As a teenager in 1977, I experienced a debilitating motorcycle accident, which left me with chronic pain and mobility issues. Despite that, after a long healing process, I was able to do many physical things in my life. As my difficulties increased, I did grow into an increasingly sedentary lifestyle. I also have a strong family history of cardiac disease. In my early 40s, I had a heart attack which required bypass repair.

I found myself unable to consistently and effectively perform my cardiac rehab workouts. This led me to seek medical assistance. Around 2010 I was referred to an excellent pain specialist who helped me find a balance of medications which would allow me to perform needed tasks without compromising my overall health. It was devastating to me when my doctor died suddenly in 2015.

The entire area of pain management was going through a lot of changes at this time, as it continues to. Because I was self-pay (no insurance and too young for Medicare) I had a difficult time getting accepted by another physician.

When I did get set up with Dr. Tanga, it proved to be a rewarding physician-patient relationship. We were able to establish realistic objectives based on needs which evolved over time. I became the primary caregiver during the last years of my parents’ lives. My mother died in 2012. I was caring for my father during the time that Dr. Tanga was my physician. During the years that he treated me, Dr. Tanga took a personal interest in the circumstances of my life and that of my father. Our conversations were often centered on how best to utilize pain management to allow me to fulfill the requirements of my life and to be as comfortable as possible.

My wife died in 2015. After seeing me flounder emotionally for quite a while, Dr. Tanga encouraged me to seek mental health assistance. This process turned out to be long, often painful, and ultimately rewarding. Besides his interest in my welfare, Dr. Tanga stayed in the loop with my mental health care as well as my other physicians. As he described it to me, pain issues affect and are affected by every aspect of a person’s life. I know that it has been the case for me. In addition to the potential benefits, the medications involved usually have side effects and the addictive properties are always a concern. Finding and maintaining the best balance is ideally a team effort between patient, physician and support staff. That was my experience with Dr. Tanga.

When it became obvious that my father would not live much longer and that my needs would be changing, Dr. Tanga worked with me to taper down the dosages of my medicines in preparation for transitioning out of pain management. Even after I left his practice, he called several times to check on my progress.

I never expected pain management to make me pain free, and it did not. It did give me a level of functionality that would have otherwise been unavailable to me. I am grateful for the extra decade of mobility that it gave me. These days I get around a lot slower, but my need to move faster is much less.

Submitted Feb. 17, 2023

I’ve never seen such a unprofessional staff in my entire life. I personally witnessed the people at the front desk make fun of patents openly in front of all of the people in the waiting room! They made fun of a elderly man that was blind in one eye and used a walking Caine to walk, when he stated oh I can’t forget my stick I will fall down if a crowd of people that may bump me, they laughed and laughed! I was so mad I couldn’t hardly stand sitting there! There’s too many BAD THINGS TO SAY THERES. NOT ENOUGH TIME OR SPACE TO DO SO!
The dr lets these untrained persons that run his office RUIN HIS OFFICE! THEIR PART OF THE REASON WHY HE STINKS ON RATEINGS. I personally have no issuers with him, ITS HIS UNEDUCATED UNPROFESSIONAL RUDE ENTITLED STAFF! If you fall victim to the petty bs the staff sucks you up in then it’s them that will get you dismissed! And I’d have to see the license in order to believe that his practitioner is IN FACT A PRACTITIONER! If she is licensed it would be a shocker! I cringe to think someone with a personality like hers can be in the business of CARING FOR PEOPLE! SHES SO HATEFUL IDK WHY SHED CHOSE THE MEDICAL POSITION! She’d be better as a prison guard . And the African American ,,, uh, SWEET? WHAT A LIE! She’s the biggest complaint I have! Rude and quit ignorant to be honest! She has no idea what she’s talking about! She stated methidone was for pain and subutex was different she put methidone and lortabs in the same class ! Methidone and subutex are in the same class ! And for her to openly discuss my PRIVATE MEDICAL IMFORMATION IS NOT LEGUAL! As matter of fact they will be hearing from me and the DEA. I’m greatcul that my family is filled with law in forcement! And since I’ve been thrown to the wolves and go without my meds! For absolutely nothing!!! I’m going to do my best to do everything I can to end this mistreatment in his dark filthy office with his rude staff! People there HAVE NO CHOICE! Or TRUST ME THEY WOULDNT BE THERE! ALL OF THEM ARE TO SCARED TO EVEN TALK TO EACH OTHER! BECAUSE YOULL BE DISMISSED OVER A FRONT DESK WORKER NOT AGREEING WITH WHAT YOURE TALKING ABOUT! My writes were violated and I’m doing all I can to make sure people know!
Do you know what the doctors “ so called ASSistant “ said about all of your bad reviews? She said she knew you all, and who said what ! And that you all are drug seekers that didn’t get your way with dr Tanga so you’re on here to get back at him!! Ha! BULL! They ALL ARE TELLING THE TRUTH!

