Dr. Marcia Elana Elfenbaum, MD

I was a patient of Dr Elfenbaum's for a couple of years until about 2002 for chronic lower back muscular pain that would escalate to incredibly painful muscle spasms which I had been dealing with for most of my life. For the most part, I found her to be a competent and caring doctor that did everything that she could to minimize the impact that this had on my life and one of the ways that she did this was by prescribing heavy doses of narcotic painkiller medicine. This was when Oxycontin had been on the market only a couple of years so it was being prescribed on a large scale by doctors since they didn't have the information that they have today regarding how addictive and destructive this and other narcotic painkillers have on the human body. Ultimately, she was prescribing high quantities to me without hesitation and the addiction really took hold of me but I was able to not display any symptoms of that addiction during our office visits. One day, out of the blue, she requested… that I take a drug test and without hesitation, I complied not thinking about anything negative happening as a result. That drug test showed that I had amphetamine in my system which was a drug that I used on a regular basis several years earlier but I was about 5 years clean at that point. I don't know why I just happened to use a couple of days earlier but I did and she ultimately reacted in a manner that I will always despise her for. She told me that she would no longer be my doctor so consequently I would no longer have access to the Oxycontin medication that my body had become so heavily addicted to and she wouldn't discuss the situation any further. Now, I take ownership of my addiction to the meds BUT she completely separated herself from any kind of responsibility on her part and to this day, I have difficulty reconciling the fact that she left me out in the cold by not only cutting me off from the medication in addition to NOT offering any sort of help regarding my addiction or discussing any possible resources for getting any help for myself. She cut ties with me without hesitation and didn't offer any sort of life ring to me so that I could try to get myself in a healthy place. I could understand her refusing to not be my doctor anymore but the fact that she didn't at least point me in the direction of getting some help for my addiction is beyond comprehension at this point and my life had been destroyed because of her actions. I lost everything because she didn't help me get the help that I so desperately needed and I can honestly say that suicide was something that I contemplated heavily for many years. Today, I can honestly say that I haven't used any of these drugs in years and I was able to do so ON MY OWN but I still have an incredible amount of resentment towards this doctor because she wouldn't help the 'monster' that she created(her words from that last time that I spoke to her) and so I would NOT and could NOT recommend ANYONE becoming a patient of hers.

I was a patient of Dr Elfenbaum's for a couple of years until about 2002 for chronic lower back muscular pain that would escalate to incredibly painful muscle spasms which I had been dealing with for most of my life. For the most part, I found her to be a competent and caring doctor that did everything that she could to minimize the impact that this had on my life and one of the ways that she did this was by prescribing heavy doses of narcotic painkiller medicine. This was when Oxycontin had been on the market only a couple of years so it was being prescribed on a large scale by doctors since they didn't have the information that they have today regarding how addictive and destructive this and other narcotic painkillers have on the human body. Ultimately, she was prescribing high quantities to me without hesitation and the addiction really took hold of me but I was able to not display any symptoms of that addiction during our office visits. One day, out of the blue, she requested… that I take a drug test and without hesitation, I complied not thinking about anything negative happening as a result. That drug test showed that I had amphetamine in my system which was a drug that I used on a regular basis several years earlier but I was about 5 years clean at that point. I don't know why I just happened to use a couple of days earlier but I did and she ultimately reacted in a manner that I will always despise her for. She told me that she would no longer be my doctor so consequently I would no longer have access to the Oxycontin medication that my body had become so heavily addicted to and she wouldn't discuss the situation any further. Now, I take ownership of my addiction to the meds BUT she completely separated herself from any kind of responsibility on her part and to this day, I have difficulty reconciling the fact that she left me out in the cold by not only cutting me off from the medication in addition to NOT offering any sort of help regarding my addiction or discussing any possible resources for getting any help for myself. She cut ties with me without hesitation and didn't offer any sort of life ring to me so that I could try to get myself in a healthy place. I could understand her refusing to not be my doctor anymore but the fact that she didn't at least point me in the direction of getting some help for my addiction is beyond comprehension at this point and my life had been destroyed because of her actions. I lost everything because she didn't help me get the help that I so desperately needed and I can honestly say that suicide was something that I comtemplated heavily for many years. Today, I can honestly say that I haven't used any of these drugs in years and I was able to do so ON MY OWN but I still have an incredible amount of resentment towards this doctor because she wouldn't help the 'monster' that she created(her words from that last time that I spoke to her) and so I would NOT and could NOT recommend ANYONE becoming a patient of hers.

Dr. Elfenbaum is one of the best doctors that I have ever seen and I am so grateful!! She has been so supportive and truly cares about my well being! I have had 3 back surgeries and I have suffered from chronic pain for the last 12 years. I am a mother of 3 and now I can also work full-time. I could not work or be there for my children if it were not for Dr. Elfenbaum's care. I am so very very grateful for her!

Dr. Elfenbaum, MD is a caring karma Yet firm pain specialist. She takes time to listen and ask pertinent questions in order to choose the best Treatment plan.

Her only fault is seeing her patients on their scheduled appointment time and that is usually because of the time she spends with her clients. She is dedicated and good. So glad she became my pain doctor over 10 years ago.

She is the best most competent doctor I have seen in my 53 years . She listens to her patients and works to provide a treatment plan to allow you to have a full productive life.

I have seen Dr. E for over 2 years. She spends the personal time one needs with chronic pain. Her staff "carol" is the best. Marcia had done more for me in 2 years than my other Dr.s in over 10 years.

Dr Elfenbaum is truly amazing! She helped me understand my medical condition and provided options for my treatment. She is very smart and cares about her patients. Very easy to talk to and makes you feel comfortable at every visit. She is very thorough and ordered labs, urine test, X-rays, and has a pain contract for patients. Also she has great office staff that follow up with you on authorizations and communicate with you. Truly grateful to have found such an incredible doctor to manage my pain. Highly recommend to anyone suffering with chronic pain!

Dr Elfenbaum is he most caring and compassionate doctor I have ever seen. She is brilliant and very knowledgeable in her field of pain management. After 12 years of suffering with chronic pain, I no longer suffer from pain which had destroyed my life. She is one of a kind and truly amazing! Thank you Dr. Elfenbaum for saving my life!!! You are the best. So grateful for you care and treatment!

I have been a patient of Dr. Elphenbaum's for over 7 years. she is a wonderful, compassionate, knowlegeable, physician. She will listen to you. Dr Elphenbaum is also very ethical and professional. I am so happy I found Dr Elphenbaum. She is the Dr. I want in my corner when it comes to fighting pain. Her Assistant, Carolyn, must not go without a serious mention here. This lady knows her job and does it very well. San Diego Physiatry and Pain Management is the place to go to get your pain under control. Thank You Dr. Elphenbaum for all the good care you have given me.