Hull Stephen MD - Pain Management in Portland, Maine

“If I could give 0 stars I would. I have never met a doctor so disrespectful, rude, and lacking empathy. I met him years ago and he traumatized me to where I didn't go to a doctor again for years. I have tarlovs disease which is a bunch of large cysts at the base of my spine and my nerve roots wrapped around them, 2 herniated discs, and a deterioration of the spine. At my very first appointment He asked me maybe 4 questions and then I sat there for 30 minutes while he spoke into a recorder about me and my case. When he was done he put me on narcotic pain meds that at the time I knew nothing about. I was on them for months. Every appointment I had a drug screen and passed but was still treated like a drug addict because I was on the narcotic med and I didn't understand why. every appointment I sat there while he spoke to his recorder spending less than 5 minutes asking how it was doing, pushed pills my way, and sent me home. I ended up having emergency surgery to remove my gallbladder and was given IV pain meds after the surgery. When I went for my treatment with Dr Hall a couple of weeks later the IV medicines of course came up in my urine test and I explained to him that I had had emergency surgery. He looked in my chart saw I was being honest and that was it. The next month when it was time for my appointment with "Dr" Hull they called to cancel it and said it would be rescheduled. After a week of not hearing from them, I called and I called and I called and I got the run around and nobody would call me back. Finally the day before Christmas Eve I got a call from his nurse who was extremely nasty to me and said because I had morphine in my system (again from my surgery) that I broke the pain med contract and they would not be giving me anymore meds and was dropping me as a patient. When I tried to explain it was fromy my surgery she told me "Dr".Hull believes I was "manipulative and drug seeking" and I should seek some professional help. I was very shy and naive to what narcotics were back then and I didn't realize the hell that he just threw me in. So when I ran out of my medicine I went through massive withdrawals. He didn't wean me off of them like he was suppose to and I ended up having major withdrawals causing seizures because of how quickly my medication has been stopped. The doctor at the hospital that took care of me after the seizure, was so disgusted with "Dr" hull, his nurse and their lack of professionalism. He was reported to the medical board. Now, of course I am unsure of how that went. But this doctor at the hospital offered to send me to a new pain clinic to which I said no so he weaned me off of the medication. I'm so glad he did because I will never go back on those things again. "Dr" Hull could have killed me by taking me off so abruptly for a reason that should have never been used as an excuse to hurt one of his patients. The doctor at the hospital said when you have medication in your system for an emergency surgery it does not count as breaking any contract because it was an unforeseen emergency. But the lack of professionalism of "Dr" Hull, the lack of empathy, sympathy, by him and his nurse, the way she degraded me and put me down in that last conversation and treated me like I was a drug addict is disgusting. I don't think this man should ever be able to practice medicine. I've heard some major horror stories about him after this happened to me and I'm just glad I got away from him when I did.”

— Amanda Love

“Runs pain center at Mercy Hospital but doesn't believe anyone needs pain meds. I've had chronic pain since 1997 and in 2011 I wanted to try and manage my pain without meds. After eight months it was clear that it wasn't working, that medication was needed, and eventhough Dr. Hull had promised that he would put me back on medication if unsuccessful, he refused. Eventually his nurse practitioner (my main provider) insisted that I get medication again because my situation was so bad. Also, I kept hearing from them how great their pain center was, how they were setting up a program to include PT, OT, psychology, exercise, etc...did not see it in the 1.5 years I was a patient. All I got was one visit a month where I would talk to the practitioner and they gave me referrals for injections that I knew would not work. I don't recommend to anyone.”

— patsfan1280

“I saw Dr Hull back in January of 2016 I had then been thru 5 surgeries on my Back which were unsuccessful I was in so much pain ,I sat down after he reviewed my MRI. He told me that I see you should be under care for your pain and be on pain meds BUT I'm not doing that instead I'm recommending you come off everything. I asked about a back stimulator, and asked about my fusions and if they are fused .He told me nothing will help now. I have never seen such a rude and uncaring Dr in my life. Since that time I went to Boston as the pain was overwhelming.The first Dr I saw looked at my MRI and told me you have several surgical problems that need to be taken care of.My other fusions never fused.The bolts in my back were entirely loose .I had bone spurs ,and some Disk left in there . I had a 9 hour surgery in Boston.This Dr told me ,all of the work he had to do. This was the same MRI I had taken to Dr Hull . It's not just the Extreme rudeness, Its the fact he cannot read an MRI or he read it and did not care . He is not fit to be a pain Dr. When Boston read his report on me, They agreed.”

— Cattrina landry

“My name is John and I have seen Dr. Hull for the past five years. This Dr is the most compassionate Dr I know. When I read a few reviews above I was shocked for those statements are pure false..... This Dr. goes above and beyond to care for you. Believe me when I say you are not just a number with him. He cares about your overall health and not just your pain. If you are having other complications he will guide you in the right direction.... I just had to say something for this man really cares for you. Lastly I think he has a photographic memory for he knows stuff about me that we talked about months or years earlier. You want an excellent Dr go see him..... Sincerely, John H. R”

— John Henry Ruminski