I’m proud to say I’ve been a patient of Dr Hoffberg’s for 25 years. He is the kindest most caring physician anyone could hope to find. I was referred to Dr Hoffberg by a neurosurgeon after I refused surgery for 1 ruptured disc. And Thank God he accepted me as a patient. Over the next 10-15 years I managed to rupture the same disc 4-5 times. Experiencing severe pain in my thoracic spine years before seeing Dr Hoffberg which was thought to be muscle related led him to have a thoracic MRI performed which revealed 9 ruptured discs. IAW with statistics on the Internet only 15% of Americans suffer one thoracic disc herniation; I have 9. Still Dr Hoffberg managed to keep me out of surgery and with his proper pain management I was able to continue my career as a Chief Finiancial Officer, GS-15, US Government. Dr Hoffberg never forced procedures or medications on me. Being a Cluster Migraine sufferer since 10 years old I was familiar with narcotics. I would gladly swear under oath that Dr Hoffberg tried to keep his patients on the least amount of pain medication possible. To even suggest that he is part of a “Pill Mill” is an insult to this caring physician, the medical community and to all the patients this dedicated physician has helped and they are many! It must be understood that he used the medications provided by the Pharmaceutical Companies who stated they were safe. I begin seeing Dr Hoffberg when I was 42 years old. By that time I had worked in a hospital for several years as an Assistant to the Director who oversaw all the hospital’s clinics. Desiring to be a physician myself I learned alot about doctors care, procedures and surgeries, and medications of all types. I feel qualified to say that physicians like Dr Hoffberg who really care about their patients, who take the time to listen to their patients questions and concerns, who provides the best care possible are very hard to find! Prior to becoming Dr Hoffberg’s patient I was diagnosed with total abdominal muscle separation. Dr Hoffberg helped me find a surgeon to repair the muscle damage. The surgery failed due to the muscles being separated over 20 years. Still Dr Hoffberg’s excellent pain management that provided much more than just medications kept me working. Over my 25 years of office visits I often overheard conversations between Dr Hoffberg and patients (because they would get loud) about them needing to come down on their pain medication or his refusal to provide more or the type they wanted. I referred several people to Dr Hoffberg for different injuries or illnesses and they praised the care he provided and none were prescribed opiate pain medication. I was probably one of his most difficult patients because I have so many different pain related issues. He also diagnosed carpal tunnel in both my hands for which surgery was performed. My metabolism does not process medications the same as an average person. My surgeries have always required more medication than is average. The physician who removed my tonsils at age 24 stated he gave me enough sedative to knock out a horse and I was still talking to him. I performed my job on medications without any problems that would render the average person unfunctional. And all my job performance evaluations were excellent. I received many awards for going above and beyond the expectations. Yet I’ve never been addicted to any medication, never abused any medication, never had my medication raised because it stopped working and never felt a “high” from pain medication. I state these facts to prove each patient is different and to show the difficulties Dr Hoffberg faced trying to provide proper pain management. Treating pain is not an exact science not even the knowledge acquired by treating many people with debilitating injuries and illnesses can always help a physician decipher whether a patient is really in pain or is an addict. Dr Hoffberg is well educated and very intelligent; he knew he had addicts as patients and once acknowledged he refused to continue treatment. However, he was unlike a lot of physicians who would provide an addict a prescription for pain medication; then send the patient a letter that care would no longer be provided. No! That was not Dr Hoffberg! He tried to help these patients realize they had a serious problem and to seek the proper care needed. He did not just provide a prescription and pass on a problematic patient to yet another physician. He provided the best possible care to each patient. Physicians are humans not Gods. Physicians like Dr Hoffberg are very compassionate to the suffering of their patients and go above the norm to help their patients continue to work, be able to function and have some quality of life! I can only pray to find another physician who is half as caring and concerned with my health as Dr Hoffberg.