Submitted Jan. 27, 2018

My best friend is a patient of Dr Tanga and she has a very rare disease that causes her to be in alot of pain. This idiot doesn't care about his patients at all. He put her on Topomax which is a seizure med and told her that it was because she needed to loose weight and when she actually had a seizure from taking the med he treated her like trash . He should not be allowed to practice medicine at all because he only cares about money and not the well being of his patients! If you have other options I would suggest you go anywhere but there!

Submitted July 6, 2017

Dr. Tanga should not even be practicing medicine. He doesn't care about his patients and is so paranoid about the DEA. He is absolutely a dictator. If you ask him questions he just shuts you down. Greed is what he is all about and doesn't even accept insurance. You also have to pay for drug testing out of pocket which is $150. One of the "nurses" told me the drug test kit is $27. That's a pretty good profit for Dr. Tanga since he tests everyone at least once a month. His office changed twice in the time I saw him. He has a HIDEOUS "office" in Cedar Grove. It's a rundown ole nursing home or daycare. It is filthy, hot and unsafe. The crime is off the charts. He is the worst doctor I have ever seen and provided no help to me. Personally, I think he should be locked up. He is ripping off his patients and should have his license revoked. He's running a scam.

Submitted June 18, 2017

I have been a patient of Dr. Tanga for a while when an accident happened that caused serious damage to my health and finances. The staff and Dr. Tanga worked with me and helped me in a time where few people did. I will be fore er grateful for all the staff and Dr. Tanga. Thank you sincerely.
Terry Fugler

Submitted March 3, 2017

This doctor and office are so unprofessional. I question Dr. Tanya's ethics. He only cares about money and not his patients. This office is a total racket and should be shut down. The physical office is in shambles: old, dirty, dark and in a terrible neighborhood. It must have been a former daycare. Large turnover of staff, too. DEA should be after him. A big fraud!

Submitted Jan. 24, 2017

avoid him. I have experienced all the comments made below in other comments about this lying money hungry, rude with no compassion for his patients. In jail? Well I disagree ,he should be banned from practicing medicine in the USA!!

Submitted Nov. 16, 2016

Dr. Tanga is a money hungry unethical horrible excuse for a Dr. He has zero care for his patients. His staff is very rude and uncaring with the exception of Kristy. He doesn't provide adequate medication for people with chronic severe pain. I went to him for a year and a half and he had the nerve to say I wasn't taking my prescription. I certainly wouldn't have paid his high ridiculous rate if I were not taking them. Funny thing I was drug tested next day at another office and all meds were in my system. He had me coming every two weeks then changed to ten days. I won't be back.. I am on hospice and given no where near adequate pain meds. He also had me on prescriptions that I never should be on. I'm in congestive heart failure now cause medicine damaged my heart further.

Submitted Sept. 9, 2016

I won't even go into my experience with this "doctor". He is highly unethical and I highly suspect the DEA is investigating him. I can't believe he is able to practice medicine. Very paranoid. Lots of red flags.

Submitted June 19, 2016

I was referred to Dr Tanga I've because of chronic pain he had all my records first of all I find out his office wasn't on Bett Kouns like the address read their office as moved to a old retirement home on west 70th it's a dump this doctor has been in business for years I heard several patients remark he changed office help and nurses every six months what is this doctor hiding from he was very rude to me never examined me told me I had to lose weight or he couldn't see me anymore I weigh less than I di when I was working and pain free ( I was wondering why all those skinny people were in the waiting room if only heavy people have pain ) he wouldn't prescribe me what my other doctor put in my report she was prescribing oh the reason I changed doctors I'd because my doctor passed away the prescription he gave me is making me sick and not helping my pain my next appointment is in two weeks if I feel abused again I want be going back

Submitted Jan. 29, 2016