FIVE stars for my pain MD BUT ZERO stars for scheduling department and archaic phone system…read more Instead of a phone system that returns your call, a phone system from the previous millennium that tells you that they are busy and plays Muzak while you are on hold for a 1/2hour. You then get an operator who can never help you. Her job is to transfer you. You have been on hold for a 1/2hour because they claim the scheduling department does NOT have a direct line. Sometimes the operator misdirects your call thus after you sit listening to Muzak for a 2nd 1/2hour, you are redirected again so you can again listen to Muzak for a 3rd 1/2 hour. After one-and-a-half hours on hold you will be given a procedure date (many months in the future) but will not be given a time until the afternoon before. NOT able to provide a date AND time = unacceptable system!

This was a pretty disappointing experience overall. I was referred here by both my primary care and…read morecardiologist for chronic pain related to multiple open heart surgeries. Like others have said, there is a huge amount of paperwork to fill out ahead of time, which I don't mind if it's going to be a thorough appointment. Though the receptionist on the phone for scheduling was incredibly rude, I was pleasantly surprised that I got to see an online provider pretty quickly because my referral was marked as urgent. I saw Dr Alice Huai-Yu Li who was very nice, and who let me know personally ahead of time that she was running late which I appreciated. But she did absolutely nothing for me at the appointment, except refer me to pain psychology. It was supposed to be a long intake appointment but it was cut very short. She said they rarely get patients in my situation and she had researched injections for my type of pain but there was nothing they could do for it. I also have sensitivities to many antidepressants, which was ultimately all she wanted to prescribe for me. My referring doctors were hopeful because Stanford pain clinic is supposed to be doing all kinds of interesting procedures and treatments for pain, but I was not offered anything. The pain management class was a one time thing, and it was interesting though not much of a solution for me. I was also referred to a pain psychologist, which was really far booked out, and then they cancelled it before I ever got to go because the "provider wasn't available." So It was a disappointing experience overall and a serious waste of my time. Maybe people with other pain conditions than I have are offered better options.

Dr. James Mok is an excellent surgeon. I had cervical artificial disc replacement surgery C5-C6,…read moreC6-C7 ( Simplify cervical disk) by Dr. Mok in June 2024. The surgery went very well. The incision looks pretty good. Its very hard to tell that i had surgery. I feel much better now. Dr. Mok has been very patient and follow up with me while I'm recovering. Highly recommended Dr. Mok

Hard to make an appointment, customer service representatives are either great or terrible. Every…read moretime they transfer you, you have to repeat your name, date of birth, address, email. 30 minutes being transferred and still can't answer a simple question without being out on hold. Frustrating experience. Idk why some of the people there have this uppity tone. No I would not recommend. Especially if you are a new patient, they really enjoy transferring you to the "new patient line," for anything. Literally, you could be asking to confirm the date and time of your appointment and they would transfer you. It's like you have new patient cooties and they just can't be bothered to talk to you. wtf

I have been a patient of Dr Perry's for over 15 years. Out of all the doctors I have ever seen. He…read moreis the only one who has really taken a concern to my pain and discomfort. He has helped me through just about every test known to demand to try and figure out why I hurt so bad. I would strongly recommend him to anybody who needs help with chronic and miserable pain and I've tried everything else they can. Dr Perry a wonderful compassionate individual. I urge you to consider him about a doctor. Ed M.

An old injury coupled with repetitive stress injury had me in so much pain that I could not work,…read moreand I struggled to get through every day. I went to seemingly every kind of doctor, including Stanford Pain Clinic, but still the pain kept coming back and ruined my quality of life. Finally I found Dr. Perry and went to see him. He examined me and we talked for a long time. I was impressed by how much he cared and listened. Dr. Perry gave me some medication that immediately got the pain under control. In subsequent visits, he monitored my progress and suggested various ways to avoid aggravating my condition. After a while, I was able to go on a small dose of a maintenance medication, and live my life generally pain-free. I am so grateful to Dr. Perry for showing me a way out of the terrible pain I used to suffer from every day. From time to time Dr. Perry has seminars about pain control. These are really useful. Also he recommends other therapies that can be used to help heal old injuries and reduce the amount of medication required to get a good result. If you are hurting, do yourself a favor and make an appointment with Dr Perry!

