After my visit w/ Dr. Dombrowski, I felt compelled to write this review. If you dont have time to read the whole review, bottom line is that he is AMAZING - best doc I have seen for neck and back problems EVER. He listened, encouraged questions, cared and came up w/ a plan that did not initially involve injections. He prescribed 2 medications and they have made a world of difference in my neck - I can hardly belive that it could feel so normal again. In addition to being an experienced and caring doctor, his breath and depth of knowledge is remarkable and his personality is exceptional. He made me feel so comfortable, encouraged questions and never made me feel rushed. Seven months ago I woke up w/ a neck problem so extreme that I could barely take a step without feeling severe pain. My PCP prescribed a medication that was too strong for me - it got rid of the pain AND my memory. Flash forward 7 months. During the 7 months of neck pain I met with a Physical Therapist who has helped me w/ exercises for various aches and pains over the years. This time w/ the exercises giving no relief and the neck pain so severe, I gave up and decided I would probably need cortocosteroid injections. I had an MRI and made an appointment w/ an Orthopedic Surgeon my PCP recommended. I had a folder with the recent cervical MRI and all the doctor's notes and reports from visits to previous doctors. The Orthopedic Surgeon had me take additional Xrays in his office. He immediately recommended I see a doctor for cortocosterioid injections in my neck. He didn't spend more than 7 minutes in the examining room and most of the time with his BACK to me -it was an odd experience. I tried to see the doctor he recommended but her staff made so many mistakes in making the appointment, telling me I had an appt on March 31, then after receiving many confirmation requests from them, when I called to ask a question, was told I didnt have an appt till April 7. I called again to ask about get injections and was told I did have a March 31 appt. It was all more than I wanted to deal with and canceled with her. I feel so fortunate that I got to quickly see Dr. John F. Dombrowski at the Washington Pain Center on New Mexico Ave, in NW DC . He was AMAZING. Without even looking at the MRI report and the Xrays, he told me exactly what the MRI report would say and what the Xrays would show - he is that experienced. AND best of all, Instead of getting an injection, he suggested I first try some medications. After taking one pill yesterday and one today, my neck already feels better. I can actually turn my head without wincing in pain. There was another patient who came in after me. Before Dr. Dombrowski saw him, he came to me to ask me a "favor"- would I mind if he saw the other patient before me as Dr. D. knew it would be a short appointment with the other patient. How many doctors would ask for your permission to do that or would they just do what they want? I have been kept waiting such long times at some offices, with no explanation being given from anyone, that I have walked out. The office waiting room is inviting and comfortable AND the receptionists are the nicest I have ever met. They both were so kind. I especially appreciated Kate helping me use the Ipad to fill out the forms and telling me I did not need to rush. IMHO, the people at the front desk can create a positive or negative feeling from the moment you walk into an office. For me, if the first people you meet in an office are too busy to look up and welcome you, that is not a good sign. Kate and the other receptionist created a very positive environment. I am thankful I found Dr. Dombrowski and his team. Am looking forward to returning in a couple weeks for a checkup!! read more

$800 for an epidural and I was in pain and confused. I didn't realize that's what too much

Truly, I've never had such a condescending, inappropriate medical experience before in my life. First point, no one in the office, including Dr. Dombrowski, wears masks and I was even told that I could take my mask off in the office because it wasn't required. My first interaction with the doctor, he comes into the room, introduces himself, leans back and props his feet up on the exam table where I'm sitting. He took a very mediocre medical history, proceeded to misgender me and call me ma'am multiple times (he has a place in the EMR where I listed my pronouns and note that I'm nonbinary), and seemed to be irritated every time I mentioned that I had already tried a given modality and that it didn't work well (like taking gabapentin or going to physical therapy). I felt talked down to and belittled throughout the appointment, and when he did finally prescribe the medication I requested, he did not consult me about the dose or explain anything about how to take it. He appears to me a very inconsiderate and sloppy provider and I would definitely not trust him for ongoing care. read more

I had 2 epidurals for my back pain and the first seem to help the second not. I was then given the option of surgery or spinal cord simulation or someone else giving the shots but Dr. Dombrowski. I went to another pain doctor - Dr. Suros who was able to treat me with 2 additional epidurals done scheduled with the addition of staff and in a different place in my spine. Both shots helped! Dr. Suros also said I should talk to surgeons about the spinal cord simulation idea. I talked to 2 surgeons both said spinal cord simulation was a bod idea. I am ending up having back surgery, read more

