Dr. Natali Marian Balog, MD

I have been a patient of Dr. Balog for a little over three years. I thought she was amazing at first and then recently in the last 6 to 8 months I’ve been having some issues with more swelling and pain in my legs and feet. She told me that it was just because I gained weight and that’s why I’m having issues and I even made a second appointment to talk to her about it and she basically made me feel like an idiot like I was in the wrong and she was right. Since then I have drove 2 1/2 hours to Des Plains, IL To see a doctor there and with in less than three months I feel amazing. She (my NEW doc) added some medication to what I am taking and now and I am basically in no pain at all for the first time in over three years. So thank you Dr. Balog for nothing

I went to see her because my hands look like pretzels and hurt really bad. I have huge knobs on them. She wouldn’t take me as a patient because she said I wasn’t bad enough! Seriously??!! Exactly what is bad enough??

She listens & explains. I am now symptom free of gout.

Dr. Balog is an amazing Doctor, I wish she were my family Dr. She has helped me to lead a better life. . a life with less pain.

Dr. Balog has always treated me with kindness and respect. I never have to wait more than 10 mins for scheduled appointments. If i have an RA flare, she will squeeze me in. She has always listened to my pains and ongoing issues. I would refer Dr. Balog any day of the week. She is a wonderful doctor.

I came to Dr. Balog with two RA diagnosis that had both been confirmed by multiple doctors. When reviewing my medicines she flat out told me due to the medications I was already on (Not narcotic or pain related) by another doctor for a different diagnosis that she wouldn't do anything for my first complaint. For my second she ran lab work and then proceeded to tell me that all the other doctors I had seen for over 10 years were wrong and I didn't have the autoimmune disease I had been diagnosed with. Wouldn't discuss it any further and told me there was no reason to return unless I wanted someone to monitor my diet. She seemed compassionate but in the end I felt brushed aside and a like a fool for complaining about my chronic pain.

Sent incomplete and missing documents from file to my ortho. Waited 40 minutes past appointment time first visit. Said had RA in only one joint?...riiiight. 5 years later, get the same referral to same doctor. Take the morning off of work, drive an hour. Went to their north campus by mistake first. Called their south campus while en route to let them know. Showed up 3 minutes late and was forced to reschedule. $3800 to analyse fluid from my knee. Didn't have 5 minutes to go over the results because I was 3 minutes late? Have lost all confidence in this office. Would never recommend to anyone. Inept.

She was completely unsympathetic, and rude! She said to me, "you don't have rheumatoid arthritis, so why are you here?" As I began to tell her my 7 years of chronic pain, spontanias spine fracturing, and serious vitamin defincientcy she said, "I'm not giving you drugs. You need a pain doctor! I Have a pain doctor! I'm not looking for drugs! I'm looking for a diagnosis!! I do not recommend this woman. Not to my worse enemy.

I have great respect for Dr. Balog. She is very knowledgeable and dedicated to her practice and patients.

I'm not sure how she would win any awards for compassion. She told me that I do have an autoimmune disease, but she doesn't know which one, and it doesn't really matter which one it is. As a Rheumatologist, she should know that for the patient, it is very important to have the name of the disease that you are fighting. I did not like her attitude, we spent hundreds of dollars on tests and came away knowing nothing. I would never go back.