I have been going to the Wasilla location for a few months and have nothing but great things to say! From my first appointment I felt heard, understood and respected. I felt like I was part of the team and not just being told what to do. The provider continues to check in with me to assure I am happy with the care I am getting- which i always am. If you want a pain clinic that listens and respects you then this is the place to go! Everyone in that office is amazing from the ladies at the front desk to the MA's.... nothing but good things to say! read more

The first appointment they had available was quite some time away because the provider was going on vacation. They have numerous providers so I can only guess that all the rest are booked weeks out?? BEFORE my first visit I called to see if there was a possibility of me changing it and that is when I learned the provider they have assigned me will be going on vacation AGAIN. Bottom line is that I was going to end up with ONE appointment in an almost TWO month period of time. Not sure how that is supposed to help me? I canceled. read more

Dr Lonser is a great Dr, he takes the time to help you understand what you need to do to help yourself. As well as explaining what your best options might be for pain management. read more

Unprofessional, heartless - was messaged regarding pain management by my doctor. I had previously indicated that this could be an issue since I worked with them previously - I made mention of this on the phone call where they were able to get me on the schedule - I get into the office and fill out their paperwork after a month and a half dealing with pain at this level only to be told that I'm not going to be seen today due to said previous relationship. This could have been addressed before I made it into the office - this could have been addressed before I had weeks of pain. This could have been addressed so that I could get to an office that will actually do their job. Instead they have wasted my time, wasted my energy, and being told that I will not be seen even though I've been on their books was a low blow. As a chiropractor who would refer to clinics for patients in need - should I ever get to a point where I'm able to practice again without being in such pain that it impacts my work, I will never refer or recommend anyone to AA Spine and Pain clinic. read more

This clinic hates the elderly they claim Medicare does not cover telemetry visits not true they extended the service till March 25 2025 .AA spine and pain has chosen not to honor this. Telemed is still covered by medicare read more

I have seen Dr. Elkin for two different procedures. He is kind and caring and makes sure you're comfortable the entire time. I highly recommend Dr. Elkin at AA pain and spine. read more

These Doctors truly don't care about they're patient's I don't really know what else to say except worst doctor's office ever they never returned phone calls they never keep you in the loop without your care they never remember what you're being seen for or what you were diagnosed with their service truly sucks !!! I've been waiting for a prior authorization for almost 2 months and i have gone without my medication crazy crazy care not recommended I wouldn't take my farm animals there !! Seriously if you go there turn around and run ! read more

This place didn't treat me like a person I heard the docs out in the hallway talking about how negative my treatment is

I am a person with individual needs. I have been a patient of AA pain for many years. Knowing I am going to be treated in the best possible fashion to meet my health needs, allows me to live my life to the fullest..Thank you AA pain. read more

DO NOT HAVE ANY PROCEDURES done here. They're post-op care is non-existent. They give out way too much pain meds at the beginning in hopes that you will agree to a procedure. Each procedure is $5,000 minimum. That's where they get their profit. The individual doctor visit is $260. Big difference, huh? They make appointments to see you, but talk you into procedures you may not need to make money. It's fraudulent, to say the least. Do. Lonser doesn't care for patients. He just wants to make money if the procedures. Dr. Boomgaard is an over-prescriber. Careful. You might die under his care. The MA's are straight out of Alaska Career Academy, with ZERO experience. The nurses are nice and are the only ones that are doing a good job. read more

They didn't want to do my paperwork and they messed up appointments and then blamed me for them. I decided to change clinics because they didn't do their administrative work. Wanted me to drop off paperwork and then chase it down. The last straw was the surgery manager telling me that I was not scheduled for procedure and was rude. I had to bite my tongue, but I decided enough. read more

dr. Shawn Johnston professional great bedside manner knows what he's doing got me out of my pain best doctor on the planet!!! Also staff very professional courteous took good care of me !!! read more

When I first started going there it was great they got me right in and right out. The last appt I waited an hour and a half to even be called back. My appointment was at 3:30pm and I didnt get out of there til almost 5:30 read more

