Spine & Pain Center

Apr 2022

After nearly a decade of seeing Dr. Martire (and years of seeing Heidi for PT), I was treated VERY disrespectfully, yelled at, belittled, and discharged from his practice — INCLUDING PHYSICAL THERAPY — simply because I asked about submitting paperwork for additional PT versus taking pain pills. Dr. Martire was jumping around in his chair, getting in my face to intimidate and belittle me, and yelling at me. I have never been treated that way before — ESPECIALLY BY A PHYSICIAN! I am a nurse and have seen similar behavior in addicts, and I truly wonder if he was on something. I have always felt as if Dr. Martire didn't want me to ask any questions during his very brief appts — like he wanted me to just shut up and take the pain pills. I told him during our very first visit that I would prefer NOT to be on pain meds for the rest of my life, if possible. I was diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis — which is EXTREMELY painful and currently has no cure. It took me 15 YEARS to get a diagnosis because doctors WOULDN'T LISTEN TO ME, and that led to IRREVERSIBLE DAMAGE and chronic, uncontrolled pain! It is very disheartening to feel that way — again — and to feel like your doctor doesn't care about you GETTING BETTER because then they won't make money off shoving pain pills down your throat. I thought Heidi and I had even developed a friendship throughout my years of therapy with her, but she was very rude about filling out an insurance form to approve more visits. She said she's never done that before, and I would have to find another provider. My plan of care should be PERSONALIZED, so it really doesn't matter what she has or hasn't done before. It would be expected that you do new/different things for different patients — especially one with a disease that we are still trying to understand. I am very hurt by how I was treated by Dr. Martire and Heidi. The gals at the front and the gal in billing are all very kind and I have nothing bad to say about them. They spent time they didn't have to getting the proper paperwork so my visits wouldn't be denied . . . only for Dr. Martire to discharge me AND cancel my physical therapy appointments. To me, that doesn't sound like a doctor who actually wants to you get better. I WOULD NOT RECOMMENDED EITHER DR. MARTIRE OR HEIDI FOLD AT THE SPINE AND PAIN CENTER.