group sessions—including formal lec- tures, informal discussions and physi- cal and occupational therapy—and individual biofeedback once a week. At 4 p.m. we’d wind down with a guid- ed relaxation. The PRC approach is based on the principles of cognitive- behavioral therapy (CBT), which are rooted in the idea that the ability to live a good, full life in spite of pain lies overwhelmingly in the hands of the individual. We cannot choose not to have pain, but we can choose how to respond to the negative and self-de- feating thoughts that are a common result of living with it, and often lead to emotional disturbances like depres- sion and anxiety. The staff often re- peated an old saying that I loved the second I heard it: “Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.” We were instructed on the impor-
tance of stress management, exercise, positive thinking, moderation in all things, and good nutrition and sleep hygiene. The deep, diaphragmatic breathing I learned had an amazing effect on my stress levels. It also felt invigorating to begin to strengthen and
condition my body again with exercise, and I loved learning about the most efficient ways to do things like lift my daughter and clean the tub. We were asked, too, to stop the endless, doctor- hopping quest most of us had been on to chase down a “cure,” and to refrain from engaging in “pain behaviors,” those little things we do—like talking about pain, lying down frequently, rub- bing sore spots—that remind us that we’re hurting. And we were encour- aged to reclaim ownership of our life, identity and future—to realize that we
daily basis. When I left at the end of three weeks, I was actually looking forward to returning to Rochester to attend the daylong aftercare program, a refresher course that reinforces the gains made while at the PRC. I felt confident and committed to the tech- niques I’d learned for keeping the pain manageable. For me, the most impor- tant ones have been using positive self- talk to combat negative thoughts; maintaining a daily relaxation routine (I practice deep breathing and do 10-minute meditations most days);
I showed up for my first day at the Mayo Clinic’s Pain Rehabilitation Center program anxious to begin, but also nervous: What if this didn’t work?
have control over how we
respond to our pain, even on bad days.
Back at Home It was easy to feel optimistic and pow- erful while totally submerged in the program, surrounded by people who understood what I go through on a
The Mayo Clinic Pain Rehabilitation Center
WHAT IT IS: The Mayo Clinic’s PRC, located in Rochester, Minnesota, offers three outpatient options: three-week and two-day programs and a pediatric program. Using a behavioral therapy approach—with a big emphasis on dis- continuing pain medication—the PRC aims to help patients become physi- cally active and functional, and to improve their quality of life.
HOW TO APPLY: Start by asking your doctor or another healthcare provider to refer you. Once the PRC has received a patient’s history, the staff deter- mines whether their approach is a good fit. Approximately 400 people are admitted annually to the three-week program, and about 300 to the two-day program.
COST: Almost all PRC patients are approved for coverage by their insurance company. Those who aren’t covered can incur costs up to $29,000 for the three-week program. To determine your cost, contact Mayo Clinic Business Services at 507-284-4024.
moderating my activities so I don’t spend hours doing one thing (that vir- tually guarantees a flare-up for me); and maintaining a balance between fun, work and self-care. But when I found myself back in my same old routine, at my same old job, with the same old worries I’d left be- hind, things weren’t so easy. I felt bad and sad for a couple of weeks—my pain was still there, of course, and I got down on myself for not immediately being able to perk myself up when I was feeling blue or unable to do some- thing I used to. But then I noticed that my perception started to shift. By us- ing the tools I learned at PRC, I have begun to feel like a bad pain day doesn’t signify the end of the world. Now, more than a year after my visit, I have stayed off painkillers, though I sometimes take an anti-anxiety medication if I need it. I feel good and I know that I can still have a full, active life, no matter the hardships I face. I am more grateful for and appreciative of my amazing life, friends and family. And I have total faith that, if I take small steps and cut myself some slack, happiness is mine for the taking. Because pain is no lon- ger in control of me—I am. PR byrd schas is a health writer and editor living in New York City.