The Center For Pain - Prattville

"They are so many negative posts on Google about this office. I was there today and after calling all week with no return call, I was treated terribly. The staff is cold and uncaring. They have bad attitudes and obviously are just there to collect a pay check. I don’t like the office at all and will be looking for a different doctor!!!"

"The only warmth I got was the reception and the first nurse or aid. The Dr is not friendly. I didn't get any instructions before or after my procedure. It was my first! Then when I called no answer. The person that I did talk to was at another site and she had to place me on hold and talk to them and relay a message to them and I still didn't get clarification. At this point I don't know what I should do."

"This is the most uncaring & unconcerned practice I've seen. Dr Vella's nurse called in my meds to Winn Dixie which was closing & they were aware of this from last visit so I called leaving a voicemail each day from Tues to Thurs asking for the only med not received yet to be called in to Walgreens never heard a response nor was it showing as being filled on Walgreens app so I drive down to their office realizing they close at 12 noon on Fridays explained situation to girl at desk she called another office I think alabaster the girl there said she would call it in for me, now this was 815 am but she said it will be a couple of hours well that NEVER happened. I checked with Walgreens at 1145 am and no lyrica called in . This is not the 1st time this office has done this, they literally care nothing for their patients it is ALL about he money. The healthcare industry is a total joke nearly everywhere."

"Dr. Vella said I did not need an MRI and said he knew exactly what was wrong with my lower back. He said he could treat me with shots and I would feel immediate relief. I choose to get an MRI anyway. When I arrived for my first round of shots, I asked if Dr. Vella had reviewed my MRI and was told he did. I went through with the shots and not only was there no relief, I got worse and was confined to a wheel chair. I could not use my left leg. I asked his PA what other options I had and she referred me to a neurologist. At my very first appointment the neurologist took one look at my MRI, (which was the same MRI provided to Dr. Vella) and stated that shots were definitely not the answer and I needed surgery immediately because my disc had ruptured and the broken piece was laying on my sciatic nerve. If Dr. Vella had done his job and reviewed my MRI, I would have had surgery months earlier and not had the nerve damage from the disc laying on that nerve. Dr. Vella was very arrogant and should not have assumed he knew what was wrong. It has been a year and a half since my surgery and I still have pain and nerve damage in my left leg. I can’t help but think if he had done his job properly and reviewed my MRI, the surgery would have provided more relief. The broken disc sitting on my nerve for so much longer than it should have caused permanent damage."

"I was extremely disappointed. The doctor wanted to change my medications that I had been on for over 20 years and have been covering my pain. The med he wanted me to take was a stronger one but less often. I didn't want to change. He said some things I didn't agree with, and we had a difference of opinion . Would not give me my meds unless I would change to the other medication . I asked to see another physician in their practice and was told only if he agreed. He said no. I found out the next day that he LIED in my chart. Luckily I got a copy that day, so he didn't have time to change it. Also one of the reasons I didn't want to change was because I am older and live alone. Don't like taking new meds for that reason. I have since talked to several physicians who all agreed that I had a valid reason for not wanting to change."