When I look up this business on Yelp for the SLO office, 14 out of their 21 reviews are 1 star which is literally 2/3 of the reviews in regards to this office. Now I see why. ‍ By adding another 1 star review, now it will be 15 out of 22 reviews that have 1 star, says pretty much all one needs to know when considering putting your health and wellness in the hands of this medical practice. I already struggle with chronic pain because of fibromyalgia, however I had a severe traumatic injury and triple fractured my ankle about 2 years ago. My orthopedic surgeon Dr. Abernathy (who I adore and is amazing) referred me to Pacific Pain Physicians in the hopes that it would help me in *some* way deal with the pain from the 2 surgeries and the injury from 2 years ago that permanently damaged both of my ankles and one of my knees. So not only do I now have chronic pain but I have new acute pain from the injuries and 2 surgeries. Unfortunately, going to this office and 'physician' was a total waste of my time. First off, the doctor was a bit gruff, which obviously is the last thing you need if you are already struggling with pain, but also my time with him yielded no results and he had ZERO suggestions for me except to take gabapentin which I have a bad reaction to and cannot take. I asked him about different treatments or supplements or anything that might help me and literally EVERY SINGLE THING I asked him about whether a treatment or action or supplement might help me (a few things I had read about doing a little research on my own before the appointment), and he referred me off to ask someone else for every. Single. Thing. For one question he bounced it off and said "Sure, you should talk to your orthopedic surgeon about that". In regards to another question he told me to talk to my general practitioner doctor ‍ And another question I asked him about he suggested that I ask my physical therapist.‍ ‍ He had literally NO helpful information, treatments, or suggestions for me, as well as being gruff and dismissive and not very kind or supportive at all. Thanks a lot for wasting my time and energy, since it takes a lot for me to drive all the way from Atascadero to SLO and to even just get dressed and get in the car and go to an appointment is difficult because of the traumatic injury and the chronic pain and fatigue. So thanks for wasting my time, energy, and money and making me feel more hopeless. Since then I have done even more research and there are LOTS of treatments out there and things to do that help both chronic and acute injuy-related/post surgery pain, as well as address the psychological and emotional repercussions that always happen as a result of chronic and/or acute pain, and I was hoping that Pacific Pain Physicians would be able to guide me towards those, or provide treatments themselves, or at THE VERY LEAST give me helpful information. They had NONE. This doctor and practice should have much more resources (that it turns out DO exist), so either they don't know about them, which is creepy - OR they don't want to give that information to their clients, which is even creepier! I am guessing because they would not benefit enough financially from those treatments or suggestions. Either way it was off putting and did I mention creepy? Yes, creepy , that a ***pain specialist DOCTOR**** had NO options, ideas, suggestions, or helpful tips or recommendations for me of ANY kind - other than putting a medication in my body (Gabapentin) that doesn't agree with my system. And when I told him that he did not pivot and offer any other suggestions, he was just giving me a dead stare. So then I proceeded to ask specific questions about specific ideas and he just referred me off to somebody else for EVERY SINGLE QUESTION. They should have much more options for their clients, things that I found out later. Because of that horrible appointment, I was forced to do a lot more research and there is lots of information and are many treatments/actions I could try that actually do exist, but they don't offer those or even want to give you information, which as a patient made me feel misguided and underinformed as well as trivialized, hopeless, and without options. That is literally why we go to them is to get help! This whole experience made me feel worse, both the physical pain that it caused me to have to go to an appointment and function and walk with my injuries, but also emotionally and psychologically it set me back. This practice and doctor should be ashamed by their lack of helpful treatments or advice, lack of empathy and support, and creating an off-putting experience for people who are already struggling. The last thing anybody who is dealing with pain needs is to waste their time, energy, and money. The fact that me and 14 other people felt strongly enough about their negative (and/or completely fruitless) experience that they needed to take their time and energy to warn others is very telling. read more

Office staff turns patients away. Two examples: 1. I had an appointment and was there on time, yet they claimed I was late. This was a post op appointment which is critical for the doctor to check the injection site. They didn't own up to it being their mistake and turned me away claiming it was my fault. I ended up having to have surgery, and even the surgeon said how ridiculous their behavior was. 2. Later I talked to a patient (now former patient) who said they turned him away, even though there literally was construction outside their door. This is being reported to The Medical Board of California as well as the California Department of Public Health. read more

I haven't even gone in but am not happy about their services. The person at the front desk knew nothing and referred me to the accountant who also said they had no ideas. I would have to drive all the way there and spend $400 JUST to get a consult and find out if it is a good fit. And i won't even get to talk to the doctor who does the treatment, just a PA. I often wonder if the people who own the business know how bad their administration is? read more

Everything always goes well. When I go there they help me with my pain and I appreciate them. Care of quality was excellent always has.

