Pain Camp? Really?
Hi all! My name is Dori! I’ve struggled with PsA since I was 16, was diagnosed at 17, and am now trying to navigate a new life at 18.
It’s been tough. You all know the struggles of waking up, missing out on activities, brain fog, etc., etc.
Unfortunately, at my age I am missing out on things like moving to college this fall, as my PsA put me behind in my online classes. My whole life has been turned upside down.
We’ve tried countless therapies and medications; we’ve seen 19 specialists. I’ve been on Stelara since February but haven’t seen any improvement. We’re constantly searching for something to lessen the pain and help me live my life in a semi-normal way.
At my last appointment, my rheumy told me about a pain camp. I tried to hold back my laughter. Really? Pain camp? Oh man, what a joke. I begrudgingly took the pamphlet home and gave it dirty looks from across the table. I finally gave in and read it.
It’s the Nebraska Chronic Pain Management Program. As much as I wanted to hate it, I was intrigued and… hopeful?
It’s a four week program where you consult with PT’s of all kinds, psychologists, nutritionists, and other doctors. They offer massage, water therapy, group coping sessions… the list goes on.
Now here’s the struggle:
It’s not in commuting distance from my town, so I would have to live there. My parents are worried about this as I am only 18. We’re also not sure about cost and insurance, but ultimately we would do whatever it takes to help.
So, will it help? I’ve read testimonials and watched videos galore about this program, and there are plenty of positive reviews. I wanted to bring this to you all to see if anyone here has been through a program like this. Is it worth the time and money? Has it made life easier?
We have plenty of questions, but I am excited to learn more. Thank you for reading all of this!
Blessings,
Dori
Hi @another-sass! I wish you were not in so much pain, especially at such a young age. My heart goes out to you. I am glad you found this community though. There are lots of wonderful people here who will support you and plenty of excellent resources. I have not heard of pain management camp and I found nothing in our archives, but it sounds wonderful. I hope insurance will help cover it and that you will find some relief. It can take a lot of trial and error to find the most effective medication for PsA because everyone reacts to the medications differently. It is impossible for doctors to predict which medication you will respond to. But there are plenty of treatments out there you can try. When you do find the right one, it will all be worth it. I hope you get some responses from the community. Thinking of you! - Lori (Team Member)
Hey Dori, 😀 So I saw your post again and am really interested in what you decided to do? Did you give it a try? How have you been over the last year? Is school getting any "easier?" I hope you have found some strategies to help you cope better throughout the year! Take care of yourself, -Leanne (Team Member) I did go! I spent 3 weeks there and learned so much about how to live with chronic pain. It was an amazing experience and I'm so thankful I had the opportunity to go. I have definitely learned how to cope, get through flares, and ways to prevent flares. I would recommend it to everyone if I could!
