The Pain Rehabilitation Clinic (PRC, as we call it in the clinic) is a 15-day cycle of understanding.

The focus is on growing the numerator. If the ratio to a happy life is good/bad, then growing the good leads to a larger ratio.

As you know, I just spent fifteen days at The Pain Rehabilitation Clinic at Mayo. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy at the PRC is designed to grow your world. It is a goal-oriented therapy that helps you understand the connection between your thoughts, your actions, and your emotions. Specifically, all three affect how you perceive your symptoms, regardless of their underlying cause.

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The underlying medical condition did not change. My rare genetic condition was not cured. I can say I limped into PRC using a cane and came out able to walk twenty minutes a day without one. By the end of the three weeks, I could ride the stationary bike for fifteen minutes. One of the most remarkable things I found was that I could get up off the ground without assistance.

My pain was still present. My groin and hamstrings still reported the slow, relentless tearing and associated pain signals. The symptoms illustrated in our AI-produced image above were nearly unchanged. Yet my life had been revitalized.

My functional ability had increased.

Pain cannot be quantified no matter how hard the nurses and doctors try with their 1-10 scales.

These measurement tools help professionals care for our acute pain symptoms. But for those of us who suffer from long-term chronic symptoms such as anxiety, depression, OCD, sleep issues, and of course chronic pain, the numbers only tell part of the story. They may, in fact, help cement the symptoms.

Let me remind you that I am not a doctor. I am not a specialist in pain therapy. I am, in fact, a person who has experienced chronic pain. I am a science teacher. I have spent the last two years working on writing my medical memoir. I have done research and experienced a variety of medical treatments, with mixed results.

Before arriving, I knew I couldn’t go all day without a nap or some sort of break, or, for that matter, some form of breakdown. I knew simply being there would be exhausting. Add the fact that I had to spend my time with more than a dozen complete strangers, and you can see why I was nervous to begin the program.

I had, for a few years now, begun to feel my condition was hopeless. Yes, I now understood the cause of my ailments, the reasons for my disability, and yet with that understanding came the realization that my condition was degenerative.

When things were bad, I could not help but imagine my future as worse.

I am currently writing the capstone experience—my time at the PRC. Spoiler alert—I was transcendent. For me.

I was, however, primed for success. I believe in science, and I did extensive research before my arrival.

Over my 16 days at the PRC, my physical abilities improved. I gained confidence about what was possible and learned techniques and concepts that have brought hope to my heart.

I want to thank the staff at the PRC for their relentless support and care. I want to thank my cohort for their patience, support, and friendship. I met people from all walks of life, all struggling with symptoms, all trying to live a larger life by putting their symptoms in the back seat and not letting them occupy the driver’s seat and steer our lives.

They gave me hope.

I wanted to let you all know I am hopeful. I am Happy.

Terry.

Next week, I will write a bit more about the challenges I have faced as life’s chaos has swept over me.

Thanks for reading.

Terry