I've been seeing Dr. Lonsar for over 8 months. My care has been outstanding, as is the support staff. Suffering from chronic pain for decades, broken neck, trashed lower back. I've had the injections, acupuncture, biofeedback, tens units, chiropractor. Of course several doctors want to do two surgeries on the lower back. I felt I was being maneuvered to do these surgeries instead of trying medication first. Primary doctors no longer have the ability to monitor pain medication, so they don't. After chronic pain inflicted insomnia and acute gastroenteritis on me, other doctors want to insist on other reasons for these complaints. My continued treatment with Dr Lonsar has allowed me to establish a sleep pattern where I am sleeping up to 4 hours without waking, this is the best I have slept in over 10 years. My gastric issues have all but cleared up. No more daily nausea and vomiting. Low potassium as result of daily vomiting no longer issue. Dr Cornelius referred me right away to Dr Lonsar during my first appointment, yea he listened to what I said and did not dismiss my chronic pain in any way. After going to three other primary doctors in anchorage I found one that is not dismissive. Lesson learned after my cancer was misdiagnosed two times. I have never been pressured or even asked in any way to have additional treatment here. I have asked about other treatments to be proactive in pushing my pain as far in the future as possible. Having been a detox and drug counselor in another life. I can assure you Dr Lonsar is completely aware of drug seekers, users and your treatment will be brief if at all.Iif you don't have a Doctor working for you, find another. My cancer doctors quote. Life is good when you have control. read more

I wouldn't recommend aa spine and pain to anybody. I went there for 4 years but was let go for not answering my phone when they called me they said for a pill count. They didn't try to call my house phone just my cellphone. I know other people who were let go after being in pain management for years there as well. It seems like they have a agenda to let go of Medicaid parents as you can not do point less procedure that leave you worse than before you had the procedure. A couple Drs that were with them for years left there practice because they didn't agree with the way the practice was being ran and there pay was cut 40 percent. read more

I had been recieving treatment at AA Spine and Pain for about a year... The Nurses, PA's, MD's and Surgeons were helpful at first, more so at Algone who partners with Alaska Spine Institue. If you are looking for Pain and Surgical procedures I would definately recommend Algone! AA Spine and Pain has absolutely no respect for Patient Privacy. The MD and Surgeons are just looking to take your money! They walk down the halls speaking aloud addressing patient files which caught everyones attention. I have experienced this issue personally and had to listen to other patients treatment plans. The US Martials tend to over step their boundaries at the clinic. They continuously violated all HIPPA regulations and were involving themselves in my personal, current and past times. They were holding online PA MTG'S REGARDING ME. The attendees were previous employeers, high school teachers, aunts, cousins, past coworkers, their PC teams who were to organize my privacy/ protective custody which they failed to do. They installed a communicative device in my home that was constantly assaulting and was played aloud in their office while in protective custody. Insulting enough that when I was to mention or think of somebody from my past the AA staff would immediately contact the individuals to discuss me. Completely unprofessional and it came to the point of my dismissal due to being confronted in regards to my medical care. The equipment was so hurtful that was installed in my home it made me mentally unstable and then they had the nerve to blame me for my choice of opinion of the equipment in my OWN HOME. They do not follow any Alaska medical privacy acts or regulations and should face legal action. Just my thoughts! read more

I would like to apologize up front for lengthy review. I signed on to leave one not intending to be so descriptive. And leave a review of my gratitude. Then I read some negative ones. And thought again. I am being seen currently at the AA Spine Clinic by Dr Lonser. I had a few horrible auto accidents where I lost my spleen in one accident, then had my ankle completely dislocated, where my foot hung from my ankle like a weight in a sock in another. Whiplash a couple times. At 5 years old I fell off slide landed head first suffered a concussion and spent 5 days one of which was my fifth birthday in the hospital. Had one if not 2 black eyes from 1-10 years of age most of the time. Was born with double hernia where boys get it that required surgical repair. My childhood was spent falling from anything I could or couldn't climb. And my adult life was riddled with RA, carpel tunnel, and a curved spine that my mother said looked like a map of the Mississippi. Not to mention many auto accidents. My mother and the rest of my family often joked I was so accident prone I tripped over the print in the linoleum. Add scoliosis, that required lumbar surgery, bi-lateral carpel tunnel, that required surgery, and compressed spinal cord that requires future cervical surgery. Surgeries all in last two years. And you can imagine the pain from my medical defects along with wear and tear from my many injuries. When I came to AA Spine I had 2 of 4 expected surgeries and since had my third. And was 1+ years into a relationship with the love of my life. My body was broken and my confidence of being able to participate in a relationship with the most loving man was weak. I was in pain that had no good days. There was and still are days I spend most of the day in bed. But there are also those days where my hunny cooks and we sit in the living room or outside. We make plans and over see the remodeling of his home. We share stories of our lives to each other. And I can dream of a future. These are the days we get to laugh and build new memories. These are the days I owe so much gratitude to Dr Lonser and his staff for. The care that I have received so far has been outstanding! And made me able to participate in what seems to be the beginning of my happily ever after. The doctor asserts himself with a common sense approach and that's refreshing. This approach reflects on his staff as well. Dr Lonser always takes his time with me, he answers all my questions and never seems to be in a rush to move on to the next patient. I always feel completely satisfied after my appointment. There are no unanswered questions, doubts, or confusion.and does it in a manner, that I can understand what he is saying. He seems at ease, never rushed or annoyed with my questions. He also takes time to share jokes with my 12 year old autistic daughter. I feel Dr Lonser is a wonderful person. He is courteous as he is kind. And as professional, Informative, and empathetic. It's so nice, he and his staff take time to show care and concern for both me and my daughter. I feel Dr Lonser and his staff truly care how my life and days each month are going. Not always like a doctors office. I find them Professional and yet So pleasant. AA Spine Clinics Dr Lonser and his staff, instill a great deal of confidence, in me and mine. I find them friendly, and caring people. I couldn't be more pleased with their services before and after my surgeries I would recommend the whole office as well as procedures, to anybody and everyone who asks. As I have had several successful, as well as different, procedures, and visits with other staff members, all competent as well as pleasant. I cannot explain in words such a great body of people like them. Dr Lonser and staff are in my opinion A shining example of what every doctor and staff should strive to be. In writing this, I realized I have not shared with Dr Lonser and staff, how many doors of hope for my future as well as my family. They have made possible. I am forever in their debt. read more

