Advanced Pain Management
reviews and complaints

Asked for 1 telemedicine visit prior to me transferring to a new practice as I moved an hour away. My new home is now an hour from their office. They refused. I had just had labs done at my primary care that showed my Valley Fever was back and I was sleeping all day and not safe for driving. Joints swollen and severe rash. Never had any medication issues with pain management. Having increased pain and headaches with Valley Fever. Been to ER 3 time’s already for this. Now having to go multiple times a week because pain management refuses to see me. They are wasting insurance money. I was told when I scheduled I could have a telehealth visit.

In Apr 2019, I was referred to a pain management center by my treating rheumatologist. the rheumatologist said they were no longer managing control of my chronic pain (from 1. rheumatoid, 2. Psoratic arthritis, 3. Gout, 4. Bursitis and more; #1 diagnosed 2005, #2 & 3 diagnosed 2010 and #4-in 2016) and a specialty practice will handle these. I'd been on the same pain management regime for ~5yrs -- w/o change or increased doses.

I went to their 51st Avenue & hwy 101 location. Seen by NP 1st & 2nd visit. very detailed exam and medical history review done. I said reason for visit was for rheumatology associated chronic pain management. And that my rheumatologist was no longer managing chronic pain meds. Plus being upfront and honest, due to a very recent exacerbation of low back and leg pain, I'd already initiated evaluation of it with a spine specialist. I told the NP and all tests in the works. xrays done, MRI pending etc.

The NP said they also do spine injections. But b/c I'd begun a process for diagnosing pain source (never had before) & I wanted to stay w/the specialist until at least diagnosis and treatment plan was established (vs less inclusive evaluation and automatic push to epidurals etc by pain specialists). At same time I was honest re: same with both spine specialist and rheumatologist -- so every one knew what's going on. Meanwhile Adv Pain Mgt agreed to prescribe the 2 chronic pain meds "for now".

Pain specialists did urine drug test (never had before) visit #1 & 2. Each time I told them based on my health insurance, all lab tests, including these, must be done via the specified labs. Each time I presented my insurance card specifying this. They took info & I assumed they followed the health insurance directions. NOT. I got Bill 6-7 weeks after visit #1 for $1700.00 for 1 urine drug test! OMG. I should have been sent to my health insurance designated lab for urine drug test (like I do for all others, blood, urine, stool etc. -- they do urine drug tests). I can't pay that.

I returned for 2nd visit, 1 month later for renewal of meds. I told NP status from spine specialist, and that I'd had a "L3 diagnostic epidural injection" the week before -- not intended for long lasting relief, but to pinpoint pain origins in spine before arbitrarily giving epidural injections that may not be given at proper vertebral level. NP not happy I was getting these done elsewhere. NP said spine specialist should be prescribing pain meds. Adv Pain Mgt NP REFUSED to acknowledge I was there for auto-immune related chronic pain. OK.

I returned to Adv Pain Mgt for visit #3; again for renewal of chronic pain meds. This time I was seen by DR. BRIAN PAGE. Surprised me. Dr. Page went off on a RANT. He refused to acknowledge my medical history, where chronic pain came from (primarily autoimmune derived) and instead aggressively said that "we DON'T manage CHRONIC PAIN MEDs". And he got louder saying unless I let him do epidural injections. So I was DISCHARGED from their practice. I refused to let him run roughshod and b/c I talked back, trying to again clarify my health issues (wanted to make sure he acknowledged why I was there).

In the middle of our discussion (I'd raised my voice b/c Dr. Page wasn't allowing me to contradict/explain), Dr. Page abruptly got up and walked out. He closed exam room door, and very shortly returned with a 3rd party, FEMALE employee "witness" to the discussion. He said if a different doctor was addressing the spinal issue, that doctor must prescribe my chronic pain meds. I had never got any pain meds from the spine doctor. They were only ever prescribed by 1st the rheumatologist followed by APM; until this day. Dr. Page verified that by reviewing pain med prescriptions on the pharmacy databases! HUH. DUH.

I wasn't lying or trying to get pain meds beyond as I'd described honestly to all medical providers (APM, spine doc, Rheumatologist).

At end of appt, gave me a "LIST" of Phoenix valley medical practices to go to for chronic pain med management. This list had only 3 places for entire Phoenix valley (each had only 1 location). Honestly I'd never been treated like this ever...and as a Registered Nurse, I had a higher level of medical knowledge and insight. Beyond the average layperson. I remain SHOCKED.

Dr. Page said UNLESS I agreed to let APM handle the epidural injections, they wouldn't manage my chronic pain meds for the autoimmune diseases. Besides, dr. Page said he NEVER heard of diagnostic epidurals to specify correct vertebral levels to define pain origins so the right spot is specifically.

I'll NEVER recommend this practice to anyone. Makes me wonder why they are "PAIN MANAGEMENT SPECIALISTS". I firmly believe Dr. Page was ANGRY they couldn't collect associated revenue for epidural injections and more. I'm SHOCKED. Dr. Page was very disrespectful.

After telling my other doctors, I STILL have to find an alternative way to manage the chronic pain. In the meantime, I haven't had one of the usual pain meds for ~2months -- very noticable to me. Affects my abilities to get everyday stuff done. as for the other pain med (taking 2 different ones), the spine doctor agreed to prescribe it. But again the spine doctor isn't managing all chronic pain. Just that associated low back/thigh pains etc. So AGGRAVATING.

Don't go here. I should have read the other reviews before going there.

When I first went to the clinic I stated I occasionally needed pain medication. I was prescribed Tylenol with codeine. Every time I went back they insisted I have injections which I told them I had before and was allergic. They still told me I should have injections. Then they started saying I had to have my nerves burned with a laser. I said repeatedly I did not want this procedure. The last visit I was told I was disruptive and did not follow their protocol which was the injections and nerve destruction. They do not listen to the fact I am allergic and do not want their procedures which are very expensive, the Tylenol with codeine has worked for forty years and this did not matter. They told me I was not following their protocol. It is my body I live in it I know what works and does not work. The main surgeon is dictatorial, overbearing and disruptive to standard knowledgeable and completely safe and accepted methods. He does not have the rights privileges or Knowledge to dispense judgement ridicule or condensation to anyone. I have had a disability for forty years I know what works and does not work in my own body. Anyone can Google the clinic and verify there are multiple complaints of this exact same tyrannical abuse.