The front window needs more help. For instance, I had my appointment scheduled. I also had to make two more appointments for later in the month. The scheduler took it upon herself to cancel my original appointment, which she had no business doing and did not bother to let me know. This really left me in a lurch. I drove all the way to slow for no reason. The scheduler hadn't bothered to tell me that she was canceling my original appointment. I would've told her not to. I needed that appointment for personal reasons. So I'm standing there trying to get this matter resolved. Meanwhile, there's another person Who is so irate with Me over having to wait that he starts using swearwords as he's standing in the patientlobby. And they're being directed toward me. Which I find highly uncomfortable. The receptionist or assistant, after taking a long time, is finally saying she can get me in at 11 o'clock. Meanwhile, the man is still going off and blowing steam. As a matter fact, he's gotten so much steam gathered up that he decides he's going to leave. And as he's leaving the office, he turns to me and blames me for everything. not cool, not fair, and not my fault. This office and this doctor should have done something to prevent any type of an encounter like this. I kept my mouth shut, but I made sure that the receptionist knew what he said. She did and said call me that she would call him later. I don't think it's right that any patient is allowed an interaction of that sort in an office. Maybe it's just me and I'm funny. Anyone else think that's cool? I wish this was the first time I've had issues in this office. But it's not. So I will say by beware. This office has not really impressed me, but being new to the area I'm rather stuck on where to go. which is a real bummer. Anyhow, that's my experience. Good luck to y'all. As read more

I've been a patient here for a long time and the quality of service here has become shameful. There's no continuity of treatment and no notice of changes to policies resulting in being past due for my treatment only to be told I'll be called back every time I can get a hold of someone but the call back doesn't happen. All patients are here because of pain. As a society, we don't even leave animals in pain like this. I like the PA and a couple of the surgeons, but I can access the care I need and it's ridiculous that there's no sense of urgency to help. read more

I made an appt. and was scheduled by Miguel at 8 a.m. The day before my appointment he called to confirm and instructed me to be there at 7:45 am to do paperwork. I arrived at 7:40, told him my name and appointment time. At 8:30 I asked him how much longer it would be before I was seen and he said my appointment was at 9:00a.m. What???? I didn't offer to try to get me in, just said , sorry, I was wondering why you checked in so early. I reminded him he had called the day before, yesterday, confirmed my 8:00 a.m. appointment and instructed me to be there at 7:45 to complete paperwork. How utterly inept. Zero stars, do better. read more