From the time I got the referral to the time I was seen, 24 hours!!! I was in a lot of pain and was very happy to be seen so fast. Dr. Lonser was awesome!! Everyone in the clinic was very nice. The best part ....no pain this morning. I would highly recommend them. read more

How I came to be at aa spine & pain and my interaction with ray and the staff at aa spine and pain...I was a patient at the Alaska Spine Institute for 15 years before they closed their doors during the summer of 2020. 15 years, 4 different doctors and at least half dozen medical assistants in that time,15 years without any problems with the staff or doctors at the Spine Institute. I have a spondylolisthesis @ L5, arthritis in neck, hands and shoulder. About the last 6 months to a year at the Spine Institute I was a patient of Dr. Shawn Johnston, during the spring of 2021 he advised me that he and some of the doctors were moving over to aa spine, he said they'd have more freedom there...evidently, I should have asked what that meant. My first aa spine appt was Aug 26th according to my google calendar and my first encounter with ray! Dr. Johnston's new medical assistant since the move over from the Spine Institute. I was given a UA test since it was my first visit and under pain management, ray took my vitals and then Dr. Johnston came in, we chatted as usual and I advised that sitting for even short periods of 30 mins was now causing pain and numbness mostly in the back of my leg now instead of down the side as it had been for years, we discussed epidurals again and I was up for it next visit. He left and I got ready to leave, I remembered that Walgreens said they couldn't get my dose of meds as they were on backorder, I told ray that I was going back to work on the 28th and I asked ray if he could get the prescription reissued, he told me to go to other pharmacies and see who had my dose available, unbeknownst to me that would turn out to be my undoing I guess you could say. I was scheduled to return to work on a very remote Aleutian island in two days so I searched and no one had my dose available, I called Ray and left a voicemail on the morning of the 27th advising that no one had it, could he have it changed to a different dose or brand, I did not hear back by the end of the day so I called back and left another message that evening, the 28th came and I had to return to work without my meds refill, so I started rationing as I was scheduled for a five week hitch at work. I called a couple of more times after returning to work and on Aug 30 asked the receptionist to please have Dr Johnston call me as I wasn't getting a response from ray, I called again on the 31st and asked the receptionist to please have Dr Johnston call me as I believed there was a problem with ray returning my calls, I didn't hear from either of the persons at aa spine so I quit calling. My phone indicates that ray returned my call on Sept 3rd, ray said that they hadn't setup his email, he asked what I wanted? I asked him if he had gotten my voicemail and he said "I get a lot of messages!" I told ray that I'd tried to reach him before having to return to work for the change to my med refill because no one had it and that I had to return to work without it, he said that I should start rationing to wean myself off because I would have bad withdrawls, I told ray that I still needed that prescription changed because Walgreens now say that there is no indication that they'd be receiving any in the near future. On Sept 20th I called Walgreens to see if the prescription had been changed to something they had, they said no so I called aa spine and asked the receptionist to speak with ray, he didn't answer so I left a voicemail, I waited until Sept 27th to try Walgreens again, still no change to the prescription so I called aa spine and pleaded with the receptionist to either connect me with Dr Johnston or have him call me about a problem with ray. On Nov 8th I called Walgreens to find no change to the prescription so I called aa spine and asked to speak directly to Dr Johnston, the receptionist (melissa, same receptionist as most other answered calls) said she'd transfer me to ray, frustrated I said "maam that guy is a piece of shit and will not return my calls, could you please connect me with Dr Johnston", I was transferred to ray's voicemail, I left another message asking for the change respectfully and as of this review have not received a call from ray or Dr Johnston. When I arrived home on Oct 23rd there was a letter from aa spine signed by Dr Johnston advising that I would not receive further care from them due to my dissatisfaction with the service from the Anchorage aa spine office. Last week Walgreens called aa spine to ask about modifying the prescription that they'd been holding for 3 months, AA spine told them they'd "fired me" and withdrew the prescription. Wouldn't any decent care provider (Dr Johnston) reach out to a patient? At least ask what the problem is? Until this last call, every call and the office interaction with them, I was courteous and respectful, there was no reason for a patient to be treated this way. An attorney suggested that I post this detailed review in hopes that the owners of aa spine would see it. read more

