Pain Specialists of Austin

Pain Specialists of Austin is also known as Cental Texas Pain Institute. Make sure you review all of their reviews. Dr. Manees has left the practice. I had the opportunity to have help do a nerve block on me at the North Austin location on 2011 and found him to have a wonderful manner.
However all of their staff is not helpful, and after being a patient since 2009, I left PSA/​CTPI and went to another Pain Management Practice where I am always able to see a DOCTOR if I want, but have found a really good PA. Seeing the DR is difficult as she is quite popular, but other doctors are also good, the PA is also very good, but better yet we have developed a very good pain management plan, and they are doing everything to help me follow it. If I cannot solve my pain, we are doing everything to find another way to get relief.
I did not find anyone at PSA/​CTPI who was interested in doing this. They just prescribed a large bottle of pills that I said no longer worked for me. Please see my review at Central Texas Pain Institute for more details.

I was diagnosed with degenerative discs in my cervical spine. bone spurs and spinal stenoisis, and referred to PSA. I was initially prescribed tizanidine and 10 mg. hydrocodone, to which I already have built a tolerance from past medical issues. During my treatment, I tore my miniscus, and so took more hydros than prescribed and informed PSA of this. In the meantime, I was referred to Pain Relief Surgicenter (these businesses are associates). I had such high hopes when I was referred there to get cortosteroid injections for my cervical spine. Having knowledge of this procedure before, I know these are given in a series of three. The first set somewhat relieved the pain in my neck and through my shoulders, but did not relieve the pain in my hands. Thinking the second set would do even more, I looked forward to my visit, but was instead given a nerve block, which not only had me smelling plastic for two days and gave me a headache for three, but it also seemed to undo the good from the first cortosteroid injection, taking my pain levels back up to where they originally were. After the nerve block, I was prescribed 5 mg Percocet which do nothing to relieve my pain. I made an appointment with PSA and I took my almost full bottle of Percocets with me on my visit, informed the doc they did nothing for me, and asked if I could be prescribed MS Contin, which is 12 hour time release morphine sulfate. I was told that, since I broke my contract by taking more hydros after injuring my knee, I would not be written any more narcotic prescriptions. I get knee surgery tomorrow, and had a visit with PSA today. They would not prescribe me anything for pain, and when I asked why Pain Relief Surgicenter’s doctor didn’t finish the series of cortosteroid injections, was not given a clear answer but was told I could make another appointment to get another set of injections. All of these attempts at relieving my pain are just cover ups and ineffective ways to mask the actual problems. «Let’s try this» is not a good thing… if you start on a path of treatment, complete it and see if it works instead of changing course midstream. And even though I have insurance, this place sucked $ 400 out of my bank account for procedures that did nothing for me at all. I recommend anyone who is referred here educate themselves about their issue, the different procedures that may be done, and maybe get a second opinion. The good things I have to say is the staff is nice, and the place is clean. Everyone’s experience is different, but for me, both Pain Specialists of Austin and The Pain Relief Surgicenter are not where I had my pain relieved at all.

The south Austin location is horrible! Dr. Manes is so kind and patient. I liked him but his office if full of ignorant and rude people.
Don’t do the urine test because they send it off and the company they use charges $ 1000 for the simple urine analysis. It has cost me an arm and a leg to go there. I actually asked why do I need to do a urine test when I’m there to discuss injections with dr. Manes and not for medication but yet they still had me do it. Even when I told them I didn’t want to get a huge bill in the mail for something I don’t need to do.
When I called them about it Regina was rude and insisted I signed the paper. I only signed the paper after I argued with their staff members about having to do it n
They also quoted me a price for my injection and the day before the procedure they called to tell me it was going to be a different amount. About two times as much! NO THANK YOU! Those folks don’t know what their doing. It’s a shame.

Unfortunately I am updating my review. Dr. Manees is still a great physician, but his staff is beyond horrible. I tried to ignore it since I really like him, but I’ve had issue after issue including:
— prescriptions not being sent correctly
— having to call office multiple (think 5+) times for the same concerns
— being placed on hold for a long time and explaining the same issues to numerous people
— medical assistants are extremely rude
If you are an easy patient that doesn’t require any prescriptions, it may be worth dealing with the incompetence to see Dr. Manees. I am still hopeful something will change as it is a shame to not see a good physician because his office is run so badly.

CHOOSE A DIFFERENT PAIN CLINIC! This is the most unprofessional, unorganized group, medical or otherwise, I have ever encountered. I have yet to have one prescription called in on time. On the third time this happened to me, even though I had called and had them promise me they would fulfill because it was a Friday and I was anxious of their history, I was left to the point of almost going to the emergency room because I had no pain meds. Thanks to a friend, I borrowed some hydrocodone and made it through the weekend. When I called, they didn’t give a damn I was left in that situation. The fifth time my prescription wasn’t filled, even the Walgreen’s staff was rolling their eyes about the incompetency.
Another time, I was experiencing severe muscle spasms. I called on a Tuesday afternoon, got passed around to finally get an answering machine. I left a message crying in pain for someone to call me back for something to relieve my pain. I NEVER GOT A CALL BACK. I called back on Wednesday morning, still in pain and now furious because no one cared. Was transferred around a got another answering machine. Still no return call. On Wednesday afternoon, I called again. I told the receptionist she was NOT putting me through to another machine. A nurse came on the phone and was the most indignant person I have ever dealt with in the medical field. She said someone had called me back Tuesday afternoon and left a message which was absolute bs. (Even if what she said were true, wouldn’t a caring pain clinic follow back up on someone so obviously in pain?). She said she was calling in the prescription (oh boy, here we go again!) and promised she would call and let me know the order went through. To no surprise, no call and it wasn’t until I contacted Walgreen’s did I find the order was ready.
More recently, I have been having significant pain in my upper arms and can barely raise my arms to brush my hair. Having explained my issue for two visits now, my doctor (Dr. Clark — will get to that later) finally ordered a MRI for me. Austin Regional Clinic (ARA) called on the morning I was scheduled and said it hadn’t been approved by insurance and I needed to call the doctor’s office to get it authorized. Called on Wednesday before Thanksgiving and explained what needed to happened. Now on this, and every call after, I asked and was re-​assured that someone would call me back to confirm it got approved so I could re-​schedule. Needless to say, no return call came Wednesday. Monday, I called again. Same explanation, same result — nada. Called on Tuesday — same thing. Called Wednesday. The person the Tuesday conversation told me to call was non-​existent. Now I hear this was approved on MONDAY!!! Then I get put on hold for 10 minutes and all of a sudden I am talking to ARA. No followup conversation to say they were transferring me or, God forbid an apology… just a transfer and I had to figure out who I was now talking to. ARA went ahead and scheduled me again but said the approval still wasn’t showing in their system. Should it be this hard just to get a MRI scheduled???
Lastly, Kristen P. discusses Dr. Tameta Clark. I knew something was always really off-​putting with her and Kristen’s comments hit the nail on the head with all her mannerisms. I feel she doesn’t even care if I get relief or not.
All of this seems to have happened after Dr. Vije’s departure to another location. So if you want pain relief, go somewhere else and save yourself the frustration of dealing with this group.