Maps-Medical Pain Clinic

I was seen at MAPS in Edina with excruciating hip pain and had a great experience. I wanted to avoid heavy duty pain pills due to the fact that I need to function at a high level on a daily basis. They were able to evaluate and manage my pain efficiently with injections and exercise. I was treated compassionately and I am now pain free. I sent my eldefly father here and he also had a very positive experince and outcome. I highly recommend them. more

This is the worst clinic I've ever been to. I call it the ""joke clinic"". I have a rare kidney disease in which I produce and pass many stones and get many UTI's and kidney infections. As you can imagine it's extremely painful. I sent numerous records in from my main doctors at the U of M so we could go over them at the initial visit but they didn't open the packet up once. They proceeded to tell me that my back was out of line and that was what was causing me pain all the time (the PT later told me my back was perfect, so this is the first lie). The PA was nice, but said she had treated many patients with this before who magically had no more pain after 3 months (this is lie #2, as the PT and psych said that MAPS had never had anyone with this). They encouraged me to get an injection which ultimately didn't help. I got another injection on my second visit which actually made me feel worse so when I went back I refused to do any more (they were not happy). I work in medical research and run a support group so I had ideas on what I could try for pain but every single one was shot down. Somehow Lyrica and biofeedback was magically supposed to help my kidney stone pain. Ok. They refuse to give out narcotics and will give you the smallest amount with the smallest dose and treat you like an addict if you say you need more or a higher dose. Not only were the doctors uneducated and egotistical, the front desk staff looked like they were methed out and were incapable of doing ANYTHING. Their attitudes were pathetic and treated me like I was interrupting their sitting around. Worst of all, you have to travel to multiple locations so you can jump through their hoops and see the psych and PT. I'D RATHER BE IN PAIN THAN EVER GO BACK TO A MAPS CLINIC! more

Maps pain clinic is not worth your time. I started there\r back in 08 and at that time i was concerned about getting addited to pain killers. Them and the er doctors \r all told me that i was not to worry about it. Well guess what happened Im additted to them and all the epidural shots didn't help but no the physcians assistants when recording the results said there wasn't and answer of it partly helped so they just picked what doctor Cohn wanted to hear. There physical therepy just aggervated my back pain worse. So after three years and thousand of dollars that my insurance paid I can barely stand up for 5 minutes at a time, Just so you know one shot is 3600 dollars and office visit is around 400 and therepy is in the four hundreds. Many times my physcians assistant was running late and he spent a total of five minutes with me when he finally got around to me. Then one day in walks another physcian assistant and she told me that I was going cold turkey and my primary physcians could take over the medication. She also had the nerve to tell me that her co worker was doing things all wrong and the ladies out front are not doing there jobs. My doctor wasn't notified because they didn't up date the release. I signed that release every three months. I asked to get a second opinion before she took me off the meds cold turkey and she flat out said no. Oh and did I mention they lost vital medical information and have no idea where the results where filed. I filed a complaint with Doctor Cohn and as of today he has ignored it. If the physcians assistant want to be in charge of the decision then they need to have the same oath as the doctors. After reading other reviews they are all right on. If doctor Cohn doesn't have his little black berry with him when he walks into the room, he has not looked at your chart. I don't believe he supervises any of his physcian assistants. Now Im left with looking for another pain clinic and you can bet I will be searching every possible site to get patient opinions. This is a short version and I hope it will help other in there search for the proper clinic. This place is all about money and profit not helping people. more

After 9 abdominal surgeries in 1 1/2 years the area between my sternum and belly button looks like a cannon ball blasted its way through me! My surgeon sent me here to try and manage the pain until it is safe to open me up again and fix the latest problem. Instead of reading what my doctor has written up since December of 2009 they accused me of being a narcotics addict and said I should do some physical therapy for my abdomen and get trigger point injections in the area. Per my surgeon I am not supposed to put any unnecessary strain on my abdomin (which they would have known had they read his notes). Also, that area is so tender and painful.... and the permanent stitches they had to use to sew in the donor tissue to help close me before they put on the wound vac machine are coming up to the surface trying to work their way through that there's no way I'm letting them inject me with anything without my surgeon's approval! I was talking to a friend of mine who has also been here and he said they accused him of being an addict too and that several other people he knew got the same treatment... he told them where to put their treatment plan as he was on his way out the door! Think I'll be doing the same. I'll suffer with the pain before I go back there! more

I would bore you with a long story but not worth the breath let's say if you would like to wast time and $$ going to get less than standard treatment go to MAPS and see him and his unqualified staff I do know for a fact that one of the staff is a high school drop out straight out of a gas station and for Brian D Vacca he is a far from a true MD To me and many others maps and there MDs are a true JOKE please don't wast your time more

don't wast your time Brian D vacca and staff a tru wast of $$$$ ant time all 3 locations are a bs don't wast time or $$ more