I have been going to this office for almost two years since I retired from the military with a chronic pain condition already managed by the USAF including a IT pain pump and two neurostimulators. My doctor had me able to work 60 hours a week plus teach part time. The staff know me by name, all except one front office person are great, caring, people. I have never had a problem we could not work out with open honest communication. This office side where my provider is has the absolute hands down best front office, MA, RN, and lab staff. I would refer anyone with chronic pain to this clinic and to Dr. Johnson. read more

I love dr. Hagen. He is a very good and patient doctor. He has put up with my issues, more times that I deserved. I hope to keep him as a doctor for as long as I need him. I promise to take the program more seriously..and continue my counseling.AA clinic is awesome. They have saved my life. Dont what I would do with out them. read more

STAY FAR AWAY unless you want a doc office that never calls you back, screws up your insurance and has rude staff. ! If I could give this place no stars I would. First off they DO NOT have ANY way to reach a doctor or the clinic after hours, not even voicemail to leave a message?!! They also lie and say they never received faxes. I know for a FACT that my pharmacy faxed my ins. pre-auth for my meds 3 times!!! I left message for my docs med assistant during office hours & she NEVER called me back. Then I receive a nasty voicemail from a woman named Laura who says: we never got no faxes, we never got nothin". Not kidding her slang was so ghetto I was shocked! I asked if I could please speak to her or someone 5 separate times and emailed. and no-one EVER called me back. Now my pre-authorization was filled out Wrong so my ins will not pay for my meds. All of this trouble simply be they DONT care enough about their patients to call them back! A simple phone call was all I asked to clear up my pre-authorization mess that they caused & they just don't care. Shame on you AA pain for treating a patient this way. You should be shut down for your rude staff and inability to communicate. You've ruined my pre-authorization and now I'm paying out of pocket hundreds of dollars for your mistake. Makes me sick to my stomach how ruthless a doctor office can be. read more

At my visit to my pain specialist in September, I saw the PA Sarah Bigelow. It had been 35 days since my last visit in August, because I switched from a beginning-of-the-week patient to an end-of-the-week patient (at the office's request!). And of course the Rx's that my doctor wrote in August were for 28 days. But in September, I mentioned to Sarah Bigelow that I had run out of my medication on Wednesday that week, 2 days before. She immediately concluded that since I had run out, I must have taken more than as prescribed. She would NOT discuss it with me or look at the dates, and she put it in writing that I had taken more of my meds than prescribed. Of course, since my 28 day Rx lasted 33 days, the truth is that I took less than prescribed! But the truth does not seem to matter. I went to my next appointment looking forward to resolving the matter. But they were already ready for me with the accusation of the broken "Pain Contract" and a Denial of Services Notification. They would not "argue", or discuss, or answer any of my questions about what was happening or why. As a staff member escorted me from their offices, she told me it would be in my record that I had violated a pain contract that forbade me from seeking treatment elsewhere, so I would be subject to arrest if I went to an ER and sought treatment. My life has spiraled into bed-ridden, unproductive existence, wracked with pain. No one should have to "live" like this. Last November, btw, I initiated and voluntarily stopped taking narcotics of my own volition. My doctored was surprised, but I had been on narcotics for years, knew I was addicted and had a high tolerance, and thought it was time to break the cycle. I switched to tramadol (after 5 weeks of withdrawals with no support), not knowing I'd never be able to get narcotics again. Bigelow's notes are completely wrong. Bigelow does not listen to me. She belittled me by asking if I knew about "sleep hygiene". I said no, I hadn't heard the term. She launched into a condescending tirade, starting at square one (the room needs to be dark and quiet). Of course I know all the contents of what she - yelled - and have used 100's more techniques to help with my insomnia. I've had it all my life. I would characterize "sleep hygiene" as a popular new buzzword. But she wouldn't let me get a word in edgewise and concluded that I take no responsibility for my insomnia and don't follow doctors instructions for treating it. She put that in the written record too, so now that is what everyone believes. As a result, I have been turned away as a patient from two other doctors, after my initial appointment and the determination of a treatment plan, after they received my records. No one should have to live this!! read more