I was so pleased that Dr Dombrowski offered a possible solution to my pain and that he was prepared to do it then and there, if I wanted. I've been to enough docs and recently a couple of pain doctors to know the routine has been a first appointment to talk about the pain and to make an arrangement for a month later to come back and hopefully have the pain alleviated. Not good. With Dr D it can be done in his office and I was thrilled to hear that. When I went back for a two-week follow up and told him I got partial relief in my back but not my upper legs he said he knew where to give me the second set of shots that would reach that pain site. If I wanted him to he would do it right then. I did and he did and immediately the pain was gone along with the walker I had been relying on. He and the staff excel. read more

Dr Dombrowski is a wonderful doctor. Had great demeanor with patients. He cares for his patients , takes the time to explain everything and come up with great treatment plans. Highly recommended pain doctor is Washington DC. read more

Wowzers do not go here if you are Trans or if your pain is related to trauma. Being misgendered by doctors is par for the course if you're Trans, but like, DAMN this office did it like, the most. The staff was not nasty or rude or unkind, but like, I think maybe they've never met a Trans person. Which is not my favorite trait in a doctor's office. I think maybe Dr. Dombrowski is a Republican, so take that as you will. I did not feel safe correcting him on how he spoke to me and about me, and when I said I have PTSD, he asked me - with the DOOR OF THE OFFICE OPEN - what had happened. Which, to be clear, YOU DO NOT NEED TO KNOW IF YOU ARE NOT A MENTAL HEALTH DOCTOR. And when I told him that's not an okay thing to ask people, he insisted I tell him anyway. Again, with the door open so the whole office could hear that I'm a survivor of rape. He seemed disturbed that I had PTSD and was not a veteran, and made a point to talk about how veterans have PTSD because they were *serving our country.* Which is weird cause like, I also want veterans to receive PTSD treatment? And I didn't say anything bad about vets? So I don't know why he had to flex that so aggressively? Anyway, I walked away suicidal and carrying three prescriptions I knew nothing about. I felt like I was going trick-or-treating at the CVS to see what the heck they would throw at me. Upon further research, I found these medications could interact negatively with my current mental health meds, which is very dangerous for me, and it really felt like he just threw 3 powerful medications at me without explaining anything about them. I felt runover and spoken over and uncomfortable. read more

Awful in my opinion. Just awful. 1. Dombrowski never did a fellowship in pain medicine. Just a residency in anesthesiology. He is not a specialist in pain medicine according to American Board of Anesthesiology (http://directory.theaba.org). And he went to University of Richmond undergrad, which is a bad school. He's not elite. Why wouldn't you go to someone else who had been selected to receive advanced training? 2. The radiofrequency ablation treatment was extraordinarily painful. I have since learned that this procedure is supposed to cause minimal discomfort. I had it done elsewhere later and it was not at all painful. 3. Billing nightmare. His office submitted an insurance claim wrong, and Aetna rejected it. It was a matter of writing "2" instead of "1" or something like that. They made no effort to identify their mistake. No quality control or responsibility. So his office bills me $1100. I refuse to pay and start the dispute process with the insurance company. But Dombrowski immediately submits the bill to a COLLECTIONS AGENCY. It took two years for the bill to be resolved in my favor. I paid nothing in cash, but it took much of my time and effort to read through fine print to fix this. read more

4 and 1/2 stars. Dr. Dombrowski is kind and caring, and he will work with you to find solutions to your pain problems. Answers all questions thoroughly, and treats you respectfully. Very easy to get appointments; front office staff is great. I have recommended Dr. Dombrowski to many people. Be aware that he mostly treats the symptoms of pain, rather than the underlying causes. Also be aware that you will most likely have to wait in the outer office for a while. He tends to run late. read more

This guy is amazing. My wife and I have been going to him for several years. He Immediately puts you at ease then gets down to the problem . . . where is the pain? Each time I have been there he has had a student or resident alongside learning his techniques. Then comes the injection and the pain goes away. I have been to many other offices where the staff is dour or inattentive. Not so here. They are all so friendly and attentive, just like the Doc. Thank you, Dr. Dombrowski read more

