Pain Rehabilitation Center in Minnesota

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if pain rehabilitation is right for me?
Candidates for admission to the Pain Rehabilitation Center (PRC) have chronic pain as a major health problem and have typically experienced a significant decline in functional abilities and quality of life due to their pain. Pain rehabilitation is a challenging process that requires a serious commitment. Your primary medical doctor or mental health professional will be able to assess your fit for pain rehabilitation and can refer you to the program if you are interested. You can ask yourself the following questions to assess your readiness:

• Is my life focused on pain and what I am not able to do, rather than what I am able to do in spite of the pain?
• Are my doctors telling me they can do nothing further to relieve the pain? Do they tell me I need to get on with my life?
• Am I truly concerned about the long-term effects of taking pain medications?
• Is my family's well-being affected by my chronic pain?
• Is my recovery from injury or illness taking much longer than my doctors or I expected?
• Am I not able to commit to social events with family or friends because my pain may be higher that day?

Answering "Yes" to any of these questions may indicate that pain rehabilitation is appropriate.

Can I refer myself?
Because patients with chronic pain typically have extensive medical histories, a referral from a medical provider, such as a primary doctor, psychiatrist, psychologist, or rehabilitation counselor is requested. The referral provides us with the necessary background to determine if the rehabilitation approach may be beneficial.

What is the success rate?
Success in the PRC program is dependent upon a patient's commitment and hard work toward individualized goals in the self-management of chronic pain. Here are a few statistics:

• Overall, 84 percent of patients who begin the program finish the three-week program
• Of the patients who completed the program in the last three years, 45 percent of patients began the program on opioid medications. At discharge, only 3.7 percent remained on opioids.
• Nearly 93 percent of patients experienced an increase in aerobic activity levels, with 75 percent experiencing an increase of 50 percent or more.
• More than 70 percent of patients noted a decrease in pain severity.
• More than 85 percent of patients reported that pain interfered less in their daily life at completion of the program.
• Almost 84 percent of patients experienced greater control over pain.
• Approximately 79 percent of patients experienced a decrease in depressive symptoms at program completion.
• Nearly 81 percent had increased energy levels.

Please refer to Treatment Outcomes for more detailed information.

I'm not sure that I will be able to handle a full-day program. Is it possible to participate on a half-day basis?
Patients are expected to participate in the entire program, which runs Monday through Friday from 7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., for approximately 15 days. Although some patients initially doubt their ability to maintain involvement for this time, the application of program concepts makes it possible. A nurse care coordinator is assigned to each patient and is available for support as needed. Only in extreme circumstances are patients allowed to participate in half-day programming for the first week with the goal of participating in full-day programming during the remainder of the program.

Does insurance cover this program?
After the initial evaluation to determine if you are a candidate for the program has been completed, a representative from Mayo Clinic's Patient Financial Services will contact your insurance carrier, as many health insurance plans require approval prior to admission to the PRC. The typical wait for an insurance predetermination outcome can be up to six weeks. Upon receiving insurance approval, you will be contacted to assist in scheduling an admission date that works with your schedule and available openings in the program. Patient Financial Services will contact you if full approval for the program cannot be obtained. If the financial representatives are able to determine that insurance will not cover the program, a preservice deposit will be required prior to entering the program. If you have questions about your benefits or the status of your approval, please check with your insurance company. If you need further assistance, a Mayo financial representative is available to speak with you about insurance issues at (507) 284-3980.

How much does the program cost?
Many insurance programs provide coverage for portions, if not all, of the program. To determine the most current cost information without insurance coverage, please contact Mayo Clinic Estimating at (507) 284-4024.

Where should I stay in Rochester?
Patients make their own arrangements for lodging. A brochure is available at the Pain Rehabilitation Center front desk, or patients can visit the Mayo Clinic lodging Web page for a list of lodging options in the area. Mayo Clinic staff can assist with general questions about accommodations, but the patient is responsible for arrangements.

Should my family stay with me? Can my family participate in group?
Family members and friends are not allowed in group sessions, because the confidentiality of all patients must be respected. The Family Group takes place on Fridays and we encourage any significant person to participate. At times, when family members or friends cannot travel to attend the family group programming, with permission from the patient, the patient's nurse care coordinator can schedule phone conferences to discuss how family/friends can support the patient's ongoing rehabilitation progress.

What should I bring?
Patients are asked to bring a personal CD or cassette player for use in their hotel room in the evenings. Relaxation tapes and CDs will be provided to listen to in the evenings. Patients should also arrive at the PRC with all medications taken on a regular basis. A nurse case manager and pharmacist will review medications at this time and make a plan for continued use.

What should I wear?
Clothing should be comfortable and casual so that it can be worn for exercise and for the more active portions of the day. Due to variable Minnesota weather, many patients choose layered clothing for comfort. Tennis shoes or good walking shoes are recommended.

Are meals served?
Meals are not provided as part of the program. Patients are responsible for bringing or purchasing lunch. An hour is provided for lunch daily. Hot, cold and vegetarian choices are available for purchase, or patients may bring their own lunch (a full kitchen is available). The Saint Marys Hospital patient cafeteria and the Generose Express deli also have many items available for purchase.

How do I find your center?
The PRC is located on the second floor of the Generose Building on the Saint Marys Hospital campus. The Traveling to Mayo Clinic and Maps to Mayo Clinic Facilities Web pages provide information about getting to the Mayo Clinic campus.

Where can I find more information on chronic pain?
In 1998 a national survey was conducted asking the question, "What is your number one medical question?" The results showed that questions related to chronic pain were the number one issue. As a result the book "Mayo Clinic on Chronic Pain" was developed to answer questions about chronic pain. The book, edited by Mayo Clinic physician Jeffrey Rome, M.D., and distributed by Kensington Publishing Corporation, also provides a good overview of the concepts incorporated in the Pain Rehabilitation Center program. The first edition was published in 1999, and a second edition was published in 2002. "Mayo Clinic on Chronic Pain" has been translated into Arabic, Chinese, Croatian, Dutch, French, Greek, Japanese, Norwegian, Romanian, Serbo-Croatian and Spanish. The English edition is also available in a large-print format. The English version has sold more than 100,000 copies. A third edition of "Mayo Clinic on Chronic Pain" is being developed.

Other Web resources can help patients who are considering pain rehabilitation or want to learn more about chronic pain management.