Arch Advanced Pain Management - Pain Management in St Peters, Missouri

“This day and age reviews are important but so is people using "common sense." Common sense says you have some sort of thought processes working in your head. Common sense tells you IF you are going to go to a pain management doctor then you have 1. Real pain 2. Must follow guidelines 3. Expect oversee of government agencies 4. Appreciate the process. Unfortunately my spouse was dealt with a situation, not to her fault, and she has been a patient of Dr Sturm for ten years. Let me be clear, there is no other pain doctor who has the expertise, knowledge, passion, and care for his patients. Every patient is different. Every patient requires less and in some cases more time. Dr Sturm always spends the appropriate amount needed for each patient. If you have real pain then this is the practice for you. Great care is not just with the doctor. It is also with his team. This is shown from the time you check in to the time when you check out. Great job Dr Sturm!”

— Sean Conover

“Extremely let down by this clinic. They require drug screen tests in order to be prescribed certain medications. My partner's last drug screen test came back with unexpected results (showed an illegal drug that my partner does not use). Despite our shock and confusion, we were immediately dismissed from care without any opportunity to do a confirmatory test (which he offered to do same day). Instead of hearing our concerns, they told us their decision was final and literally hung up on us. Now there is a false permanent record of drug use on his file that will hurt his chances of receiving care and assistance in the future. In addition to this, we often had difficulty getting ahold of anyone and running out of medication. We we never told that monthly appointments were required to get the correct amount of meds, which resulted in him running out of medication twice. Calls from us and the pharmacy went to voicemail for over a week. We would get messages to call back during regular business hours at 3pm in the afternoon. I emailed and even messaged them on Facebook trying to get ahold of someone and never got any replies. Obviously would not recommend this provider. *Updated on 12/12 in response: I don't normally argue with strangers on google reviews but feel the need to clarify. To Heather's review: that is really great that you found a good fit. I also understand how difficult it can be to find a good pain specialist, as my partner lives with chronic pain. Sadly, that was not the experience we had at this clinic, and the drug test that was performed was not done in the way you described (it was an oral swab). I have even discussed with the lab that tested his sample, which was how I found out the drug test was not handled following proper protocol. When I tried to discuss that with Justin, the assistant manager, he cut me off to tell me that the decision was final and hung up on me. So please don't discredit my review by claiming I'm not a normal person. To Arch Advanced: I only called a few times after my partner and his pharmacist were unable to get ahold of anyone and he was desperate for a medication refill. It's also not against HIPAA to answer the phone or return messages, but I don't want to argue further. I only wanted to write a review as a warning to others, since apparently we are not the only ones this has happened to (see past reviews). For those that have been wrongly accused of drug use, you can file a claim with the Missouri medical board and with your insurance company to investigate.”

— Angela M

“As someone living with hEDS and Ankylosing Spondylitis, I can confidently say that finding a pain specialist who truly understands complex medical conditions is rare -- and that's exactly why I have been with Dr. Sturm for almost 10 years. The staff here is amazing, and it's always a sad day when one of them leaves. As a long-term patient, I wanted to give an honest and thorough review. I've even moved with Dr. Sturm three different times -- hopefully this will be the last move! Dr. Sturm treats every patient with the utmost respect. Some reviews mention that he doesn't spend "30 minutes" in the room, but people overlook the actual structure of a pain management appointment. You have: * Check-in * Vitals * Your scheduled drug screen (which is NOT random -- you sign paperwork acknowledging and agreeing to it) * Nursing triage * THEN the doctor comes in This is a medical process, not a rushed visit. On top of that, Dr. Sturm also has dictation, reviewing imaging, labs, care plans, and other responsibilities that are part of your appointment even if you don't physically see every step. This clinic runs like clockwork. Regarding claims of being "wrongly accused of drug use" -- that does not reflect how this clinic operates. You provide your urine sample in the bathroom, and YOU carry it out ON CAMERA and hand it to the nurse, who then carries it to the lab -- also on camera. When you call the clinic, the message clearly states "If you do not wish to be recorded, hang up." Everything is documented. Everything is transparent. I've been a patient and a caregiver who has brought others here -- they do not dismiss patients without reason. If you come for injections, let me be very clear: Dr. Sturm is the best of the best. He performs an extensive range of advanced procedures including: * Epidural steroid injections * Radiofrequency ablations * Nerve blocks * Facet and SI joint injections * Thoracic outlet injections * Stellate ganglion blocks * Botox for spasticity * Trigger point injections ...and many more highly specialized treatments using top-tier instruments and techniques. On a personal note: after a lifetime of chronic pain, I finally received answers after 37 years because Dr. Sturm recognized the underlying issues and helped me get properly diagnosed with hEDS and Ankylosing Spondylitis -- conditions that had been missed my entire life. I've worked in the nursing field since I was 18, and I can confidently say: Dr. Sturm is one of the most knowledgeable, ethical, consistent, and skilled pain specialists you will ever find. I cannot recommend him or this clinic enough.”

— Heather Al-Rashidi

“After years of being dismissed and overlooked, Yesterday was the first time I finally felt seen when talking about this PAIN FATIGUE I just laid down everything I deal with out there and I didn't feel judged. I've lived with chronic pain since I was 13, survived a devastating car accident in 2017 that left me with broken bones and a hell of a lot of and was later diagnosed with lupus and fibromyalgia yet My old pain management doctor never created a real plan for me or truly listened.he was all about Dr. Sturm and his staff changed that in one visit. They were compassionate, attentive, and made me feel human again. For the first time in a long time, I left a pain clinic with hope instead of frustration.Thanks Arch Advanced Pain Management for giving me the care and understanding I've been praying for. And Justin if you are reading this Thank So Much I wish you the best on your next Journey !!!”

— Gina Chavis Parks