Florida Pain Physicians - Pain Management in St. Augustine, Florida

“I was very impressed with Dr. Cartwright and staff. Especially a young man named Gared. He is something like a savant when it comes to healthcare. They took there time with me and explained everything so I could understand. They even went the extra mile when Gared called me after my procedure to check to see how I was feeling.”

— Gee Smith

“Dr Joseph Cartwright has been my pain physician for 7+ years. I highly recommend Dr Cartwright to anyone experiencing chronic pain. He is personable, observant, always thinking of the patient's best interest and a great doctor to have on your medical team!”

— Mary Johnson

“Never go to get treated at this facility in St. Augustine or you will encounter rude, belittling, uncaring, and unprofessional front desk employees named Heather, Maria, & Jennifer. I have been a patient of Dr. Friedenstein for 6 years and I am a disabled 74 year old widow in current treatment for severe pain in my back. Yet , I was turned away from the office this week without being able to see the doctor or make the important appointment for my radiofrequency ablation back shot. That is because these incompetent women failed in their duties and did not properly notify me that the doctor was on vacation all week, and the PA Matthew Bonin left on emergency. I was essentially stood up unable to see any doctor and wasting my whole day. When I asked to see a part of my record which was my recent x ray and MRI report, I was also refused! They said a doctor had to go over them with me, which is absolutely false....it is a HIPAA violation to withhold a patient's own medical records from them .Who would not be upset in this situation? I voiced my frustrations to the girls pointing out that their company charges a fee for canceling less than 24 hours before, and yet they knew the doctor was out, and they didn't give me the decency to call until 2 hours before my appointment and then never even relay the info to the call center that Matthew was gone. I had called to check and the call center said that my appointment was still scheduled and Matthew would be there. They gave me an appointment card for next week when the doctor returns. So, essentially, these girls were goofing off, not doing their jobs, chatting at the front desk, because both of their Dr. bosses were gone for the day! They had messed up, but they did not like me telling me they did. I was so rightly upset I was mumbling under my breath as I walked to the door, as I opened the door, one shouted across the room loudly patronizing me and mocking my anger, "Have a nice Day"!!! The next day, I get a call from a Jennifer who proceeds to start rattling off something about that I can no longer see the doctor.!!!! I stopped her dead cold. I told her I didn't know who she was but if she even tries to mess with me there will be legal manifestations. I hung up. I think these girls are somehow trying to dismiss me so the doctor doesn't hear about their misbehavior in all of the doctor's absence that day. I cannot believe they don't know that health practitioners cannot just dismiss patients who are in 'continuity of care.' They also can't dismiss patients for discriminatory reasons such as disabilities. Dismissal of a patient is only done as a last resort after a continued misbehavior or infraction. There is a set process to dismiss a patient laid out by the AMA and the Florida Medical Association. To not follow these rules is called 'patient abandonment' and can have civil liability and a doctor can lose his license over it. So, I don't know who this bottom- of- the -ladder- girl Jennifer is that tries to call me over the phone and tries to tell me that I can't see my doctor anymore who I rely on for pain medications and back shots is..but her action is absolute abuse! And it goes to show what lengths some employees will go to cover their own shortcomings. Too bad for them that I have proof on my phone of their voice messages with their names trying to cancel my appointment only two hours before. So please be leary. Dr Friedenstein is a great doctor, but members of his staff care nothing about you if you are elderly and disabled.. They will mock, slander, and abuse you if you dare need to expose them for their incompetency and uncaring behavior.”

— Andrea Cagle

“Been going to Dr. Cartwright for years to treat spine issues with epidural injections. Cartwright is knowledgeable and genuinely caring. I would attribute his skills in helping me avoid more surgeries. When it was clear I needed immediate surgical help he facilitated getting in with a surgeon the next day!”

— Scott Wolfram