FROM MIKE MCMANIGLE: I saw Dr Vacca for the first time for ten minutes in November 2010, at MAPS Maple Grove clinic. I have previously been diagnosed with bulging discs in my neck and lower back, problems with both my shoulders, and fibromyalgia. My primary doctor had been prescribing oxycodin for pain relief. My doctor sent me to MAPS for epidurals. Again, I first saw Dr Vacca for ten minutes (as a preliminary for the epidurals) and he took away my pain meds. Now my primary doctor won't give them back to me, because of Dr Vacca's directions (and Dr Vacca is not my doctor - I only went to MAPS for epidurals - more about that next.) November and December 2010 I had three epidurals all administered by Dr Vacca and I have at least twice as much pain as I had before the epidurals. I called MAPS to ask Dr Vacca to give me back my pain meds. Here's what happened: Dr Vacca refuses to let me go back to my previous level of pain medication (which was enabling me to function) and when I complained to MAPS about it, they told me I would have to pay for another office visit - to meet with another doctor! I didn't understand the the ""pain clinic"" means they will give you more pain, and less relief. Don't go to MAPS - they'll just take your money, just tell you to suffer through your pain, and even refuse you your previous medication! In my opinion, Dr. Vacca should not be called a doctor. Run from him! If you want to talk to me about your experiences with Dr Vacca, or learn more about mine - call me Mike McManigle at 763-557-9407. more

I am 22 years old and have multilevel degenerative spondylosis with nerve damage to my L4 and S1 nerve roots. after an accident that broke my L2 and L3, and 2 back surgeries including a 2 level fusion with rods,screws, and cages from l4-s1. I have been to multiple physical therapy programs, a few chiropractors, and 2 other spine surgeons and was finally referred to MAPS this year. I walked in very optimistic, but was immediately shot down and have remained so. \r Dr. Cohn's the Doctor I have been seeing. After a quick 20 minute initial consultation, with no previous records other than my word, he schedualed me for injections the following week. I had an MRI done, and at my injections I asked if he had reviewed them yet- and he had no clue that I even had an MRI!! he said he would go look at it and we would discuss it after my procedure. After the shots, I asked him again what he thought about the MRI, and He said ""Oh Oops I forgot, let me go sneak a peek real quick and Ill be back"", I also had an EMG done that he did not review the results of before giving me more injections. \r I now have 2 badly herniated discs again,one of my screws is out of place, and I have rapidly gotten irregular bone spurs in the past 9 months since my fusion-and the only thing This doctor says is to come back in 2 weeks and we can discuss it then. Ive been in tremendous pain, and I work full time and have a 2 year old, so Days I have off are wasted going to this shitty place. \r Since my second round of injections thru this man, all my symptoms have gotten much worse. \r So not only am I stuck with some Doctor who doesnt even take 5 minutes to look at my chart before sticking needles in my spine, but EVERY single front office person or receptionist is extremely inconsiderate. They need an attitude check. They act like they are completely miserable and have no manners whatsoever. Im so so disappointed that this place turned out to be such a scam. Im now getting huge bills I can't afford, all for tests that my doctor doesnt even care about. and for the record, after 20 minutes meeting with me for the first time, Dr Cohn switched all my medications that Ive been on for over a year, and also never offered me any type of immediate pain relief.\r \r I've been told each time to go home and take tylenol and rest. and that they dont give you any narcotics unless something resorts in surgery. They think physical therapy and meeting with a psychiatrist is supposed to magically make everything better. its also too bad their appointments are always booked far out. so much for getting any pain relief. :(\r THIS PLACE IS A JOKE. more

