Alaska Spine Institute

oh, my goodness, these people are so right, too bad I was a referral from another Doc., I had free floating bone fragment lodged in c5 & c6 cervicals and instead of immediate surgery to remove they sent me to the spinal institute for epidural cortisone shot for pain, they were nice enough at first seeming workers comp. was paying for it, but after the shot I was in pain everywhere all over my whole body, not just my neck any more, and when I called in to tell them the problems they never got back to me no one ever called me, so for a month I lost my memory, I fell into sleeping spells suddenly at any time, driving, walking, standing, just fell asleep, I couldn't remember numbers or words had a hard time trying to hold conversations even the simplest ones, but when someone finally got back to me ""he says I've never heard of that before"" and gave me prescription for sleeping pills, WHAT THE @$%^#& !!! did I not say I WAS passing out Already, well I looked up online what was going one with me and found some people have bad reactions to cortisone, I even spoke with one of my other physicians and they confirmed I was reacting negatively to the shot, they had other patients who had similar reactions, six weeks later I end up in emergency for nerve muscle spasms and now I am paralyzed on the same side they gave me shot, and the spasms won't stop, PLEASE , PLEASE STAY AWAY FROM THEM, THEY HURT PEOPLE I AM LIVING PROOF, If you don't' believe me I will send you pictures I am now walking with a walker because I am paraplegic I even wrote this message with just my right hand my left hand is now paralyzed. more

THIS IS THE WORST PAIN CLINIC I HAVE EVER BEEN TO! They could care less about their patients, they dont listen and you either do things their way or your out. They dont allow you to give any input into your own care. I tried to explain to them what was going on and they turned a deaf ear to me and went ahead with their plan for me, reguardless of what I had just told them. I can not wait to drop them and go someplace where the doctors and assistants have some compassion, because it sure isnt here. DO NOT GO TO THEM FOR PAIN MANAGEMENT, THEY SUCK. They force to do it there way or you can suffer. I was taught that a doctor was suppose to be compassionate, and caring, but this place is cold and the whole staff lacks any compassion at all. I wouldnt take my dog to them. more

THE WORST. They herd you through like cattle and only want to get into your pocketbook. Hit you up for money at every step of the way. NOT a preferred provider and their fees are astronomical. Traveled from Kodiak because no ortho on island - biggest mistake of my life. You aren't seen by a doctor - only a nurse practitioner who will said I had a torn disc but didn't explain who what when where how or why. Had to learn it all myself on the internet back at the hotel. Doctor only does epidural and you meet him for 2 min. They dropped the ball on so many things concerning my visit - they are so busy trying to make money they blow it on care. Staff rude and dismissive. The fact that they are not a preferred provider says it all. Every big reputable place is a preferred provider. They are obviously only interested in revenue. They give you a form when you leave asking you to evaluate your experience and I truthfully blasted them and then got a blah blah letter in response. They obviously don't care -- just out for a buck. STAY AWAY!! more

I went to the Ak Spine Clinic for a back injury. They treated me badly, DR James thinks he is God & His PAC is terribly rude. They don;t care how much pain you are in, if you piss them off, they won;t treat you ever again. When in pain, that's when you go see a Dr & you are not so upbeat since you are in pain, They do not care about their patients at all, only the money and it is very expensive. I would avoid seeing them at all costs and go to Advanced Medical Center of Alaska on Abbott. Very caring and they treat the whole person, not just the symptoms. They don't even get one star from me. That bad. more

I had terrible back pain I couldn't even carry my infant. I had to take him to daycare because of the pain. They wouldn't even see me because my doctor was out of town and they don't ""share"" patients! In other words if your doctor is out of town you don't have a doctor! I couldn't believe it! Also they are rated as a hospital so they can bill you hospital rates which are triple what a clinic charges for the same services. I had a spinal epidural which cost me $300 in a clinic I used to go to and it was over $1500 here for the SAME procedure. They made a huge deal out of this typically simple procedure. When I asked for more detail about my bill (the bill came with one line for the whole thing) they gave me a phone number that went to answering machine that actually said they don't check these messages! At that point we wrote a letter requesting more information about the billing (not even complaining just wanting it broken down more) they sent me a letter saying I was no longer allowed to be a patient. Amazing! How do business opperate like this and still make it. Alaska has so many great Orthopedic surgeons I urge you to take your business elsewhere. The spine institute doesn't have any equipment that any other clinic doesn't and they clearly are not interested in the patients care. Cons: EVERYTHING! Overpriced, don't care about their patients more

The physicians have the worst bedside manner, the staff is lazy, the worst experience I ever experienced medically in my entire life. I wouldn't recommend the Alaska Spine Institute if they paid me. Don't go here, if you're smart! Cons: Everything.... more