This doctor came recommended by my primary. I've been going to him about 2 years now. Dr. Powell is always on time, which is nice. He and his staff can come off as a bit uncaring at first but you need to give them time. The more you go the more friendly they become. His offfice is nice too and is located in St. Joseph's Medical Center so convenient to hospital and CHOC Hospital as well. My review of him over the last 2 years has gone from 3.5 stars to 5 stars. He started off in my books as someone I really wouldn't want to return to. I even complained to my primary about him. At first he seemed uninterested in listening to me and my symptoms and dismissed everything I said, not once, but on my follow-up visit as well. He kept trying to say I had fibromylagia which basically meant he didn't know what was the matter with me in my eyes, and that I had soft tissue issues. Yes, I have pre-existing issues with my neck (bulging discs which are getting better with steriod injections) but what I came in for was completely different. Joint pain in my hands/feet, so painful to bend my fingers in the morning, burning pain which came on suddenly after I got an unknown rash (later determined to be shingles). As time went on though, rather than just sit and take what he was saying to me, which I knew was inaccurate, I stood my ground and insisted he was wrong. After that, and after getting the results of more tests in, he changed his tune and finally was able to get to the bottom of my symptoms and came up with a proper diagnosis (rheumatoid arthritis). Now, he is pleasant to be around. He is definitely knowledgeable in rheumatoid arthritis and medications related to it plus all the side effects. He literally saved my eye sight by telling me to see an ophthalmologist annually because of one of the side effects of the meds I was on. I went and they caught I had closed angle glaucoma. I never would have gone if it weren't for Dr Powell!!
I would most definitely recommend Dr. Powell if you're suffering from joint issues. If you're younger, then you may have to overlook his bedside manner at first. He's an older doctor from an older generation so if you're older you'll probably have no issues at all with him. But really he does grow on you and does get friendlier the more you get to know him. I actually love him now lol!
As for his office staff I didn't love them right off the bat either. They're pretty swamped with patients and conservative but the more you go the more they loosen up and really they are all great people. I'm glad I didn't get discouraged after my first couple of visits to Dr Powell's office. I literally had a 3 star review for him to begin with but 2 years in he has my pain managed and my joint pain and swelling really under control. RA is hard to describe as a patient when you first get it. It can mimic a lot of other diseases. You have to be patient being a patient too. Stick up for yourself and make sure you're being heard and understood. Dr Powell and his staff are worth initial the time and effort!! read more