Robert S Marks, MD – Diagnostic Pain Center

May 2016, and I am SO SICK OF THIS GUY!
Jusssssst kidding!
If they made a Dr. Marks squishee. like a stuffed Dr. Marks doctor doll, I’d totally hug him at night. As embarrassing as it is to say this, I would!
You see, that’s the kind of person the stylish team of Marks and Marks has made me. Someone who laughs. Someone who jokes. Someone who enjoys.
Despite the constant and chronic pain I have been in for 20 years (and a happy anniversary to me!), I am able to live my life to its fullest because of _​them_​. I mean, we all manage to take home a modicum of satisfaction from our job, am I right? To be these two, oh man!
I love it when I see people who give me a shout out, here, too! Because if I’ve messaged you privately (because I’ve seen the hellish situations you’ve been through with other pain-​frauds, I mean «pain-​clinicians»), or because we’ve met at a Unilocal function, or because we were sitting next to each other at a restaurant and (–cough-​) I «overheard» you mention your pain, then butted in (because, let’s face it, that’s just the kind of person I am), to tell you a) to try the special, and b) «By the way, visit Dr. Marks, he’ll fix you right up!», well, it does my heart good to see that you went, and that (by your 5 star reviews), I’m not delusional! You loved ‘em, too.
A little like the kid with the doll, sometimes I want to say «Mine!» and kick you in the shin for sharing such a fabulous team of both staff and doctors, but… I’m pretty good with sharing these days. [And, now this review has gone completely pear-​shaped!]
Back on track! For however long it has been, now, both Rob and Marie continue to help me be the zany, sweet, and wonderful woman I am. When you live with pain, it’s crazy how fast those things disappear. It’s terrifying when you become someone you don’t know. Someone who panics at the thought of having to move the distance from their bed to their couch. Someone who has to pass up playing with their one year old niece on the floor, or someone who, when asked by a friend to go out, has to come up with a cold or a flu just to hide. Terrifying isn’t quite the word, when you become that invisible someone.
And, I’m not saying I’m not still that person from time to time, because pain can be a bit of a spoiled brat when it’s not getting the attention it thinks it deserves, but… more often than not, I am doing all the things I love. I’m really _​me_​, and that’s saying something.
Please. If you suffer with anything that causes you pain, get thee to this office. Even if you have to wait a few days. Or even if your appointment is an hour late* (because both Marks’ will ALWAYS listen to you. always! So, sometimes the busses aren’t on schedule. I know it doesn’t seem like a good thing when your late for work, or whatever, but it _​is_​good! *For those that might have a problem with a late apt, book your apt first thing in the morning. Then there’s no chance of a scheduling snafu!). Even if there’s a flood and you have to paddleboat your way there… get there. I promise, us five-​starers just don’t lie. =D

I was originally referred to dr. Marks from a friend of mine who had seen him in the past. I was going to a different pain management specialist and something just wasn’t registering correctly so I got a second opinion. Boy am I glad I did! When I went to see the first doctor, the appointment was less than 10 minutes long and he jumped the gun and immediately wanted to shoot my spine 3 times without a second thought. It would have cost me about 3 Grand but going to see dr. Marks I learned that it was really may not even be necessary. Instead he has me on an anti-​inflammatory pill which already seems to be helping. Dr. Marks gave me a full and complete evaluation, treated me like I was a human being and not an object on a conveyor belt and was really just so kind and so sweet and legitimately gives a damn about helping people. If you are in pain, go see this man! I’ve been in pain for a really really long time and this is the first dr. I have ever come across that hasn’t turned his back on his oath and truly wants to help people. There’s another pain management company in Austin which is really big and probably the most well-​known and if you’re reading this you probably know who I’m talking about. Screw those guys. Unless you WANT to feel like you pulled a number off of a deli counter.

