Dr. Andrew George Kowal, MD

If I could rate this "Physician" as less than 1 star I could. I have no idea how his staff works with him. The best thing to happen to patient care is access to physicians notes. I read my notes and he left my appointment noting things we never talked about and clearly did not listen to my concerns. Can't get through to the office with medication questions and when I do, I am brushed off. He is ARROGANT and I have no idea why he practices medicine when he clearly has no intent to listen to his patients. AVOID this horrible person at all costs.

Do I have to give a star?? Totally unprofessional from the moment he walked in the room I was very uncomfortable with him. He doesn’t listen. He just couldn’t wait to get out of that room. When he left the room he said loudly, “ you can leave that way” and pointed with his back to me. He briskly walked down the hall to probably put another notch in his belt as if he had gotten rid of another patient looking for drugs. That is exactly how he made me feel. Well I don’t do drugs. That was the furthest thing from my mind. I have bulging disc’s and arthritis in my back. I was looking for some relief for my constant discomfort. Maybe exercises, stretching. Therapy? I will not be seeing him again. If his name ever did come up in a conversation I would discourage that person from seeing him and maybe going to another facility for pain management. P.S. how many negative reviews does it take to…….?

My first visit, he laughed at me and my condition, then lied to my face about it. Second, he was hyper-focused on the fact that I had been to two doctors prior, one of which was retiring so I couldn’t see her anymore. I didn’t realize why he was so contentious until after reading reviews here. Perhaps he may have thought I was there for drugs? I was not. I turn down drugs that have been prescribed to me for pain. He lied in my chart too. I thought that this was in error but it is not because he’s done it to others. This man needs some serious mental health addressed or should not practice medicine. He’s crazy and appears to be resentful beyond belief, and it has nothing to do with anything than he needs to take a hard look at himself. He was downright awful and I have NEVER written a review about any doctor - good or bad. He refused to prescribe me a new a medication that was approved in conjunction with another doctor that is non-addictive. Now I am left without meds entirely… because of him and have to find a new doctor. It’s a new drug to treat fibromyalgia. What a flat-out terrible doctor - terrible person.

I have spinal stenosis and experience back pain everyday. I have received 2 cortisone injections at New England Baptist previously. Tried Lahey and Dr. Andrew Kowal who recently provided me with a cortisone injection and currently in no pain. He has helped me and highly recommend him.

He has managed my pain since 2004. He has always been pleasant and spent plenty of time discussing my issues. He has helped me so much with my chronic pain.

