Dr. Christopher F Amsden, MD

Went to Amsden for a pre ACDF surgery epidural and was flatly refused. I was not seeking painkillers or opioids. He would not read the text from a top Oregon spine surgeon OR look at my MRI. He told me to see a psychologist for relaxation tecnique. ?? He shut me down and out in about 3 minutes and BILLED MEDICARE FOR A LONG VISIT !!

I realize when you work in "pain management" it is a very tricky field. Now, the CDC controls pain management more than the doctors are allowed to. That must be frustrating. My issue wasn't in the treatment offered (actually there never was any) it was with the way this man handled himself during the consultation/visit. From the moment he walked in the door he was rude, very condescending and from what I could gather based on the short, curt answers he gave me to very legitimate questions he is not very competent in his field. I was not there looking for pain meds., I was actually trying to find a doctor that would help me stop taking the medications I had been prescribed for years. I can honestly say I personally have never been treated the way Mr. Amsden (I refuse to address him as a doctor) treated me at the office. It finally got to the point when I asked him if I had somehow offended him in some way. His response was "I will not sit here and listen to you analyze ME". It was at that point I could see he was not going to be any help to me whatsoever, and I left. This was in 2015, it is now 2020 and I saw where he was re-hired at my local medical clinic. I hope people will do their due diligence and check his credentials first. He has no business practicing medicine.

Have been treated by many health providers over the years but have never before seen this degree of apathy and incompetentence. He represents himself as a "specislist" yet he is NOT board certified in any specialty??

Dr. Amsden is extremely good doctor he concentrates on the problem

Only Dr. that my b/p is normal. He is great.

Better than expected, best explanation of my problem

Very condescending. Would never see again.

The worst doctor ive ever had

I was referred to this so called Dr. for pain managment by a very vindictive NP who I didn't get along with. Not only did this Dr. not read my history of surgeries, and the near fatal auto accident I was in a few years ago, he pushed bi-polar medicine on me and also got me hooked on methadone which he said would help me with my pain, which it didn't, and lowered my pain meds in half. Because I by law of my disability I am reguired to take regular pain meds, and not do anything stressful, like physical therapy, he got more insistive I do these things no matter what the concequences. The last time I saw him, thank god , I had major surgery two days before , and he asked me if I wanted a perscription for therapy to start ASAP. I was told by my surgeon to nod to anything stressful to damage the surgery for four months, Dr. Amsten wanted a note from my surgeon stating this. My surgeon obliged. The week before Christmas I recieved a certified letter from Dr. Amsten telling me he was dissmissing me as a patient for not following his protical. He left me hanging with no backup meds, therfore I went through horrible and near death withdrawls from the sudden stoppage of the methadone and my pain meds combined. I had to go to the clinic urgent care where this man is employed and tell a very kind and understanding PA what had happened. He helped me, probably saved my life and I will always be grateful to him. I now have a new NP, and will never go back to the Curry Medical again. That was my expierence with Dr. Amsten. What a nice guy. Quack is a kind word to describe him, he has no business having a medical licence to me, it should be written on toilet paper.

I saw this Dr. four times, and because I had major surgery three days before I saw him, and could not do phsical therapy for my pain issues, I got a certified letter telling me he was dropping me as a patient. I have been on pain medicine for 14 years for my chron's disease and I was in a major car accident, his treatment for me to see a therapist and lower my medicine down to almost nothing. Since seeing Dr. Amsten my pain only got worse. He was absolutly no help to me, He knew my pain better than I did. Also pushed meds on my for health problems I didn't even have. Got mad when I refused to take them. This guy is a joke, and gives the medical profession a bad name. Don't even waste your time with him. You will only walk out angry.

I've never had a doctor not like me before. All he does every visit is take away or lower my medicine. He doesn't give me anything instead of it. I'm in pain 24/7 I now spend most my time in bed,what kind of quality of life is that? He will not listen to me at all. He is the only pain doctor for miles and miles to see. When your in pain you just can't travel 5 hours to see a doctor.