For about 2 years. I had interacted with Dr Schoenberger and his staff (Carrie & Anne) in the…read morecourse of my work before I became a patient here. I made the decision to start seeing Dr S due to some lingering post surgical pain that is not fully controlled with my (marvelous) osteopath in SF. I had noted how much that Dr S cares about each of his patients even before I started going there, and now that I am a patient here, I can see that this is definitely the case. My pain level waxes and wanes usually according to my work schedule ( work exacerbates the issue), or sometimes it can worsen (like 5 levels of intensity higher) from one day to the next for no apparent reason ( frustrating!). Dr S, Carrie, and Anne have all accommodated me when I have been in pain 'crisis'. I appreciate Dr S's multidisciplinary approach to pain management, he doesn't just glance at your chart then throw heavy duty narcotics at the problem. I have opportunity to recommend Dr S at my work and I have recommended him MANY times to people who are currently seeing other practitioners and are not improving at all or are in constant severe pain. I have yet to see if anyone will take me up on my recommendation. I feel that Dr S has been another 'godsend' to me. A few weeks back, I drew a depiction of where a severe pain flare-up was taking place in my neck, wrote a detailed note about the situation, and faxed it to the office even though it was the day that they are closed (Wed). Dr S himself called me that night, from home, to check on me and to squeeze me into his schedule for the upcoming Friday (my next day off). Not too many doctors provide that level of personalized care anymore, and I appreciate it tremendously. I'll point it out again-Carrie and Anne in the office are just as empathetic, helpful, caring, accommodating, and kind as Dr Schoenberger himself is. One small caveat-you may want to make sure that Paragon Paincare accepts your health insurance or is an in-network provider when you call to set up an intake appointment. He is 'out of network' on my plan, so it is a bit costly, HOWEVER, Dr S and his staff do everything that they can to ensure that I don't 'break the bank' by going to this office. In summary, Dr S has great rapport with patients, he uses a collaborative approach (collaborative with the patient, at least in my case)in coming up with creative solutions to keep me out of pain and keep me able to be working full time. He is also extremely knowledgeable, caring, and easy to get along with. It's never 'fun' going to any type of doctor, but Dr S, Carrie, and Anne go out of their way to make their patients as comfortable and calm as possible. I would recommend Dr S to anyone whose pain is not being adequately managed by their current practitioners.

I had hurt my back in a cycling accident and after popping nsaids and struggling with pain for 10…read moredays - I made my first appointment with Dr. Schoenberger. The entire staff was very friendly, helpful, and accommodating. The office is pristine, comfortable, and parking is a non-issue. Dr. Schoenberger is very knowledgeable in his field and has a great way of explaining my issues to me in terms I can understand. I have visited many different types of specialty physicians over the years due to exercise/training related issues and found Dr. Schoenberger to be very innovative and advanced with his treatment. I walked into the office that day having not slept well in 10 days due to pain and left feeling confident I had been given excellent care, a thorough examination, and treatment that allowed me to maintain my normal daily activities! Dr. Schoenberger cares about his patients as people and not just another face.

just had my first appointment with Dr Gaeta, he was very nice, smart and compassionate. I have a…read morereally bad permanent pain syndrome and he was very helpful today and has already fixed a few problems with medications that i that been dealing with. So far i highly recommend him!

The pain management clinic has really fallen apart. The team does not listen to your concerns or…read moreissues. You can NEVER get a call back when requested rather you send multiple messages back and forth, rely on a 3 rd party to capture your conversation, summarize, and it's the equivalent of a poor game of "telephone". They do not take into account that a patient is familiar with their body and we are often not listened to. Chronic pain patients have to fight for so much we should have supportive doctors.

I am a yoga teacher, and found out about Feldenkrais from another yoga teacher who has a dance…read morebackground. We tried a couple of Deborah Dutton's group classes a number of years ago, and I decided to go to her for one on one sessions this year because I was having a lot of shoulder pain. It has a been a real pleasure. First, my pain has greatly abated, if not disappeared, and I have new tools for dealing with the problem if it flairs up again. Deborah is very knowledgeable, as well as calm and soothing in her manner which is a boon to healing. Feldenkrais seems almost magical--it is subtle, yet works to ease pain, and relax, loosen and lengthen the body. It is a true mind/body method which is fascinating in itself.

Deborah's Feldenkrais classes are amazing. Her voice is very soothing, and you get to have a whole…read morehour of relaxed movement where you can shut out all the problems going on in the world. You would never guess doing something that seems so simple could make such a difference. Highly recommended!

