Washington Center For Pain Management

I went there to interview Dr. Mambalam for a pain clinic provider. We did not have any common ground to proceed. He didn't seem to listen. I have Fibromyalgia & Lumbar degradation. He seems to be a 'by the book' doctor who stresses medical reference books & product labels over an individual patients needs. I'm 58 and well educated concerning my health issues, yet I had a doctor speaking down to me as if I was a child, and trying to scare me into acceptance with stories on how I was libel to suffocate in my sleep unless I had a (3rd) sleep study done to check for sleep apena. I got a lecture on how medication companies test their products endlessly & spend millions, so they know best how their meds should be taken. Even though I had 4 doctors, with over 120 years of combined patient experience, approve my 'off-label' use of my prescription for the last 10 years, because they cared about how it worked on ME, not how the label on the box read... Thanks, but I'll keep looking for a doctor who listens and has some flexibility to treat patients as individuals. Medical reference statistics are wonderful starting points, but they are averages, they don't encompass everyone...
7 years ago (30-10-2017)

Long standing chronic back neck issues scoliosis. Had been on med mngmt., done PHYS THER many times over, neck injections. All for scoliosis protruding discs etc. He is a bit arrogant, not a good listener. All I observed was him lining pts up like cattle and rolling them in to the procedure room for multiple injections - big $ procedures, I guess. My last injection was extremely painful with no pre medication. There is a max of these you can get. Longest results I had was maybe 3 weeks of progressive pain. I believe these must have harmful side effects as there are established guidelines. Of these you can get - not great for you long term. I reached the max finished my last injection in tears, and I am a REALLY TOUGH WOMAN.
8 years ago (12-05-2017)

I have Dr. Mambalam as my doctor and he is the best most professional physician that I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. He is amazing! I have read what some others have written about him, but, I'm sorry, I went thru at least 6 other doctors before I got the chance to get in with Dr. Mambalam, he is the only one that took the time to listen and set up a treatment that made my life improve by leaps and bounds!!!! It's about treatments and medications that work together! I have gotten my life back without the pain I was living thru!!!!! I have referred others to him and they can't thank me enough for the referral. Absolutely the best care, and doctors I have met in a long time, they listen, they are friendly, very professional, and really care about you as a patient. I have been going to Pain Management for the last 5 years, and from the first visit till today they are still the best doctors, and staff you will ever have the pleasure of meeting.
8 years ago (27-03-2017)

Dr. Mambalam is extremely rude and condescending, especially if you don't want to follow his plan exactly. I didn't want to be a part of a drug study and I think that really pissed him off. My rheumatologist diagnosed me with (among other things) fibromyalgia, and Dr. Mambalam told me to disregard the diagnosis because he personally doesn't believe it's even a real illness. After that, I've decided I won't be going back. He never did anything to help my pain anyway. *I would like to add that I'm not just some pissed off drug seeker. The topic of opiates never even came up. It wasn't part of my treatment plan, or lack there of. Dr. M LAUGHED at me when I had a difficult time describing my pain(fibromyalgia combined with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome combined with spinal stenosis can be difficult to describe). Anyway I just wanted to add that because sometimes I read these reviews and wonder if the person is just pissed that they didn't get the drugs they wanted. That's not the case. I'm pissed I didn't get treated like a person.
8 years ago (08-02-2017)

Katherine is a wonderful doctor! If you seriously are not just looking for drugs and have a emergency. Meds missing stollen ect NEVER see Dr M. I am a christian do not lie and try to live a normal life being disabled. This dr. M basically told me l was a liar and drug addict! On gods name l am the opposite. Iv never felt so hurt in my life. Due to my car accident l suffer from memory loss also A Dr should no you and be fully prepared before a appt. He is not.
8 years ago (19-08-2016)