Mercy Medical Group

Abrupt discontinuation of pain management without compassion or continuity By Dr. Giles. My father was a long-term patient who had been responsibly prescribed pain medication for many years due to chronic back and arm conditions, including surgeries. When this new doctor took over his care, she discontinued his medication abruptly after seeing that he occasionally had a beer in the evening, something his previous doctors had been aware of and had not considered a problem. There was no gradual tapering, pain management plan, or referral for alternative treatment. As a result, his pain has become unmanageable, he's lost weight, and his quality of life has severely declined. I'm leaving this review because I believe pain management decisions should be made with compassion, communication, and continuity of care, especially for patients with legitimate medical histories and documented needs.

Amazing! I suffered with terrible neuropathic pain from chemotherapy for over a year. i was taking large amounts of Ibuprofen and Naproxen daily as well as increasing doses of Gabapentin and I tried every supplement I read might help - wasted $$$. Not to mention Hydrocodone on really bad days. Four days after my visit with Heather Kelley, NP, I was almost totally relieved of the pain. In the 2 months since, I have taken OTC meds 3 times for normal aches & pains like headache. NO hydrocodone! I am able to be MUCH more active. The difference she has made in my life and that of my family is just incredible. I am so grateful.

I had to switch to Mercy pain management as my previous one does not accept MediCal. I had a spinal ablation without hardly any relief. When I called for a follow up appointment I was told they didn't do follow up appointments to just go back to my primary care physician. I don't like taking opioids but so far that's the only thing that brings my pain to a functional level. I'm made to feel like a drug seeker and I never had this issue in the 20+ years I've had chronic pain. And they say "Hello Humankindness" ??

I believe Dr. Kim's office falsified my urine drug tests, that caused me to have a false positive alcohol test, twice. I was with other pain management doctors, who prescribed Oxycodone for years. No issues. I didn't switch to Dr. Kim until I got paired with him after a company that works with the Spinal Cord Stimulator I had surgically implanted (not by Dr. Kim). I had a severe reaction to the device and it took 5 months for the other doctor to finally remove it. It was excruciating. A traumatic 5 months, with a years recovery. I continued taking the pain meds, then the next month Dr. Kim wanted me to have a pain pump put in so I could stop taking to pain pills. I told him there was no way because I was too traumatized. He was not happy with that answer. Told me there wasn't anything else they could do. I had to take urine tests every 3 months, during my appointment. It was then sent to Quest. I never checked the test results as I never had anything to worry about. I took a test in April. Then went back in July and was told about a positive alcohol test from April. What?!?!? I don't drink alcohol, ever. Of course the Nurse Practitioner didn't believe me. Told me if I had another positive I will be in violation of the Pain Medication Contract I signed. This freaked me out. I went home called Quest, bought a breathalyzer, tried to research any condition I might have, etc... The test I took that day in July was negative. I checked with Quest as soon as I could. I went back in October, took the utine test and they renewed my 3 months of meds. A few days later, I found out that test was positive for alcohol. Again, I don't drink. I sent messages to Dr. Kim after I was told I violated the terms of my contract and I will no longer receive pain meds. I begged them to let me randoms, blood tests, test for any kind of false positive. I was worried about something being wrong with me since I didn't know why I'd have positive tests. They wouldn't do anything. Told me I could have the pain pump implanted or do injections, but no pain pills. It is now in my record that I drank while taking pain pills , violating my contract. They sent out a letter to about 5 agencies. There is no money in them only prescribing pills, and we have this epidemic. They are trying to get people off the narcotics. As long as this is, it could be even longer lol I'm hoping to find others this has happened to. If you or someone you know has, please let me know.

I have a degenerative disc disease in my lower back. I had an ablation done to my lower back in February 2023. This relieved the pain for only 2 months. I could not get this procedure done again for 6 months from the date of the prodcedure in February. I could not see Dr. BRIAN KIM again until August 2023. I called to make an appointment in August and the earliest date I could get back into see the doctor was November 2023. That means I had to wait 7 months after the procedure in February wore off before being able to see the doctor again. Pain level everyday is about an 8. Thats not what I would can Pain Management when the patient has to wait so long to see thier doctor. I am not sure the ablation is worth it, if it's not going to last. I had the same ablation done in Virginia Beach in June of 2021 and it lasted over 1 year.