Very poor bedside manner. Does not explain things. One hour wait to see him.

Appalling bedside manner, wrote a prescription for something we hadn't even discussed, told me I didn't do everything I was supposed to do even though there was no mention of it on the patient education form and I was not aware of my ability to walk in for the service. Seemed to be angry that I didn't want to take a medication that I was having serious side effects with.

The doctor has a very specific agenda. Money. This is all about padding the doctor's pockets. Running as many expensive tests as possible. (Most unnecessary or already done) Very poor listener. Not really interested in how the patient feels. Because of the new Oregon guidelines, we now offer a whole new way for doctors to milk the insurance companies and our bank accounts. Do yourself a favor and stay away from this guy.

The wait to get in was a bit long, but the doctro spent a lot of time and explained everything. Best detail yet to my problems. Best treatment relsults to my pain problem

in two years I only saw DR. Amsden three times eventhough I had an appointment every month. In all that time I had one physical exam. My Rx's were incorrect time after time. I had to tell them every month what meds I needed and still had problems. The so called nurse practioner isn't even and wants to be addressed as "Doctor". The waiting room has holes in the wall and smells bad. People leave this office very angry slamming the door behind them.

staff is bad to the pt. And my self as a pt. Waite time is like almost 1hr. From my appt. I am transfering pain dr. Only for the best of my care!

Dr. Amsden is a very professional and caring doctor. He has tried many different techniques to help me with pain management. Office staff seem confused at times, double booking appt. times, ect. Short wait time, clean rooms. Great privacy. Finally a dr. who really listens to me.

Office open one day a week in the San Pedro Office, which is Fridays. That says something about the lack of patents waiting to see this Quack! He can't seem to get to my Appt. in a timely manner but of course if I was an hour late showing up that would never fly! He ask questions, then as you answer he butts in, then turns it around on you, implying you won't let him talk. I've never thought it was right for the door to be left open durning Dr.s office visits. I've noticed they don't seem to use that common practice to often. Worse yet is I can here ALL THE DETAILS when he's in a room with a patent FROM THE WAITING ROOM!!!! Maybe it's the fact that the door is wide open, or the walls are like paper, but I sure hope all my personal stuff can't be overheard like that!!! That's just wrong and last time I checked I think it's more than just frowned upon. All in all this guy is a total joke!! I can't warn anyone thinking about going to see this dr. enough. There are WAY WAY WAY Better Drs. out there. FIND SOMEONE ELSE!!! DONT SETTLE FOR A QUACK!!!

Was Very very very to first appt. Over an hour. Then atleast 30 mins for the next 2 or 3 appts. Last app. was alittle better, only because pt. Before me didn't show up. This will be my last visit. Have to find a new one, can't take this guys ego, and his way or the highway. They even make you submit to urine drug testing. That was also need disclosed to me in the welcome/new pt. paperwork. Never been treated like this from any other Dr. before. I've been on heavy pain meds for 6 or 7 years, and will be needing something like that forever. I WOULD NOT recommend this Dr. PERIOD!!! Save you time and just skip this guy. He's rude, closed-minded. I swear it was as if he has made up his mind how he wanted to do everything before he even walked in the room and met me for the first time. Didn't even seem like he had even read my paper/chart before. Maybe skimmed it at the most. Over all the worst Dr. I've been to. I even went to this Dr. to avoid a Dr. I THOUGHT was worse! Atleast that one doesnt have some sort of an ego problem or something. I'll be going back to the Dr. I had before. He may be some sort of a pain Dr. and it might even be normal to drug test everyone like they are criminals, but atleast let you know before hand and explain why. All anyone in that office can tell me about the drug testing is pretty much nothing, and a shrug. So do yourself a huge favor and be sure the cross this Dr. off you list if you are thinking about making an appointment with him. Good luck if you do choose this Dr. You're going to need it!