I broke my elbow in 7 pieces and dislocated both the ulna and radius at the wrist. After 7 surgeries, the surgeons at Mayo Clinic said that ""surgical intervention"" was exhausted and now I should attend a pain clinic for treatment of pain modalities. So they gave me a referral to a pain clinic by my work in the cities, MAPS Pain Clinic. \r \r After 5 or 6 months of fighting with the insurance company to get into MAPS (because certain items were closed out in the settlement, items such as behavioral counseling, physical therapy, and a few other things), the insurance company finally allows it based on the condition that I do not use the services that were closed out in the settlement. \r \r So I get to MAPS, I had made them a copy of the ""settlement"" section that specifically outlined what they could not recommend. The nurse looks at me and says, ""I am going to recommend what I recommend. I am going to recommend what I feel medically necessary"". I ask her to look at the settlement again, I said ""I understand some things might be beneficial, but they are closed out in my settlement. If you recommend them my insurance company will deny everything, so I will not even be able to receive minimal treatment"". This discussion continues for 5 minutes and goes no where. She doesn't seem to care one lick. So the doctor comes in and the doctor says ""we will try and work within those constraints"". Great. \r \r So I have my next appointment to switch medications from my primary to MAPS Pain treatment center. The whole purpose of the appointment was to outline what medication would be beneficial and have MAPS take over the medication management. The nurse looks at me like a deer in headlights when I tell her ""i am here to have MAPS take over my mediciation management"". Honestly, no bull, this lady continues looking at me like a deer in headlights. My wife was with and she cups her mouth and whispers to me, ""is she retarded"". No kidding, this is the level of care. \r \r So this type of treatment continues. Then wouldn't you know it. After being told umpteen times what they cannot recommend, what do they do. Submit to the workers comp insurance company ""behavioral health counseling and physical therapy"". So what do you think happens next? Of course, workers comp deny's everything. \r \r Now I have no pain treatment what so ever. My primamry and I are trying to sneak a few things under the radar until we can get me into another pain clinic, CERTAINLY NOT MAPS. We have to sneak it under the radar because my primary insurance has clssified treatment for my arm as a ""pre-exsisting condition"" and will not cover anything related to my arm. \r \r So in addition to not allowing ANY open input or working on an individual trematent plan for each patient, the entire office and I MEAN the entire office is run by corporate nurses. I am not kidding it is almost like each one of them reads from a series of corporate instructions. ""Hi my name is Jackie. I will be your nurse today. Oh you have pain, okay, well we are going to prescribe gabepentin, physical therapy, behavioral heath counseling and a spinal injection"". \r \r The first review on here is not joking. They DO NOT have an individual treatment plan. They have a corporate policy card that each nurse reads and follows. How can you treat a patient whom has different pain, pain in different spots, joint pain vs. muscle pain vs bone pain, etc. If you want a treatment plan like a ""real"" doctor provides (just like you get at the doctor, they treat the problem, every patient is different) DO NOT GO TO MAPS. I regret the day I walked in the door to that place. Now I will spend another 4 months fighting the insurance company and I will be attending another local pain treatment center, North Star Pain Clinic. They have superb reviews, individual treatment plans and if the doctor is anything like the receptionist that awnsered the phone, ambitious and anxious to help. more

I would never allow anyone I cared about to use MAPS. This is not a good place. It is for profit. They ""treatment"" they propose is the same for every patient and every kind of pain. 1. Neurontin 2. Surgical procedures at the surgical center across the hall. (Edina location) 3. Physical therapy at their office. 4. Behavioral therapy with their shrinks. They are simply amazing. They have covered every base. If there is a way to profit from your pain and suffering they have found it. The really sad part is they pretend to care, to really be on your side. It was horrible. I was drowning in pain and begging for help and they told me to get more procedures and use Advil. To let you know how serious I am. They wanted to do a surgical procedure after a 30 minute intake with no x-ray or mri. They prescribe me serious brain medication without explaining some rather serious behavior effects (impulse control.) They pushed this radiofrequency nerve frying thing so hard on me. It's an $8,000-$10,000 procedure that burns your nerves off. It's horribly painful. Like the pass out and vomit pain and that's the following weeks you're unconscious for the procedure.. The part they don't tell you is it lasts for 6-48 months. When the surgery does not work or you decline it for another plan that involves any use of hydrocodone (the only pain med they offer) you must have a drug problem. I am not kidding. This is a ""pain clinic"" that does not use the fentynol patch, lidoderm patch, oxycodone, nothing stronger than Tylenol. If you love yourself this is not the place for you. Pros: Easy to get appointments Cons: Where to begin more

Paid $365.00 for first visit, i have deg/herniated disks crushing on nerves in my back ,These people will put you in pain classes,thir gonna teach you how to walk bend ect =big $$$ n big wast of time.Im suffering like hell so bad n got no pain pills at all,,Go home an take advil the doc said (we dont give out pain meds here? YA rite non narcotic pain pills have no effect on my kinda pain at all. They will take your $$$ an s*** you dry an give you nothing for pain an abuse you an act like your a lier/scam ect.So dont waste your money an time caus the doctor is an Ahole an could not care less about you or your suffering.Find a good docter the doc at MAP pain clinic in coon rapids mn is not a good doc he is a mean illmannered Jacka**((The sign on the door reads guns are banned here! hmm you can bet the mean doc has his handy. Cons: NO PAIN RELIEF JUST NO HELP AT ALL and the docs in a bad mood from word #1 more

he is mean and dose not care about his pasiont.. if you have surgery and you have one of his pain pumps in then you have surgery to fix your problem he get mad.. We asked to have my moms pain pump taken out and he started to yell at my mom saying that you need it your not fixed.. but we told him to take it out.. well the first time he said let move it becuse if we take it out we cant use it again and youll need to get a new one .. we said fine.. well he hurt her really bad .. sliced her open and did not want to deal with the pain. verry little PAIN MANGEMENTl.. whantld her admited after surgery nurse did to gut he would not..the we had him take it out becuse her body was rejecting it.. now he was worse.. he would do NO PAIN MANGEMENT and did not take everything out from it.. DONT GO TO HIM more