I've been a patient of Dr. Dombrowski for many years. He is kind and sympathetic, never talks down to you, will answer as many questions as you care to ask, and explains things clearly. He also gives you all the options for treatment, and tells you the pros and cons of each. With chronic pain, there is never a guarantee that something will work, but he keeps working with you to find something that gives the most relief. I highly recommend him. read more

1 hr late when we had the first appt in the morning, and quite arrogant. My husband has had a herniated disc in his back for 7 years, and it went out on him recently so he went here to get his prescriptions filled...he wouldn't fill his muscle relaxers because he 'doesn't believe in them', kept recommending a shot and said 'I won't push it on you even though that's how I make money'....what physician talks like that? His injury is confirmed by MRI and multiple back specialists but Dr Dombrowski doubted the diagnosis and wouldn't properly treat him. Total waste of time! read more

Dr. Dombrowski is very intelligent and knows how to take care of his patients quick and easy. Not only does he solve your problem, but he educates you about the pain that you are experiencing and then does a great job finding a solution to relieve it. read more

I've been having very bad upper back pain for over a year now. With seeing a chiropractor weekly, it seemed like the pain was not going away. So I looked up pain management doctors through my insurance and came across Dr. Dombrowski. I am so glad I made my appointment with him, and was able to get in fairly quickly. He was awesome. Very knowledgeable, nice, professional, and made recommendations on the pain I was having. Because the pain was constant and never went away I was skeptical that he would be able to help me. Boy was I wrong. He gave me some injections in the area where the pain was and although sore it was gone. No more pain. I highly recommend him. His front desk staff were awesome as well with getting me checked in and seen. read more

I had one of the worst doctor experiences in my life when I went to see Dr. Dombrowski. After my appointment, I felt uncomfortable and angry, and kind of humiliated. Dr. Dombrowski belittled me for asking basic questions and became annoyed when I persisted with them. He was dismissive of specific health concerns that I raised. During the procedure (a steroidal epidural in my lower back), he didn't explain what he was doing. And throughout my appointment, there was a young man in the room, whom Dr. Dombrowski failed to introduce (let alone ask me if it was ok that this young man observed my treatment). Even after I asked who the young man was, Dr. Dombrowski failed to even tell me the young man's name (and mind you, this young guy observed me basically getting an injection in my butt). I would never recommend Dr. Dombrowksi to anyone. He really made me feel like a moron. I've never written a review on Yelp before, but Dr. Dombrowski's awful treatment has compelled me to do so. read more

I don't know if I could fully express in a post how much Dr. Dombrowski has changed my life, but, I'm sure going to try. I have been in pain due to back injuries for over 15 years. Trying to find doctor after doctor to treat my pain caused so much anxiety and pain and cost so much, in terms of money and in terms of quality of life. It affected everything, from my relationships, to my activity level, to being able to work and to set goals for my life. From day one, Dr. Dombrowski was different to what I had come to expect from pain management doctors. He didn't look at my alternative appearance and assume I was a junkie. He didn't look at my crazy long history or reports from other pain doctors or my scans and judge whether or not I had a valid pain problem. I wasn't asked to pee in a cup or pay hundreds in cash up front. He just wanted to know where my pain was so that he could make it go away. He treated me like a person, a patient -- without suspicion or lectures or judgement. In short, he did what my various doctors should have done from the beginning. And, despite being a very busy guy outside of this practice, his office has always been able to be prompt and efficient in helping and in being accessible. I have only been a patient of Dr. Dombrowski since two days before last X-Mas and he has changed my life. I have been able to do things -- active things! -- that I haven't been able to do in years and years. All my anxiety about pain and pain doctors and all the madness surrounding trying to find a doctor who seems to honestly want to help me get my life back -- the way you would think all doctors should treat someone in pain -- is gone. And, for the first time in a long time, I am able to look ahead and plan to do things for my life and the people whom I love without having to worry that I'm going to have to cancel or lay down for hours to recover. Maybe this post won't truly speak to anyone who hasn't known what it is like to be in debilitating pain for decades and feel like it has affected every aspect of your life and, yet, be unable to find a doctor who treats you like a real person, with a real problem, who knows a real solution. For those of you who do, who've been in that situation for so long that it doesn't seem like it is even worth it to hope or wish for a solution, call the office and make an appointment. Give this one more doctor a chance. I believe Dr. Dombrowski will do everything he can to change your life for the better. read more

