This is just a re-review two years after post-op work. I've had other neck, shoulder, and…read moreback-related issues, and even after coming to Dr. Chambi specifically for treatment of thoracic outlet syndrome, I've been grateful that he and his office have been able to help me with issues not related to one of his specialties in TOS.
More specifically, I wanted to write this review because I've been sad that some people are still trying to "cancel" Dr. Chambi for a lawsuit that happened decades ago. I don't know the details, so I can't defend him or speak about the affected individuals from that time. All I can say is that whatever happened back then doesn't factor into how I judge him today.
Dr. Chambi has been nothing but kind and helpful to me. He always listens to any potentially nerve-related issues I have, especially since I deal with a lot of neuromuscular pain on a day-to-day basis due to my computer job. He is one of the few doctors where I don't have to wait at least a week or two just to get an appointment.
If I need a refill on medication that helps me sleep at night, such as Soma/carisoprodol, it's easy to call the office and let them know I need a refill because I still medically require it. Of all the doctors' offices I've been to for my chronic muscle and nerve pain, this is the only place that recommended this medication, which has been life-changing for my sleep over the last few years. Whenever I'm in a lot of pain, I always think of Dr. Chambi's office for recommending this medication, which I didn't know about before I started seeing him.
He and his team have also been very helpful with my insurance. My insurance, Cigna, denied my claims for MRIs on my shoulders and lower back for the typical silly reason that they needed more information, even though I'm in pain doing simple tasks like computer work, reaching overhead, or even carrying mildly heavy things in certain positions. Thanks to a lot of back-and-forth, persistent communication from Dr. Chambi's front office, his team was able to convince my insurer to approve my initially prescribed shoulder and lower back MRIs after getting X-rays first.
Through this MRI push, I was able to figure out that I had mild bilateral shoulder tendonitis and bursitis and even some low back disc herniation and left facet hypertrophy. If it weren't for Dr. Chambi's team, it's possible that I would have had to deal with undiagnosed pain all over my body or have to pay for three expensive MRIs out of pocket--over $1,000. Through these MRIs, Dr. Chambi prescribed me naproxen, and used MRI results to continue treatment with other therapists/specialists and have a better understanding of what was going on with my computer repetitive strain that I was doing to myself.
The fact that I can always call Dr. Chambi's office and have them start a peer-to-peer insurance review or at least reach out to insurance to attempt another request--which is done in a timely manner--is really helpful to me. Seeing how many patients still visit Dr. Chambi for various nerve issues, and how he seems to treat all his patients like family rather than just another number in a system, makes me sad that some people discredit him because of an older lawsuit that has nothing to do with the patients he sees today. This can be a huge contrast to many so-called top doctor offices where just reaching the front desk can be a challenge in and of itself.
I also want to reiterate, as someone who underwent a simple scalene decompression microsurgery to relieve my hand grip issues from my TOS surgery in early 2023, that I still do not regret choosing that surgery over the internet-recommended option of a first rib removal. This was something that Dr. Chambi and my physical therapist strongly recommended against for me at the time, especially since I have a computer-based job. I was able to get hand relief and my grip back without destroying my body.
I wish Dr. Chambi had more in-office hours beyond just Tuesday and Thursday, but that's a minor flaw compared to how he and his office have been incredibly helpful for all my nerve- and muscle-related issues, especially since I could call the office any day of the week.