Zero stars. Barbara Irish is in the wrong profession -- a woman lacking in compassion. In seventy years, I have never yelled at a doctor or a "physician's assistant," as I did with Barbara Irish. As I stormed out of her office, this old grandmother yelled, " You are a cruel witch Barbara Irish!" At the end of October, I took my first ride in an ambulance. I was misdiagnosed at the hospital. It was not until my third trip in an ambulance when a doctor figured out what was causing those stabbing pains in my back that stopped me from breathing. An MRI showed four thoracic spinal compression fractures. After months of trying to find a qualified insurance approved doctor to rebuild my four vertebrae, I was sent to Pacific Pain Physicians, since they were listed as having a specialist who could perform the procedure. This is where I first met Barbara Irish, a physician assistant, who was the specialist. At our meeting, Barbara said my fractures were too complicated and she could not perform the procedure. At the time, I was disappointed, but now I'm glad she said no. Although I'm still in "crazy"pain, with no pain killers, and my blood pressure keeps sky rocketing, I can barely walk, and I'm still waiting for my insurance to send me to a "qualified surgeon," I WILL NEVER STEP FOOT INTO BARBARA IRISH'S OFFICE AGAIN." Before I fractured my spine in October 2024, I had never taken prescribed pain killers, My primary doctor, no longer felt comfortable prescribing the "opioids," the hospital prescribed, while I waited to have surgery approved, so she sent me to Pacific Pain Physicians. God forbid; I wish I had never met Barbara Irish. She was rude, condescending, and arrogant. She liked the sound of her own voice. She spent a long time lecturing me about addiction. SHE NEVER LISTENED TO A WORD I SAID. I told her that I was hoping to remain on hydrocodone "the dreaded opiate," until my surgery, since it relieved my pain for a few hours each day. I told her that before the hospital finally diagnosed the spinal fractures, I had lost over thirty-five pounds since I was not able to eat under extreme pressure and pain. I told Barbara that my surgeon wanted me on a HIGH PROTEIN diet to increase my bone density and while I was taking hydrocodone, I regained ten pounds. I also told Barbara Irish that I could not take steroids since they are known for destroying bone, nor could I take muscle relaxants; I had bone on bone pain and the relaxants created a burning sensation on my entire back. The worst thing about this woman is she NEVER listened to A WORD I SAID. She seemed only interested in her own voice. She had classified me as an opioid addict and had decided what prescriptions she was going to give me long before I entered the room -- two steroids, muscle relaxants, and anti-convulsants. She never considered the fact that I was a 70 year old grandmother who was hanging on by a thread, deciding if I could live a day longer with excruciating pain. She decided for me that I needed to detox from "Narco" immediately, before surgery, no matter what the circumstances. When I argued,"Barbara" would lean forward and repeat her famous words over and over again, " It is your choice" if you take the drugs I have prescribed!" The bottom line is this woman is in the wrong profession. I was treated like garbage... You would think that people who "choose" to work in pain management would have compassion. Barbara had none... Having worked for many years in my "chosen" profession with young people who suffered from addiction, I would listen to the "person," speaking, never writing a person off as addict or less than human, treating him or her like garbage. Well, after 70 years, I guess it was my turn to be written off. I "chose" to take Barbara's multiple prescriptions for one day, (four times the confusion and negative side effects) and that excruciating stabbing pain in my back that stopped me from breathing -- that pain the opiates had taken away-- was back the next day along with labored breathing, and a new pain in my lower back. I threw all these drugs away. You know, when my youngest son was in an accident; I sat for hours, watching his blood pressure wavering. I asked his surgeon why his blood pressure would rise so high. He said, "Pain can kill you, and it our job to make sure that pain subsides." Well, ain't that the truth. When I first fractured my spine, I went into respiratory failure. And when the doctors at the hospital gave me " opiates," my blood pressure went down, and my breathing returned. So... right now, the reality is, my blood pressure keeps rising, and each day I don't know if I can stand being alive a moment longer, while I wait for this procedure that could end all my pain. Right this moment, I'm having a real hard time breathing, so I'm definitely publishing this review...I didn't deserve to be treated like I was less than human. No person should be treated this way. read more

I met with Dr. Martin at PAC Pain Physicians today. For context, I'm having pain from a bulging disc down through my leg. He answered my questions and concerns. He knew way more than Google. I left his office feeling less stressed and anxious and I think my pain went down from that alone. We made a plan for pain intervention (not a cure given my issue needs time to heal) and I'm so excited to see if it helps. Even if it doesn't, I'm excited that there's a plan in place from a knowledgeable doctor. I would send my own parents to see him. Here's hoping my pain gets better! (Oh and no issues with the office staff or intake nurse. Everyone was friendly and accommodating with my need to walk around). read more

Well, I have been a patient for a few years now, and I'm so surprised that PPP has gotten low ratings!?! About a year ago I made an appointment for wrist and hand pain. The new young associate did a steroid injection as gently as possible because there isn't a lot of room in the small spaces. I had relief in a few days. I have had other injections in various areas where I have pain and they certainly knew what to do. A few weeks ago I noticed my wrist hurt when I tried opening a water bottle and turning a door knob. Recently I had some trama and constantly found myself clenching my jaw and my neck and shoulders were hard like cement. I work out and I'm limber so this interfered with my every day life. I called their office to see what could be done. The answering machine took my message. Within a few hours a cheery voice asked me a few questions. I got an appointment the next week. I saw a new young doctor who was so nice and he explained several possibilities for my aches and pains. I had some trigger points injected and I set up an appointment to do a prp ( a procedure which involves your blood plasma) on my wrist. Right away,I was told insurance doesn't cover this but I'm going to spend the money. Oh my shoulders and neck haven't been this comfortable for years. Thank you Dr Martin. Angela has been with PPP for years and she is so helpful, I appreciate when that she explains details to me. Also, there were a few new office people who were so sweet. Front and back young men were very helpful and friendly. I don't know where these other reviews came from!? I'll report back on the PRP, but right now this is the only place in the area to go for pain relief.( I've been to others a few years ago and they were unprofessional and the place was dirty) Thanks Dr Martin and Dr Piris! read more