Over the past year I have had severe lower back pain. After seeing a couple of orthopedists, and one pain specialist and being informed that my lumbar spine was really suffering signs of aging, and that the pain may be something I would have to live with, I was sent to Dr. Dombrowski, by another excellent physician, Dr. Denis Harris. Dr. D. was so patient, listened carefully to my complaints, did a thorough exam and began a series of epidural shots. Each shot produced some improvement in a specific area. After three session, I am happy to say I am PAIN FREE. While I understand that eventually the pain may return, because the good doctor is also very good at communicating what is going on and what is is doing to try and fix it, I am a happy, active person today and know that in the future i can place my trust in his capable hands. He also has a wonderful, knowledgeable and very helpful office staff who added significantly to this good experience. Thanks to all. read more

Dr. Dombrowski is an excellent physician who takes the time to get to know his patients, explain his diagnosis, and answer any questions you may have. His staff and overall office are wonderful!! read more

Dr. Dombrowski is great! he is very informative and explains everything. He does not only focus on the the pain but he also says that it is important to fix your sleeping pattern and quality because pain and sleep are interrelated. I would definitely recommend Dr. Dombrowski to all my friends and family! read more

Rarely do you find such a combination of highly skilled doctor who is also a super nice guy too. He takes his time to talk with you, is relaxed and funny, remembers personal details about your life and family, all the while providing excellent medical care and solutions. His staff is very nice too, and welll organized - plus in this age of endless phone options, the actually answer the phone live and help you quickly. read more

Due to the extreme low back and leg pain that I experienced for a couple of years, I felt as if I'm crippled and paralyzed. I wasn't able to enjoy each and every moment of my life. With this, I decided to undergo treatment, a pain management injection called an epidural steroid injection. With this, I visited Dr. John Dombrowski's clinic and obtain gradual relief after the treatment. Thanks Doc. read more

This guy is a total joke. He shuffles patients in and out of his office as fast as possible without worrying about their condition. He is only looking to make money and does not answer in depth questions or spend time with patients to get to know them. He was pushy in trying to give injections instead of considering all possible options. There are far better doctors in the area than what he has to offer. read more

Dr. John Dombrowski is the most advanced anesthesiologist I have ever worked with. He and I have been partnering on the Rx opiate epidemic plaguing our communities for two years, and his insight, valuable medical contributions, and willingness to treat the effects of pain responsibly, is commendable among the medical community. His staff is equally amazing, because their sense of patient care is off the charts! I cannot recommend John and his team enough! read more

Dr Dombrowski is an excellent physician that will find the treatment best suited to resolve you pain issues. I especially like that he starts with the safest least invasive recommendations and will work with you until he finds a treatment solution that will resolve your problems. read more

I have dealt with neck, shoulder and back pain ever since undergrad, I've tried every kind of Doctor, ill working medications, acupuncture, trigger point shots, you name it, I tried it. Dr. Dombrowski brought back my quality of life. I am forever grateful and am now a loyal patient. read more

so far so goo. I have suffered with severe back pain for over 10 years. I avoid pain management because I didn't want to take a bunch of pills. I finally decided to go after planning a trip to outer Mongolia where if I got hurt I would be out of luck. so glad I did. he listen to what was wrong. after a few injects I feel amazing. I am walking and disappointed in myself for not going soon. read more

One Word: Miraculous. Since my back operation in 1990, I had suffered repeated set backs, trips to the emergency rooms via ambulance, paralyzing pain, myriads of tests, and visits to top neurosurgeons and orthopedics surgeons. How discouraging to be told "There's nothing we can do for you". Months of physical therapy and working through therapeutic exercises, massage therapy, stretching - I've been diligent and at times, could keep myself mobile by these methods. However, the pain would rear its ugly head, ruining my life, and making it nearly impossible to function. Walking 10 steps, stopping to rest and catching my breath from the searing pain, then walking 10 more steps, and eating mounds of whatever pain medication I could get, and anti inflammatory medication. Finally, I was referred for pain management at Georgetown U. Initially, this did not go well, and after several painful visits, with little results there was a visit where Dr. Dombrowski happened to be there (2004). Doing Facet injections guided by XRay, he anesthetized the nerves that were the cause of the pain. It lasted a year for pain free living (Like a miracle) - so I've followed him ever since. I've had times of pain free living (continuing with stretches, massages and yoga), that have lasted multiple years, but when the pain comes back, it's Dr. Dombrowski I turn to. He's given me back a productive life in which I can thrive, not just survive. I do not need to take medications that hurt my stomach and mess up my mind. I'm living a quality life, without limitation. I can exercise, and ride my bike, swim, yoga and even run. These are huge things when you've been damaged by back injury and have had surgery that ultimately failed. Dr. Dombrowski is truly the best. read more

