Dr. Benjamin Borja Tiongson, MD

I am a Registered Nurse, Board Certified in Medical Surgical Nursing. I have been a practicing nurse since 1976. I have been a patient of Dr.Tiongson for years. I began seeing Dr Tiongson for pain control following C-Spine and Lumbar Spine surgery. He is one of the most caring, physician that I know. With patience, he explains in detail, his findings following examination and evaluation of your complaint of pain as it relate to your symptoms, and results of diagnostic studies. He is patient. He doesn't rush through your medical appointment visit. He answers every question, and points out, on a skeletal model, the areas of the body involved. The staff is professional, courteous, and just as caring.

I received an epidural steroid injection (ESI) from Dr Tiongson. After the procedure I have now learned that the drug that Dr Tiongson used for the ESI is NOT APPROVED BY THE FDA FOR EPIDURAL ADMINISTRATION. Dr Tiongson never informed me that he was injecting a drug into me on an off-label basis. Had I been properly and legally informed that the drug being injected into me was NOT APPROVED by the FDA for epidural administration, then I would have refused the injection. I have also learned that ESIs are extremely dangerous. Several people have even died from ESIs. Arachnoiditis is also another very serious complication that may result from ESIs. I was never informed of any of these potentially very serious complications from ESIs. I would not recommend Dr Tiongson for any kind of invasive procedure due to his failure to give proper and legally required informed consent. For narcotic pain relievers he is probably OK.

Previous comment is incorrect. Dr. Tiongson uses fluoroscopic guidance for all of his procedures. The Injection procedures are performed in outpatient hospital setting or ambulatory surgery center under IV sedation with fluoroscopic guidance.