My mom is new to the area and finally trying to tackle her stenosis/back pain. She was interested in a back implant, and our understanding was they could help with this. Our initial consult was in Atascadero. I was a little surprised to find there was no easy handicap "ramp" in front of the office (by the one handicap space). You had to either step up, or go to the other end of the parking/shopping area (multiple office spaces away) to access the one ramp - which is no easy feat for my mom with her limited mobility and pain. Due to COVID, I stayed in the car and after a period of time I fired up a video chat with my mom so I could hear and advocate for my mom, which ended up being mid-appointment. The women practitioner never introduced herself or explained what was discussed prior - which I let lapse, as video chats are complex, but in hindsight I found unprofessional. She was quickly scheduled for an epidural, which was likely the right call. That went smooth and the surgery suite seemed well run and professional. A week later my mom had a rash develop near the injection site and was in a new type of back pain, but had her follow up scheduled the next day, so decided to wait it out. We were rather concerned and stressed so showed up to the appointment early, parked near the ramp and had her hobble across the three buildings...only to find the office CLOSED. If you try calling, you get the dreaded call tree - but it's worse than the normal "press 5..." stuff. It asks you to call a whole other phone number - so here we are on a call, and unless you have a pen and paper handy, you have to either call back with said pen/paper or try to remember this new number to call back while on the call. After sorting THAT out and calling the new number, of course no one answered, so I left a voicemail and started driving to SLO to take her to the ER. I got a call back on the Grade, where I was told the appt was in San Luis and that was on her discharge papers. It absolutely wasn't; only the time and date. While the hours online said the SLO office was open until 4pm on Friday, and we could arrive by 3:45pm (easily), they were closing early and were not open to seeing my Mom in spite of her issues. The PA in that office never spoke with us but the receptionist relayed that we should go to the ER, as planned. I asked the receptionist to please be sure, when confirming appointments in the future, to specify the location to prevent these issues in the future and she smugly said that it was listed on her paperwork and voicemail. I can snap a picture; it wasn't on the paperwork. My mom said their auto message also didn't say the location but I can't confirm that. And since we had originally seen them in Atascadero I assumed that would be the same. I found it an unprofessional response to a simple request on how to improve their communications. We ended up at the ER that day and never had any follow up call from the PA, the nurse practitioner, or any of the office's doctors afterwards to check and see what the outcome of that visit was and how my mom was doing. I understand that the doctors are likely decent specialists and the epidural process was exemplary. But I found the office staff to be unorganized and unprofessional and I would encourage the office to really look at how easy/hard it is for patients to communicate with them, of all ages. We will be seeking another pain office and cannot recommend, not because of the doctors, but because of the difficulty communicating and unprofessional experience we had. read more

I went to PPP a couple years ago and saw 3 of the many doctors they have. I have stenosis and after two trial numbing shots I was given a Rhyzotomy. I didn't think it worked but after a couple months I could tell I was better. The only medication I was given was prescription Lydacain patches which work great. I did see Barbara Irish several times and found her to be really nice, helpful and professional. I agree its hard to get an appt but if you keep calling and leave a message you will get in. read more

I was referred by my provider as an option for potential relief of a chonic headache issue. As im not one for taking pain pills of any sort the steroid injection seemed a good option. When i arrived in the office it appears they were in the process of moving. The facility looked like one of the oxy centers you'd see in an exposé on Dateline. As I was checking in the young medical assistant asked the traditional med questions but was unfamiliar with most that i listed (over the counter and prescription allergy meds). When she asked if i was familiar with the process i said "not really what can you tell me about it?" She looked panicked and said "let me go get someone" I explained I'd be fine I'd done some research. When I got situated for the procedure the practitioner asked "which side was it in last time?" I explained I'd not had this done before he shrugged and said "then i guess we'll do this side". No explanation no information just an injection into my neck. Upon checking out the front office person told me "they'll want a follow up and we worked out a date" she then told me they'd notify me of the video follow up instructions in a few days. No instructions were provided. When the date and time came I had left my office to retrieve my computer and found I'd had a missed call 10 minutes prior. No one answered on the call back. Several weeks passed and i recieved a bill for the "missed appointment" noting i had no insurance (CCPN had authorized the visit). In attempting to pay the bill online which the bill instructed (yes the same online the appointment was poorly executed on their end), the online portal stated "this provider can not be paid online". This was the most unprofessional experience I've had in healthcare in all my experiences. At this point I'd recommend one of those forementioned oxy centers over Pacific Pain Physicians as even those questionable establishments seem better organized and staffed. read more

