out a way to handle the course.