Upstate Pain Management Center - East Syracuse, New York

James G.

My case was submitted to the clinic after a significant hospital stay. My health condition includes significant degeneration in both back, SI joint, and neck as well as a full median sternotomy.

Somehow, the clinic decided I wasn’t a fit, without contacting me about it. When asked if I could submit further medical information so the providers could make a proper decision, I was told that’s not possible. I want to reiterate I’ve lost a month and a half of searching for other providers because of their failure to contact me in any capacity.

Further, I asked what appeals process exists, if any. I was told there is none. So my options at this point include filing a complaint to the medical board and having no ability for treatment.

I’ve never seen a more inept group of providers in my lifetime. It’s one thing to meet with a patient and realize their expectations of the practice are not aligned. However, I’m open to just about anything at this point. To be treated so poorly by a group as such leaves a sour taste. Thank you for wasting a month and a half of my time that I could have spent looking for other providers.

Jeff F.

Don’t go here, all they care about is teaching and procedures some that aren’t fda aproved on the spine, like nerve blocks that don’t work but they push them anyways also expensive procedures that if you can’t afford the all of sudden take away the meds that help and lie that’s not the reason. Dr. Thomas acts nice but don’t trust his word he wont keep it. They don’t care about your quality of life it’s all about selling things for the pharmecutical companies, they just don’t care and in my case gave up and left me to live in severe pain 24/7, they should be ashamed ad embarrassed, I just hope the realize they have ruined my life and because of their greed I suffer every minute and haven’t slept over 15 minutes at a time. They forgot the drs oath and don’t care about our quality of life. It’s a disgrace what they do and how little they care. I live in hell and it’s not right, please don’t trust them go somewhere that cares.

Danya 1.

the guy that called himself a manger at the pain clinic( the asian guy) he was so rude and unprofessional. so i ran less than 15 min late because i got lost, they made me wait more than 4 min at the window and then they said we have to reschedule your appointment bcoz you passed the 15 min period!!!! they made me wait at the window to pass 15 min so they won't see me on purpose!!! i'm a full time student and i requested time off in order to go to my appointment and i couldn't be seen! worst experience ever !!!

Aaron D.

If you are going to make an appointment just do yourself a favor and do not give any information to the first person who answers the phone ask for the supervisor. She was polite and I sincerely recommend bypassing this secretary to have a more pleasant experience.

Ryann M. B.

They are a very educated, caring, professional & proficient tight nit group of people (Doctors, Nurse Practitioners, Registered Nurses, and Knowledgeable Medical Administrative Staff.

They don't just pretend to hear half of your thoughts and concerns and diagnose you with there own educated guess & send u on ur way with multiple scripts of Controlled Substances that range from Extended Release Opiates for Chronic Pain Symptoms & Conditions & Then an additional Opiate pain medication to treat & help with managing the symptoms/side effects of the Acute Pain(if you don't know what the term or definition is for acute type pain - well honestly you probably don't really have any business being on any type of opiate at all whatsoever, just personal opinion though.
Continuing on, this small yet VERY EFFICIENT GROUP is dedicated to helping those who really actually need help with getting their burden of pain controled and managable or tolerable.
They are PERFECT PLACE for people with extensive medical problems that need to be monitored or considered while or during process of getting pain related issues treated....

They are very informative, don't over medicate & are not not a pill pushing drug factory like more than few places I've been treated at since 2002. NEW YORK PAIN CENTER - NOW- NY SPINE AND WELLNESS CENTER -> Are just by far the worst!
Well my personal experience anyway...
They started me off on Hydros 10mg & 8 a day! Within 6-8 months I was on Oxycodones 10/325 Max Daily Dose of 8 which is 240 monthly! I was young and they never educated me on the medication and the extremely high exposure to addiction neither... It was AWFUL! ON TOP OF 7 OTHER MEDICATIONS THEY PERSCRIBED ME (WHICH RANGED FROM NERVE PAIN MEDS, MUSCLE RELAXERS, INSOMNIA MEDS, AND & SO ON...)

Over I'll be very careful when it comes to pain management facilities as well as doctors. Do your own research. You have to play a big part in your health care no matter what the issue is. You cannot ever rely on the doctor's last word because well they're just practicing medicine they make mistakes just like we do. I've had a broken pinky turn into 5 surgery and then another doctor having to fix it and I lost have to thank you to the mess up of the doctor that originally took me on as a patient. Also I've had a brain surgery where the neurosurgeon who left some of my brain tumor cells in which he was removing during surgery inside of my brain and brain tumor started to grow back in the matter of only big short time of 11 months. I'm still dealing with this 8 years later I'm now 100% totally disabled with the tumor still growing inside my head which has led to numerous other health issues. So take my word for it when I really advise everyone to be a very active role in your Healthcare. It's ignorant to not be. It's just a matter of simple research. Like when you get a prescription written to you do some research on it and if you have any other conditions that says you shouldn't take while you're on that medicine well obviously red flag that this doctor messed up and definitely let him know this. This is happened to me 3 times in less than 2 months now had I not done my own homework I could be in bad shape or even death. So just a little food for thought the back on topic as far as this particular facility Well I give it five stars all the way highly recommended!

bridget M.

I hated this doctors office. Very unprofessional in many ways. The office manager continued to send out my request for approval with the wrong codes on them so the insurance company would deny the request. Every time I called to get it straightened out the office would act like ( I'm the idiot) and would be rude and dismissive. Definitely do not recomnd.!!!

Colleen K.

I have been with this pain center for a couple years now and cannot say enough positive things about the Doctors I have encountered. They have addressed me and my pain issues with compassion and dignity. I have gone to another pain center in the Syracuse Area and was treated no where near as well. I highly recommend people I know with chronic pain issues to my pain Doctors.

Kenny L.

I cannot tell you my disgust and incredible distaste for the doctors at Upstate. I went there with osteomyelitis, caused by a slip and fall. Dr Simpson and Dr. Harley both recommended ampution, as opposed to other options, as the way to best get back to a normal lifestyle fastest. What utter bullshit they fed me! I am now crippled for life - they told me I'd be able to climb mountains with my son. Pure LIARS. I cannot stress more strongly that this "provider" is out for money only. I hope you have better luck than I did with these crooks.