I arrived in his office after waiting 6 years to finally get someone to diagnose and treat my pain symptoms. After waiting an hour to be seen (which ended up making me very late to pick up my preschooler and autistic 1st grader from school), he abruptly and quickly told me about fibromyalgia, and the medication he wanted to use to treat it. He never let me talk or tell him about my history or symptoms. He talked down to me for 5 minutes, then wrote me a script for a pill, then dismissed me. I did like that the first sentence out of his mouth was validating my pain experience. But after that it was kinda downhill. His nursing staff taking my vitals were awesome. The one question I got to jump in and ask at the end was some alternative ways I could seek comfort at home, like stretches, exercises, diet, physical therapy, hot/cold packs, etc. He waved me off and said not really, just see how the meds go and come back in three months. So I did. The meds did nothing, I lived… with a lot of pain for three more months. At my next appointment, I waited for one hour AGAIN. Another 5 minute appointment where I was talked over. I did ask my question again, which went unanswered, but I was allowed to inform him that the meds weren’t really doing anything. He told me to double my dose to the max dose. So I did for that evening’s dose. Unfortunately I took my dose about thirty minutes before a formal gala event that was honoring my husband for 10 years of service. Just after I arrived (about an hour after taking my dose) I caused a huge scene and fainted about 5 minutes before they were to present my husband’s award. We were rushed off to Tufts ER, where they treated me like a drug addict. They held me and my husband there in our formal attire, with no food, no water, no blankets, no IV, not even a doctor to look at me for 9 hours. I did not get home to see my children or relieve the babysitter until 5:30AM, driving home after having no sleep, water, or food since about 2PM the previous day. Utter cruelty. Tufts is a whole other issue. But I would have never been there had I not been carelessly prescribed this dosage. I called the office the next day to see if I could stop taking the medication. No one called me back for two weeks, and it wasn’t even he who called. I stopped taking it on my own after one week, as the dosage was causing catatonia, extreme dizziness and nausea, and weakness. I couldn’t get off the floor/couch/bed for days. I had to teach my 4 and 6 year olds to call 911 on my phone in case I fell or wouldn’t wake up. I was so scared, and couldn’t be left alone. I was so afraid to go back to this dr, I sought out another referral. My new pain dr was appalled that not only was I prescribed the medication I was on (it is a last ditch effort type med, typically other meds are prescribed first), but he was also totally stunned that no one had ever even tried to figure out why I was in pain, and why no one even bothered to take scans or xrays. He immediately sent me for xrays of my neck, spine, and hips and discovered that I have osteoarthritis in my SI joints. I was also prescribed a much gentler pain med after listening to me and finding out that I have sensitivities to certain kinds of medications. And I never wait longer than 5 minutes to be seen, so I can actually go pick up my preschooler on time. It’s been 6 months since my first appointment with Dr. Kowal, and I still don’t have an effective pain management plan in place, but I would have been 4 months closer to something if I hadnt wasted my time in the first place. I’m tired of throwing spaghetti at the wall and seeing what sticks, know what I mean? I hate this “take this pill and wait for months to see what happens.” It’s taking forever. Meanwhile, I experience my children growing up from the view of the floor or on the couch, through my pain-induced tears and my brain fog. They experience their mom as sick, and never there, untouchable. Always crying or screaming in pain. Always weak and laying down. I want them to know that I like to run and play games, I love laughing and pig piles, and I dance and play music. I want them to know me as living, not suffering. I’m not interested in B solutions to A problems when it comes to my health and quality of life. I don’t want someone just throwing meds at me to solve my problem. I need someone willing to help me find causes and solutions to my pain and symptom history, and that takes listening and testing. I am not interested in messing myself up with pills. I just want answers. I have to live. I have to be able to care for my kids, I need to be a part of their lives, and their happy times. I can’t do that with doctors who don’t seem interested in their patients’ quality of care. Make your own judgments, this was my experience. I don’t go a single day without worrying about my pain and how to get through a day. I can’t sleep knowing there could be an answer to all of this that no one cares to find. This doctor wasn’t it for me.

I have been a patient of Dr. Kowal for. Year from all these bad reviews I can only come to this conclusion the people could not get the drugs they wanted so how else to try to destroy a very talented man he is caring he treats me with respect and he listens he is also aware of the difference between who is in pain and who is trying to con him just because he won’t write you a prescription for narcotics don’t try to destroy his reputation he is a great Doctor and a very understanding man so people grow up

I don’t think any good words can be said of Dr. Andrew Kowal. I’ve never met a doctor that treats patients with such rude, aggressive disrespect. He harshly hurries you through an incredibly disturbing appointment with his vile mannerisms. I would give him a ‘0’ ZERO Star rating if I could and he doesn’t even deserve that. I definitely DO NOT recommend him as a possible candidate as a physician. I’ve never witnessed such unprofessionalism amongst such a respected profession as being a physician.

dr. cowel is obsessed with patients seeking opoid pain medication..this compromise his effectives..it is well known he may prescribe muscle relaxing pills,and they will mot work..he is hi rated..my poor opinion.....

VERY POOR ON NON SURGACAL PAIN MANAGEMENT.. HE,ALSO, THINKS PATIENTS COME TO HIM SEEKING TO GET ON DISABILTY,OR WORKMANS COMP. THAT IS ALL. $$$ INTERVENTIAL PAIN CONTROL,MEDS, IS NOT PILLS..HE IS RATED HIGH,IN OPERATING ROOM.....