I was first drawn into Gambino Family Chiropractic by a couple of massage therapists who visited my school during what they called a 'Teacher Appreciation Day'. The massage was wonderful and gave me great relief and they convinced me that I was in desperate need of
chiropractic care.
I showed up at the office 15 minutes early to fill out my paperwork for my scheduled 11 o'clock appointment. I was greeted in a very friendly matter by the secretary Michele. After an hour with no one even speaking to me I was lead to the x-ray room by the secretary and told that the Dr. Dan would be right in. Fifteen minutes later the
massage therapist who had just got done with an hour massage came back to greet me and to take my history.
I didn't really feel like I had many problems but afterwards I was convinced otherwise. My seasonal allergies that I get only twice a year got an 'Oh my gosh - that's horrible' response. After about a half hour of 'anything else's' I was told to remove my belt necklace
and earrings and the Dr. Would be in to take x-rays. Finally, after almost two hours I would get to see the Doctor.
Dr. Dan entered the room and greeted me felt my spine while in a seated position asked if a few of my muscles were tender and took four x-rays and sent to schedule my next visit. I waited 2 hours to see the doctor for a total of 10 minutes.
As I was scheduling a day to come back for the results of the x-rays I was told my husband would have to be with me. I tried to explain I have three small children and a husband who works a 10-12 hour business day, to which Michele answered 'I don't know what to tell you
- It's office policy.' After arguing with her about my husband not being able to make it, she said she would speak with the doctor and give me a call.
Two days passed and I finally had to call her back to ask what the doctor had decided. Michele said she would schedule me and for me to try and bring my husband. My appointment was scheduled for two weeks later. If I was in such 'desperate need' of chiropractic why couldn't
I be seen earlier? Why was bringing my husband such an issue? Why did Michele not call me back promptly? I was beginning to worry.
As the two weeks passed my mind was drawn to every little pain I had thinking it was related to a malformation of my spine. Finally the day came for my second appointment, my husband called off work to be there and we had to hire a babysitter but I made it. My husband and I were
taken back to a different room this time - another 45 minute wait and then the Dr. Dan came in. He compared my spine to a perfect spine and spouted words like reverse curve and percentages of lost curve. He then went to my history and used my own words to make me feel guilty.
Wouldn't you like to play with your children again without the pain? Imagine what it will be like in 10 years. He asked my husband if he liked seeing me in pain. We were convinced/coerced that I did need
chiropractic care.
Dr. Dan left the room and Michele came in and told us what the insurance would cover and what it wouldn't. We had to take a loan from a place called care credit to cover the extra amount ($2500). After I signed papers saying I would follow the Doctors orders and make all my
appointments or be charged, I was lead to the adjusting
Michele explained that when I came in I would sign in get my card and wait for her to direct me to the adjusting area. There were three adjusting tables in the same room. Dr. Dan adjusted me that night and it immediately relieved the tension in my neck. Michele scheduled me
for 3 days a week for 3 weeks and I left feeling good.
My next adjustment was the following Monday. I came in, I got my card, and was directed to go on back. The room was packed with people hanging weights off their head on one side and people getting adjusted on the other. Dr. Kim was there that day, this was the first time I had met her. She was telling everyone how people needed to vote for Hillary Clinton, how the government was poisoning us with fake clouds, and how her children were in private boarding schools. I got on the adjustment table and waited my turn. When she got to me she started
talking about a product they sold there called Isagenix and how it's by-product was weight loss. I immediately felt self-conscious about my weight. She gave a very rough adjustment nothing like Dr. Dan's. My neck was sore for 3 days afterwards. She told me to ask Michele for
information on the Isagenix.
I showed up for my next appointment where I received a massage first. The massage was great. It was very relaxing and my body felt like jell - o afterwards. Next came the adjustment, still Dr. Kim. She asked me if
I had got to listen to the information on Isagenix which I had. She told me how it was the 'next big thing', how it had already hit in California and New York and people were losing lots of weight and having more energy. She actually took several minutes to discuss/pitch it to me and before I knew it I was writing a check for it.
Three weeks into my plan and I still felt the same. The Isagenix didn't really work out for me and I was told for some people it doesn't. I found myself coming more for the massages than the adjustments.
Six weeks into my plan and it definitely was just about the massages for me. Which on my insurance statement they were charging almost 3 times as much as what it would cost if I just paid out of pocket.
Two months into my plan and my family hit a rough spot with finances. I wish I had not spent all this money on chiropractic care that for the most part didn't seem to be improving my life that much. When I discussed this with Dr. Dan he gave me a copy of the book 'Dianetics'
and was told a little about Scientology. This definitely left a bad taste in my mouth and I handed him the book back and told him I would not be returning.
My insurance is still a mess from being over-billed, my bank account is still hurting from paying back the loan to care credit, and most of all my back is still hurting.
I urge people not to fall for 'desperate need', 'falling apart', 'playing with your kids without pain', isagenix', 'fake clouds', 'insurance', 'imagine in 10 years' 'Dianetics' and 'scientology' scam that the Gambino's call Family Chiropractic.
* This practice is now under investigation for insurance fraud. Anyone who has had chiropractic care services billed to your insurance from Gambino Family Chiropractic - please double-check your insurance statements. You can also call the WV Insurance Fraud hotline at 1-800-779-6853. Maybe you can get some of your money returned.
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