Do not go to this guy under ANY circumstances. I was sent to him by my neurologist for a specific procedure; after bombarding me with dozens of irrelevant questions and feeling around on my neck for about half a minute, Dr. Dombrowski decided I didn't need that procedure and he was going to perform something different that was not authorized by my neurologist. He didn't even bother to look at my prescription. He is one of those cheerful bully types who will railroad you into doing something you don't want to simply because you feel like you're being a bad sport if you don't do it--not a quality you want in a medical professional. Dombrowski convinced me this procedure would be less invasive and managed to insinuate that my neurologist, who I trust, had botched my diagnosis because "MRIs overreport by 60%." After the procedure was done, he ushered me out the door without any time to recover; I found out later I was supposed to be given 20-30 minutes of rest after the procedure. To add insult to injury, the procedure he performed didn't work, and now I have to go get the original procedure, the one prescribed by my neurologist, done (somewhere else!). I wasted an afternoon and was put through unnecessary physical pain as well as emotional unpleasantness by Dombrowski. Do NOT go to him if you can at all avoid it; you will be disappointed on all fronts by your experience. read more

Dr. Dombrowski is recognized as the very best in his field and we think he is excellent. He's a brilliant doctor with a dynamic personality. He is compassionate and understands a patients experience when in pain. My husband is a patient and had been doing very well for a long time but recently started having severe pain in a new location. Of course it's happening over the weekend, we had plans to go away and my husband knew he needed to get to Dr. Dombrowski quickly. He noticed the website indicated 24 hour service and called...Dr. Dombrowski responded! Not only did he tell my husband not to worry, that he'd take care of him but due to his current condition, he could come in first thing Monday morning. We were relieved to say the least. Dr. Dombrowski, as always, spent time explaining what was happening to cause the pain and what to expect during the treatment administered that morning. He's interactive throughout the treatment time so that the patient is always informed and put at ease. Here we are a few hours later and my husband feels much better and feels grateful to have Dr. Dombrowski as our doctor. The office staff is courteous and professional. We highly recommend Dr. Dombrowski. read more

Dr. Dombrowski is a wonderful clinician. He is a rare example of a truly well trained, experienced, and educated professional who actually cares about his patient's well being. What I like best about him is that he actually lays out your treatment options, and recommends the least invasive options first. He suggested pain creams and physical therapy, then trigger point injections, before suggesting an epidural injection for my pain. He never fell back on suggesting the long term use of opiates for my problems, which pretty clearly make most pain problems worse, not better, due to all the side effects and addiction problems. While he is not my primary pain treatment specialist, his job is to perform procedures, he does spend time focused on all of my related health problems referring me to appropriate specialists to resolve those issues, instead of treating me in a vacuum. His job is not to hold my hand, and while he has an excellent bedside manner, he does his exceptionally well. Most pain doctors only want to see you for procedures, they have you send your MRI in advance and schedule the procedure. Dr. Dombrowski wants to meet you and find out what your problem as a person is so he can make you feel better. He works with you to solve your problem and heal you.. read more

Do not go to the washington pain center/Dr. Dombrowski. First, and most important, he is unhelpful. He does not spend enough time with a patient to actually figure out what is going on. He does not listen. When I asked him a series of questions he would act as if he had answered them previously and repeat the same thing over and over again. It was infuriating. Second, he is rude. If you ask questions or want more information he speaks to you in an incredibly condescending and flip manner. If you persist on trying to get him to answer your questions he becomes increasingly hostile and aggressive. Third, he is inappropriate. He asks inappropriate questions that have nothing to do with your visit (and I have seen this complaint on many other sites from other female patients). During my visit and when I left I felt icky - women will probably understand what I mean by that - the feeling you get after an encounter with a creepy man. These are all in and of themselves reasons to never go to him. If you are in pain you deserve compassion and respect, not a creepy, condescending, aggressive and hostile doctor. You need a doctor who will listen to your concerns and your needs. Its like this guy has a series of stock phrases/prescriptions that he issues regardless of what your complaint or concerns are - there was absolutely no feeling of individualized care. read more