Submitted July 27, 2018

Dr. Hoffberg was the BEST pain mgmt doctor I have ever seen. Sadly, due to the Owings Mills office closing, I had to go elsewhere. While I may have had to wait longer to see him, he was worth the wait. The reason was because he actually took the time to get to know his patients on a personal level. The place I go to now, you can NEVER talk to anyone over the phone. In fact, nobody ever answers the telephone! So, when there is a problem, the ONLY way to change an appointment is to go there in person. And, this new office where Dr. Hoffberg doesn’t work has many doctors who do not spend any time with you. In fact, one doctor actually cancelled my appointment online!!! I NEVER cancelled my appointment. So, it looks like I will have to drive there to speak to a staff member in person. It took my calling this new office 70 times just to get a doctor’s note. I left THAT many messages. After a week, I finally got a doctor’s note. I NEVER had this problem with Dr. Howard Hoffberg or his staff - EVER! I can only hope Dr. Hoffberg will return to the Owings Mills area someday soon so I can see him again. The whole accusation of his office being called a “pill mill” was a LIE!!! Dr. Hoffberg followed all protocol by the DEA and did random drug screenings! If anyone ever failed a drug screening, he NEVER wrote those people any prescriptions. TRULY MISS DR. HOFFBERG! A genuinely nice, good, and caring doctor who can actually empathize with those living with chronic pain and just want to live a decent life. p

Submitted July 4, 2018

Dr Howard Hoffberg

Submitted Aug. 17, 2014

Submitted Aug. 16, 2014

Started out very concerned,had neck problem when came, developed severe disk problems in lower back and had a failed knee sugury. When new problems arose, he passed me off to pa who had no concern for my well being at all. Just wanted continue status quo. Now I have a very hard time talking to Hoffberg, now I am stuck on very high dose meds and no other clinics will take me at these levels and they are necessary after all these years. Last week I was assaulted and robbged. instead of treating me as a victim he is treating me as a criminal taking away my every 2week med, and making me come 2x a week, I came into the office with severe injuries (staples in head, separated shoulder, brused ribs, deep latered hands, black eye that could not be stitched, because it was too swollen, so I am the criminal, Also showed police report number, det card. and still making me come 2x per week which I cannot afford on my disability pay. My therapist and phychritrist said this is also wrong.

Submitted Sept. 10, 2013

I have only seen Dr. Hoffberger once, and I am seeing him again today. He helped me! After 2 bad experiences with other physiatrists, he listened, he prescribed meds and P.T. and so far it is working in just 3 weeks. I have good insurance, so I know he is making money off me, but he has helped with my diabetic neuropathy. I now have a pain rating of 1-2, from 4-5 in just 3 weeks. I am walking better and standing taller. I can get up and down steps a little better. And this has been without narcotics.

Submitted July 17, 2013

YOU MAY WAIT FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS, BUT HE AT LEAST LISTENS TO YOU AND WILL PRESCRIBE MEDS THAT WILL HELP YOUR PAIN.

Submitted May 10, 2013

I am a long standing patient of Dr. Hoffberg. Dr. Hoffberg is a very caring, extremely knowledgeable, doctor who has always treated me with respect listened and answered all my questions with patience and suggested and explained new medications or techniques that may be helpful for my conditions. Prior to Dr. Hoffberg I had been seen by multiple doctors that did not diagnose my conditions correctly or examine my pain by considering my body as a whole but just areas of pain. Dr. Hoffberg is a doctors doctor very professional and compassionate. His many accomplishments and achievements that line the walls of his office are evidence of his dedication to the medical field and the well being of his patients. The wait is sometimes long but you can be asured Dr. Hoffberg will spend the quality and quantity of time needed by each patient. I can't imagine what quality of life I would have if I had not met Dr. Hoffberg. Dr H. is always able to provide up to the minute advances.

Submitted Dec. 15, 2011

If you are a new patient expect your first apt to last at least 5 to 8 hours. Regular patients can expect a wait time of 1 to 4 hours to be seen. this Dr OVERBOOKS EVERYDAY. However he does take his time to explain things to you. But my experiance with him over the last 2 years has been that if you dont want to use any of his other services, i.e. chiropractor, nerve test, etc, he is less likely to help you because that is how he makes his big bucks. The Dr's there see (overheard his staff talking) 150 to 200 patients a day at the office. I would suggest going to someone else, he is only in it for the $$$$

Submitted Sept. 7, 2011

So Dr's are doing background checks now! After waiting hours to see this man(2 x's) he belittles me for something I did 11yrs ago. I was laid off and lost my insurance I could not afford pain managment and was forced to go to the methadone clinic. I knew I would be called back to work before my appt. and have insurance. I was honest with the dr.and told him of other rx's, along with the methadone, I had taken from my previous dr.Of course this showed up on the urine test. He did not like this and wanted me to come back in three days. I knew the methadone would still be in my system, I figured the dr. would take this into consideration when I came back. Well he didn't and wanted me to come back in 3 more days! Are you kidding me, he did not want to give me anything for my pain! Finally he said he would give me 3 days worth when I gave them my insurance card, again, they said they don't take it!I said forget this and left.I still can't believe this is aloud to happen.

Submitted May 20, 2011