I'm leaving this review so other veterans know what to expect. My recent C&P exam for gout was one…read moreof the most disappointing and inaccurate medical evaluations I've ever experienced. The examiner completely downplayed the severity of my condition, ignored years of medical records, and wrote a report that did not reflect the reality of what I live with or what my doctors have documented. Here's exactly what happened: WHAT THE EXAMINER PUT DOWN (AND GOT WRONG) 1. "Painful motion only" He wrote that my gout caused nothing more than: mild pain slight limitation normal or near-normal range of motion This completely ignores the actual severity documented in my medical records. 2. No severe limitations He documented: no marked limitation no functional loss normal strength stable gait no difficulty walking no swelling, warmth, or redness These statements are contradicted directly by my urgent-care records from 2020-2025. 3. No incapacitating episodes He did NOT list: inability to walk inability to bear weight missed work flare-ups lasting weeks severe functional restrictions Yet all these events appear multiple times in my medical files. 4. Joint-by-joint evaluation only He rated: Right ankle - 10% Left ankle - 10% Right foot - 10% Left foot - 10% He did not consider that gout is a systemic condition when active. 5. No flare-up description He did NOT mention: how often I flare (6+ times per year) how long flares last (2-3 weeks) how they impact walking or standing how they affect my work how many urgent-care visits I've had These are basic items that should be asked in a C&P exam. 6. No reference to my actual medical evidence He ignored: multiple work-excuse slips "unable to weight bear" medical orders 6+ urgent-care gout records swelling/warmth/redness reports rheumatology follow-ups uric acid levels at 9.0 None of this made it into the exam report. AND HERE'S WHAT THE EXAMINER SHOULD HAVE DOCUMENTED (Based on my real medical evidence) 1. Incapacitating exacerbations My records clearly show: episodes requiring medical care inability to walk or stand weight-bearing restrictions periods where I could not work multiple severe flares each year Examples: 05/30/2021: "Unable to weight-bear, no walking or standing." 01/27/2025: Excused from work for 3 days due to prolonged flare. These MUST be included in a correct C&P assessment. 2. Frequency of attacks He should have noted: "Veteran experiences 6+ gout flares per year." My medical record shows urgent-care visits every few months. 3. Duration of attacks He should have documented: "Flares lasting 2-3 weeks." This is repeated across multiple years of treatment. 4. Objective physical findings My medical record shows: swelling warmth redness edema impaired gait decreased weight-bearing These are fundamental exam findings that should have been recorded. 5. Systemic, active gout He should have evaluated me under: DC 5002 -- Systemic Arthritis / Active Process Because the evidence shows: multi-joint involvement chronic active disease rheumatology involvement repeated incapacitating attacks This is the correct rating method -- not individual joint ROM tests. 6. Functional loss He should have documented: difficulty standing difficulty walking missed work limitations during flare-ups pain with weight-bearing All of this is in my medical record. 7. Rheumatology evidence My rheumatologist documented: "Persistent pain and swelling despite treatment." This was completely ignored. WHY THIS MATTERS Because NONE of this was included, the VA legally had to keep me at 10% per joint, even though my medical evidence supports a 40-60% systemic rating. The exam did not reflect: the true severity the real frequency the medical documentation the functional limitations Instead, it reduced my condition to "mild painful motion," which is completely inaccurate. BOTTOM LINE What he documented: "Mild painful motion, slight limitation, no major impairment." What he SHOULD have documented: Severe, recurrent, systemic gout with: 6+ flares per year inability to walk or bear weight work restrictions prolonged attacks swelling, edema, warmth urgent-care visits rheumatology confirmation functional loss chronic active disease This difference is why my rating stayed low. I hope other veterans get a more complete and accurate evaluation than I did.

I am an employee for the federal government. I have a chronic injury which is plantar fasciitis…read moretarsal tunnel and a heel spur. I cannot stand on my feet more than 20 minutes at a time it's difficult for me to go shopping go anywhere where I was due substantial amount of walking when I was given narcotics for my pain I was deemed an abuser so I decided not to take any medicine at all and at first I was given a rating of 8 to 9% and then the department of labor said the doctor used and obsolete copy of the material he needed to make a rating which was very hard to believe he was in San Francisco on Van Ness St. and then the last two doctors I've seen rated me at 1% and this Dr.Lewis rated me 2% so yes he will under evaluate you and waste your time and he mumbles a lot and doesn't make very much sense. Don't waste your time find another doctor. Thank you.

I had a really great experience at Infinity Spine Center with Dr. Michael Luu. I originally went in…read morebecause I was dealing with ongoing neck and back pain, including a slipped disc, and it was starting to affect my day-to-day life. From the first visit, Dr. Luu made the whole process feel easy and comfortable. He took the time to listen and understand what was going on, and explained everything clearly so I knew what to expect. His adjustments have made a big difference--my pain has improved a lot and I feel much more mobile than before. It's honestly been a huge relief. On top of that, he's very professional, courteous, and easy to talk to. You don't feel rushed, and he actually cares about helping you get better. Scheduling appointments was also super simple and convenient, which made it even easier to stay consistent with treatment. Overall, I'm really glad I found Infinity Spine Center. I'd definitely recommend Dr. Luu to anyone dealing with neck pain, back pain, a slipped disc, or just general discomfort. He knows what he's doing and makes the whole experience smooth and effective.

Dr Michael is great!…read more I was dealing with rib pain and an unstable shoulder when I reached out to him for help. We stabilized my rib and after a few weeks of care - I could finally move and breathe. He also gave me strength exercises to practice at home. Dr Michael genuinely cares about his patients and wants to improve your wellness. Plus, his office is nice and clean! Please seek him if you need help. Asking for help even after seeking help from other chiropractors and PTs was a reach for me, and I'm glad I did. I appreciate you Dr Michael and am grateful for your practice!

I saw Dr. Hammouda for my TMJ issue. She took great care making sure the splint made for me fit…read morewell. She has a caring manner and took the time to answer the questions I had. I have had one session where she did manual therapy on my jaw and head and I got the feeling she was experienced and skillful.

I can't say enough about the care and professionalism provided by Dr. Hammouda. She has a unique…read moreand deep understanding of Sleep Apnea and TMJ and successfully treated me for both. She, and her entire staff, are a delight to deal with. I am recommending her without any hesitation - which is not something I typically do.