I had a deeply disappointing and costly experience with Dr. Carpenos at New England Spine and Disc…read more I came in with leg pain caused by two degenerating discs pinching a nerve. During my initial visit, Dr. Carpenos recommended spinal decompression therapy -- a treatment not covered by insurance. He then started to talk to me like a snake oil salesman: fast and confusing. I explained that I had a very limited budget and needed clarity before committing. So I asked him to slow down and I asked some very specific questions about how the treatment wold work, what the success rate typically was, and what I could expect if I decided to follow the treatment plan. Instead of answering my questions calmly, he became visibly annoyed and said he felt "pressured" by me. I reminded him that it was MY body and my very limited, hard-earned money -- and I was the one feeling pressured to spend it without him having the patience to explain this therapy that insurance wouldn't even cover a significant portion of.
His first response was to say that financial hardship shouldn't be a barrier to treatment. When I said I'd have to decline since I couldn't afford the full amount he wanted (Close to 4,000 as I recall) he suggested fewer visits for about half the price. , When I expressed concern and asked if I'd still get relief he assured me I would, so I agreed to take part in the treatment.
But at the end of the treatment, I felt no improvement. When I reminded him of his earlier assurance, he said, "I expected that you'd feel a bit better, see the results, want more improvement, and then commit to the final visits." He'd completely ignored my statement at the beginning that there WAS no more money. I felt completely misled and taken advantage of.
The experience was not only financially draining but physically uncomfortable. His chiropractic adjustments were rushed, and during one session, he failed to check the placement of my arms during a bear hug/anterior thoracic adjustment. When "hugged" me sharply my fists were jammed into my voice box which hurt so I reflexively pushed back. He asked what was wrong and I explained what had happened. The following week, he asked if my cold was better. When I looked at him, confused, he said "Well, last week you had a sore throat, didn't you?" [It was surreal, like he just was unable to take any responsibility for his own actions.]
He also gave questionable medical advice outside his expertise -- once telling me not to use sunscreen despite a family history of skin cancer -- and another time I heard him telling his staff that he'd advised another patient to ignore their cancer doctor's recommendations and to follow his own.
Dr. Carpenos' demeanor throughout my treatment was pushy, rude, and evasive when asked direct questions. His team failed to track the decompression machine's pressure settings, so I had to remember my own numbers to ensure proper progression -- a detail that made me feel my investment wasn't respected.
If you read his responses to other negative reviews, you'll see a pattern: sarcasm, deflection, and a refusal to take responsibility. I strongly caution anyone considering treatment here. While some patients may find relief, many don't -- and Dr. Carpenos seems far more focused on securing payment than on assessing whether spinal decompression is truly appropriate for your condition.
