The Pain Management Center

I have been going to Dr. Bernadette /​PA Eric Voldeng for about 5 years now, in the late summer of 2014 suddenly on my next appointment I was told specifically by Eric that they had been raided by the DEA and some of their patients were under investigation & that Eric himself was on 5 years Federal Formal Probation for running a Pill Mill aka Doc Hollywood type service…; Getting people addicted and then kicking them to the curb is not the way to do your patients. I had always had the upmost respect for Eric and crew until I was told I was under direct investigation but was not informed as to why. I was cut back 70% of my meds and told not to argue or I would be kicked out. I guess all good doctors go south at some point
There will be more on the Pain Management issues I hope to be doing a national television episode on the subject, and plan on bringing a lot to light. as big Government is more to blame I think than the doctors are. Because the posse that be think there is an epidemic of drug abuse lets just take away the good patients meds and provide no support other than mental health or Psych eval’s which is what I was labled by my GP when I tried to ask for help tapering off the opioids. I was told that Los Angeles County Mental Health Department handles detox not pain management. Wow!!! I did not have to see a shrink to get into pain management I did not have to see a Mental health doctor to get into pain management. but oh boy to get off hell yeah now your labeled ans a whack job and crazy person. However to anyone that wants to get off the opioids, I will tell you how I did it. this is for Los angeles county only. You go to Lakewood Hospital Emergency Room on the Weekend at 3700 South St. Lakewood Ca. you must go in SICK «Dope Sick» that is, one of the best Addictionolotists that I have ever known will be called in do not worry about insurance they will not be able to verify it. you will be detoxed in 3 – 5 days probably for free at most a few bucks co pay if you do have insurance. Dr Finkelstein is the Man for the Job, he is damn good and his bedside manner is awesome, not to mention he is a professional sky-​Boarder!!! So happens how I was injured, anyhows that is how it is done. Good luck to you all
I really wish you well and feel for you
Dev

Dr. Docherty and his PA Dr. Voldeng are the best, what is bad is that our government now wants to become doctors. thus they are coming down hard on all Los Angeles County pain clinics. I give Dr. Voldeng KUDOS KUDOS KUDOS for standing up for his patients and what is right. he did not buckle under pressure, however as far as meds they are not writing for baaically any med beginning with an «O» which is putting great stress on the patients. 1. due to the withdrawals of being chopped overnight off of the meds that really relieved my issues, and 2 no pain relief. A few of the doctors I have contacted about this issue have had nothing but compassion for their old patients and are trying their best to absorb as many as they can. All I can say is try asap because before long Center for Pain Management at St. Marys will be no longer doing the meds that severe spinal injuries patients need to function on a day to day basis.
anonymous

The Doctor is Cool & So Is The staff they’re very kind to me!& I Kind OF Lost because I Have Heard The Dr is retiring and someone new is coming and change everything trying two look for a new Dr Before next month sad that they did not notify their patients! And I also heard they will no longer be giving pain injection meaning they will not be giving any more Demerol or Nauseated Medication! so now the patient’s are left to find their own doctors. I guess because The ER Room Don’t give out those injection! SMDH!!!

I have had low back pain (L3-​L4-​L5 bulging disk) for over 2 years now. I currently have a pain management MD for the past year. I am not happy with my current physician and am looking for a new pain management doctor. I called the office and the girl who answered the phone informed me that Dr. D. only takes new patients with a referral from your primary doctor. I have a PPO and do not require an referral. They refused to take me in as a new patient because I do not have a referral… dumb!!! I will keep looking…

I can’t possibly say enough about Dr. Docherty. I started seeing him 3 years ago now and he has changed my life. I am 29 and I hurt my back over 10 years ago. I have had more surgeries than any one person should, but they never helped the pain. So many doctors basically gave up on me and I had lost hope that I would ever be even remotely functional again. I was depressed and did not want to live the rest of my life unable to even take care of my own basic needs. The first time I saw Dr. Docherty he promised me that he wouldn’t give up on me and that he would help me. I was hesitant to believe him because so many doctors had said the same thing, but Dr. Docherty, «Doc» as we call him, kept his word. When medications were not effective he tried something else, if I had a pain crisis he got me in right away. He made me feel like we were in this together, like he was fighting right along side of me. Some highlights:
1) Great bedside manner– Super understanding and attentive, very good at taking time to explain anything you don’t understand. My son is 9 and Doc even takes the time to answer his questions about my condition.
2) Never passes you off to an «on call» doctor. If you call with an emergency at 3:00am, the answering service pages him and you are on the phone with him in 2 – 3 minutes. I had a staple pop after a surgery and my partner called him in the middle of the night, he told us to go to the ER. When we got there he had called and had a bed waiting so I didn’t have to sit in the waiting room. As soon as I sat down, he came walking into the room, it was 1:00am! We told him he didn’t have to come down in the middle of the night, especially on a weekday, but he said he would just be at home worrying about me if he didn’t come in.
3) I was in a coma (unrelated to his specialty) for a week. Despite being on vacation, he called in twice a day to check on my condition and see how my wife was doing emotionally.
The world would be a better place if all doctors cared half as much or we’re half as good.

I’ve been a patient of Dr. Docherty for the last 8 years. I have multiple disc problems in my lower back, and was able to get major relief by having a morphine pump installed to deaden the afflicted area of my lower back.
Dr. D” and his staff are great!

I’ve been coming to here for 2 years now and, I’m so glad I was referred by my Primary care MD.
I’ve had low sciatica low back pain that is so crippling (up to 3 weeks) when I pinch the nerves in that area that I’m unable to walk, sleep and do other activities of daily living. Also, I lean either to the left or to the right depending on the area
Dr. Richard Docherty MD and his staff are the God send I never knew existed. From Crystal my «How ‘ya doin» front desk assistant (we crack each other up (and diss & dish like we were on Wendy Williams) whom is personable, compassionate and helpful. The MA’s who are really thorough and cool and, of course Dr. D. MD himself who is mellow and a «just let me know where it hurts and we WILL fix it» kinda guy.
I’ve been to many orthopedists and never had any of them do more of a thorough work up to find out just why I continue to suffer.
The x-​rays, tests, medical history and good listening skills provided me and Dr. D with the real problem that happened 46 years ago. That was when I was working in the OR (while I was going to college) and assisted the rest of the OR team in pulling a patient off of the operating table.
I pinched 3 nerves that were time bombs of a congenital nature just waiting to go off. Also, Dr. D was able to determine that I have a mild case of scoliosis that is contributory to the reoccurring injuries every 3 – 6 months. Also, I have all of this on a CD for use in providing information in the future too.
He even gave me Rx’s (thank you Percocet and Darvocet-​N) for the pain just in case I have relapses before my next epidural, where they do painless cortisone injections between the disks to keep the pressure off of the nerves.
He is an associate with several other pain management MD’s in this office and they are ALL top notch in their field. So, if you are looking for relief and want better over all quality of life, skip your next Chiropractor visit (of which I’ve spent thousands of $$$ on with little relief) and check them out.