First off the location is not the best for those who have severe pain and difficulty walking. Arrived for my appointment 15 minutes early as requested so I could fill out paperwork. Arrived and there wasn't a person in sight other than another patient waiting. While waiting for someone to show up and help me another person walked in. And then another. Finally someone was at the receptionist desk and I started walking up and he rudely said he was just looking something up. He then proceeded to check in the 3rd person that walked in, then took the second person to the back after checking her in. I then get called back by a doctor, I think his name started with an H, who then proceeds to talk to me about my situation while firmly stating he would not allow me any pain meds (I have severe pain and nothing has helped aside from pain medication) . I scoffed at him after realizing this guy doesn't want to help me with my pain, he simply wants to inject me or do an epidural, even though when all was said and done, he told me he wasn't sure their kind of treatment would work for me since he is doubting my diagnosis. He was knowledgeable, but definitely looking out for his pocket instead his patients. Then AFTER this consultation He had me do vitals my blood pressure was high, but I was in extreme pain. The person who did my vitals had no idea how to pronounce any of my medications. Vitals took almost 15 minutes. Anyway, this is not the place for me. Unfriendly and incompetent staff, dirty and extremely cold waiting room. Would not recommend if you have serious pain issues. read more

I had to get a new pain dr and Barabra Irish was so rude she said it would be months for me to get any meds and she also told my wife to go out to the waiting room. She treats everyone like they are addicted to meds and street drugs read more

If you like to meditate and dont need medication then good if you need meds, (even non opioid meds) then avoid at all costs.

I was yelled at for being 4 minutes late. Then I walked for the doctor to get there an hour later in his bike shorts. They called me the day before and asked if I would come in at 8am instead of 8:30 After waiting an hour and half they sent me saying I didn't have approval from my insurance. Horrible never go back read more

I took my friend here for an appointment, he was getting 6 epidural shots in his back. Just before the procedure, he asked to use the bathroom and he was told by the nurse that he could not and that they didn't have a public restroom. She actually said he could "go leave and find a gas station if he need to." He said he wasn't "the public" he was actually a paying patient and that if he didn't get to use it, he would walk right out, right then. She then said she would "go ask the supervisor" to which my friend replied, "where do you go to the bathroom when you need to?" He was then allowed to relieve himself, did I mention he's 75?? SO DISRESPECTFUL AND DISAPPOINTING. read more

So i showed up to my appointment on time...the clinic was completely dark. NOBODY WAS THERE FOR THIRTY MINUTES. on top of that, the receptionist for the neighborhooring clinic didn't think to tell me i was in the right place when i asked. i came back to her and she said "oopsies yeah it's right there but nobody is there you should call the number" LIKE BRUH?!? read more

Hello, hard to say if they are any good. Serious issues with reaching the SLO office. They share the phone number with Santa Barbara and Atascadero offices, so the seven times I have called, I get Santa Barbara and they do not have SLO records. Very difficult to get service. Will update when/if I ever get to see a doctor. read more

Well I had to see this group of doctors since my doctor quit. Thought the young guy was really nice ask questions he knew I had an HMO insurance and asked me about a tens unit. I said sure if you can get something like that approved. Well I just got my mail $3,700 because he didn't get it authorized. For one thing this company who sent out the unit I didn't ask for it, I didn't sign for it, they should have never sent this without authorization therefore it's their fault. Not to mention how they bugged me morning to night when I'm trying to hold a job harassing me. maybe you should have just gotten the point and realized I didn't want it so you send it to me anyway. I used to take care of patients and make sure they had authorization so they don't go through this well I'm not going to go through this either. Make sure if you have an HMO don't receive anything until you have authorization in your hand. read more

Getting an appointment is horrible. You never know what PA you're going to see. If you get Barbara Irish she always makes you feel like a drug addict. They don't want to give you anything - I did what was asked of me; acupuncture, physical therapy, massages, regular trigger point injections, etc. So the last time, I went nearly 2 months with only 20 500/325 norco- I was trying and the injections were helping. Dr. Pires actually talks to you and cares and feels your body so he knows your pain. Even my MRI's and bloodwork show that I have Lupus and Arthritis(degenerative disc disease) Anyway, it takes so long for an appointment. You have to be seen for any meds. I was in horrible pain from physical activity, so I asked a friend for anything to help because I couldn't get in to see the Dr and they don't call you back promptly either. Next time I went in, due to tearing my ACL completely, the urinalysis from my previous appointment picked up the one pill that I told the other PA about. They would not give me any pain medication and I don't have surgery until Nov 2nd. I should have taken the pain meds from the orthopedic Dr but I didn't want to break my pain contract with Pacific Pain. It even says in the drug guidelines of CA to not just abruptly stop prescribing. I feel a torn ACL is a painful enough reason to prescribe pain medication. Honesty hurt me this time and having to see Barbara. Don't bother going there at all if you have to see her. She tarnishes the whole practice. If you don't like yourself and want to feel even worse for having any pain- request her. She's horrible! It doesn't matter what the other Dr's say, what the physical MRI's, blood panels, etc say...... she'll try to convince you that you need counseling and you're crazy and gives you a look of disgust. I'm so over it! read more