APAC Centers for Pain Management - Pain Management in Dyer, Indiana

“I was very happy with my visit to see Dr Patel concerning back pain. I first saw the Nurse, then PA and finished with the doctor. All were very informative and discussed options for a variety of different ways to get me back to walking with less/no pain. I have opted to go with the MILD procedure which my hubby had about 6 weeks ago and has seen improvement. Entire staff was pleasant to work with. I was treated like part of the family.”

— Bonnie Sparks

“The doctor seemed a little indecisive and had to base all of his decisions on what the insurance company wanted. Seemed like he was more worried about the insurance company than me. I'm unsure if I will continue treatment at this doctor. Unfortunately most doctors seem so willing to give up and bow down to the insurance companies.”

— Jeffrey Kenna

“When I first visited this office in December, I was told that they did not issue pain meds to new patients until a urinalysis was returned. I had been on both morphine, and methadone from my pain management physician in Florida, but my relocation to Indiana in late November eliminated that treatment regimen. I had experienced 5 back surgeries and experienced a significant continuation of pain. My followup appointment was scheduled for mid-January, but a stretch of bad weather changed that appointment to a telehealth appointment. The appointment was with one of the doctor's physician assistants. Before hanging up, I asked about pain meds. At my first appointment, a new MRI was ordered, which took place about a week prior to the telehealth appointment. The answer to my question concerning pain medication was "we want to wait until we receive an evaluation from a neurosurgeon." They gave me the name of a neurosurgeon, but not his address or phone number. At my next PCP appointment, I expressed my displeasure with the "pain" clinic to my PCP. He told me that if I was dissatisfied with APAC, they would refer me to a different pain management physician. An appointment was made for me, not at a different pain clinic as I expected, but with a different neurosurgeon in Crown Point. I went to the appointment with the neurosurgeon in Crown Point, and took along a copy of the MRI written report, as well as the DVD that I was given by the imaging center. The remarks by the surgeon drew me aback: he showed me on the DVD the area at L2/3. The nerve root at this level was so compressed that it didn't even show up on the MRI. (His remark.) He recommended immediate surgery, which would add another fusion, my third, this time at L2/3. I left that appointment with a sense of shock. At my next PCP appointment, I told of the appointment with the neurosurgeon. My PCP recommended that I have the surgery ASAP, as it was quite possible that the condition could result in my waking up one day completely paralyzed. It has been my intention to return to Florida once finances permit it. My PCP told me NOT to even try to ride that far without having the surgery FIRST. By this time, it was mid April. I decided to give ACAP one more chance. Heck, with the PROOF of the MRI, and the report from the neurosurgeon of my choice, how could they possibly refuse to get me the pain meds that I OBVIOUSLY need? The appointment was scheduled for May 3. I called the neurosurgeon's office, asking them to send a copy of the doctor's report to the APAC office in Dyer, Indiana. I was promised that the report would be faxed immediately. The May 3 appointment arrived. I was confident that I would leave that appointment with the scripts for the pain medication(s) that I obviously needed. I was once again paired with a physician's assistant, although the doctor was in the office that day. After the initial pleasantries, I told the PA why I had not returned sooner. It was because I felt that I had been LIED to over the timing of pain medication being prescribed. Not much was said about this "lie". I then asked about their opinion of the report by my neurosurgeon. THEY CLAIMED TO HAVE NOT RECEIVED IT. An attempt to reach that doctor's office was supposedly made, but by this time, it was after 4pm on a Friday, and it was said that they could not reach them because the office was closed. I asked if their office had received a copy of the MRI films and report. I was told "YES". I replied, " then you KNOW, based upon the MRI, that it's OBVIOUS that I'm in pain!" I once again asked about prescribing pain meds for me. The reply to me was such that I thought it to be TOTALLY INCREDULOUS. The response was "we don't want to mask your symptoms". WHAT IN THE HELL ARE PAIN MEDS INTENDED TO BE FOR???? I stomped the best I could, since I use a stand-up 4 wheeled walker, out of their office, stating "YOU'LL NEVER SEE ME AGAIN!!" This narrative spells out my experience with the APAC Centers for Pain Control office in Dyer, Indiana.”

— John A. Clare

“I have been a patient at APAC since 2009 and have always had a positive experience. The staff is efficient and friendly. There have been several changes in staff, including the physicians, and I have been impressed with the way changes were handled. Every effort was always taken to make sure my issues were addressed. When a schedule change was necessary I was able to make the change with very little wait time.”

— Joyce Illyes