Duke Pain Medicine

After being on Ecmo for 5months I was left with excruciating nerve pain in my right foot, I've had several procedures done there that have done nothing but make it worse. On top of that they have done nothing for the pain I have experienced since 2021 always trying medication that does absolutely nothing and when I go back in a couple of months if they can't get it right I'll be looking into having my right leg amputated from the knee down it's my only other option. I understand they don't like to give opioids but for some of us that's our only option.

My doctor referred me to Duke Pain Medicine Clinic. Within a couple days I received a call from them. They acknowledged the referral but said they have no appointments available. I asked when they thought something would become available and she said she didn’t know. I asked for a guesstimate and she said she couldn’t give me one. Never experienced anything like this; however, after reading reviews of other people’s experience I understand where they are coming from. I think I will find other options.

I am in disbelief at the moment. I can't fathom how such a respected institution can treat patients in such careless and dispensable manner. My physician referred me to this clinic for a second opinion and I was told that it would be 10 weeks before I would know if I was "approved" as a patient. So, I waited and waited and then decided to call an follow up. Apparently I was denied and no explanation was given. Not only that, but I was never notified that my referral was denied. So, basically Duke expects you to continually call in to see if your referral will be accepted since they won't be taking the time to notify the patient that they will need to find another option. More over, they apparently don't think it is worth their time to explain why they aren't accepting another physician's referral. Clearly, Duke knows that patients are referred to them because their current physician feel their patient needs the next level of expertise. But, Duke doesn't have the respect to communicate or consider the amount of time a patient is kept waiting. What an outright disregard to patient care and respect.

This is the worst place possible and should not be open. They don't do anything but run painful excruciating tests then refer you to another Dr, then they don't listen to the Dr they refer you to about treatment plan or offer any treatment & schedule appointments months out while you sit at home and suffer. They induce pain& anxiety not treat it!!!

I've been going here for years. They mainly want to focus on one thing at a time. It's all about steroid injections. They only work for about a month.

Since Dr. Prakken retired Duke Pain has gone downhill. Multiple messages to my provider via portal & phone 5 total went unanswered until I contacted customer service. But they still continued to be non-communicative ultimately endangering my well being. I will be filing complaints with the NC Medical Board, Medicare, and every other authority for the negligent "care" I experienced at this clinic.

The Appointment schedulers are bordering on rude incompetence. Today on 8/31/2021 between 1:15pm 1:30pm, a female scheduler with a thick southern drawl, hung up on me because she refused to let me explain that I was told the day before to call back after I researched the surgeon I wanted to see. This Pain Medicine Center’s administrative staff leaves a lot to be desired. Something needs to be done about how they deal with patients over the phone. The female person who calls to confirm your pain procedure is so rude and bullying also, telling you how you can’t ask the doctor any questions after your procedure, etc. WHAT IN THE WORLD⁉

I have been a Duke patient for over 20 years and I have been a Duke Pain Management patient for 19 years. I have found the people at Duke to be caring compassionate professionals. Some have gone above and beyond to research my complete history to better understand my issues with pain. In June of 2018 I saw a new pain specialist for the first time. He sat with me for three hours talking to me reviewing records reviewing MRIs that were as much is eight years old. He found things that should’ve been seen and treated Eight years ago. I know this sounds a bit confusing but the doctors who treated me prior to June of last year were in a Duke facility but they worked for a different physicians group. So to my care team at this facility I thank you!

I just this morning experienced the most unpleasant and upsetting situation at this facility. When I arrived for my first appointment as a new patient, I was told by the receptionist that apparently it had been cancelled the same day that it was made, and that there were no other appointments available today, but that I could reschedule. I was shocked , as I told her that NO ONE had notified me of any cancellation, and I had been waiting with increasing and daily lower back pain for this appointment for almost 6 weeks. She apologized, said that it had just happened to someone else also as if that would help me understand but that there was nothing that she could do - and suggested I make another appointment, but that would not be for another 5 or 6 weeks. Needless to say, I was not only floored but devastated. I then spoke with the nurse manager, who could not even understand how I had gotten the appointment in the first place .... so I explained my search process and set of phone calls within Duke, that eventually resulted in an individual scheduling this appointment for me. Her main concern was not for me, but to discover who had made the appointment for me, as she asked me this multiple times. She also told me that my physician would have had to refer me, and advised me to contact my physician to made a new referral. I not so politely declined and left. I am absolutely stunned by the response of the people in this facility. I was not treated as an individual, but as someone to "deal with and move on to the rest of their day". Shameful. If I could award no stars to this review, I would.

I loves them. I have to say that Duke pain medicine always been right there when I need them. I loves the doctors, nurse and the people that work at the front. They have good customer service every time I have an appointment with them. I will come here before I go anywhere else. I pray that Duke pain medicine will continue been the great Duke pain medicine that I know. Loves you all that work into this office. Nikki Battle