I am not sure how to start this. It’s hard to write a review on someone who has changed your life.
To understand the impact that Dr. Marks and is staff has had on me, you should know a bit about me. My name is Kerri. I have been in constant and unreleneting pain for the past 5 years. I have seen numerous doctors and have been given at least 3 different diagnoses. I have lost count on how many different procedures I’ve had done, from epidurals and ablasions to nerve blocks and cortisone shots.
When you think you’ve tried everything and nothing seems to work, You find yourself on the low end of hope. That is where I was when I met Dr. Marks and his wonderful staff. On my first visit, He didn’t ask me what my previous diagnosis was, just the symptoms. In time, He switched my meds around and gave me a new diagnosis. Turns out he was right. Now, A few months later, I am getting my life back. I don’t wake up crying from the pain, I can walk around without limping, I garden, I even go swimming. I am no longer stuck in bed or lying on the couch. I have my life back. Hope has returned.
I am not cured, I don’t think I ever will be. But it’s liveable now. Dr. Marks has worked with me and my treatment plan is manageable. We have even talked about cutting back on my meds! :)
Before I end this, I want to mention that his staff are always kind, compassionate and patient. Dr. Marks himself is very knowledgeable and progressive, He makes it a point to find out about new treatments and advances In healthcare.
The Diagnostic Pain Center is the whole package. I honestly can’t say enough good things about them, I only wish I found them sooner.

I brought my mother into see Dr. Robert Marks today for the first time. He was very professional, courteous and thorough. He listened to her history, asked a lot of good questions, did a neurological examination and discussed his findings. He is a very good diagnostician and found things the other providers did not. He also did a great job explaining everything in layman’s terms and answered all our questions. He provided my mom several options, told her to take her time and think about them. She can call the clinic anytime to exercise an option. We felt completely at ease with Dr Marks. He is intelligent and compassionate. We never felt rushed and left with a real education. Nobody can make sound decisions unless they have a clear understanding of what is going on. Thank you, Dr Marks, for taking the time others did not.

Dr. Marks is caring and always concerned about his patients. His bedside manners… one word… IMPECCABLE! He is never rude. His staff utmost professionalism. I highly recommend him.

Time for an update. The honeymoon is over and he still listens, takes his time, and tells it like it is. I’m coming to count on his clear communication and honest opinion. Don’t be put off by his relative youth! He’s brilliant, passionate, and engaged, stays up to date on current knowledge, and is non-​judgmental and mentally agile. Also he’s a bit of a goofball. (Shout out to Jen T.‘s review.)
Smack my hand for neglecting to mention before: Yaseem (sp?) his right hand guy, is phenomenal. He keeps everything running with a smile. His entire staff are professional, kind, and funny — just the folks you want to see.

If you want to be billed for hundreds of dollars then this is your guy! Also he seems to be biased against his own profession and a bit too opinionated about other doctors decisions. Too young to have such a guarded opinion. I also was billed thru my insurance company Medicare for a UA they insisted I take just to meet with him. That was fine but then they billed Humana which I didn’t have a policy with anymore and I didn’t give my card to them either. I have no clue how they obtained this information but I contacted Medicare, Dept. of Insurance and the Medical Board.
Now I have a company trying to bill me $ 450.00 and another bill coming from this doctor for $ 90.00 on top of what they already received.

I absolutely adore Dr. Marks ! he’s a good, ethical dr that actually CARES about his patients and fixing them, not just in it for a buck. I’m so lucky to have found him and finally be almost completely pain free from my back injury. Dr. Marks gave me my life back, he actually LISTENS and responds, he goes to great lengths to help his patients. His staff is always helpful and nice and it’s nice to have a dr that treats me like a person and actually has a sense of humor! Thank you for all you Dr. Marks!

I’m so thankful to Unilocal reviewers! Without y’all I would never have found Dr. Marks.
I have chronic neck problems that occasionally lead to bouts of excruciating pain that make it almost impossible to move, let alone work. Therefore, when these inflammations occur I need help NOW, not later. Which is why I came looking for a new pain doctor; and Dr. Marks didn’t disappoint.
Long story short, I only had to wait days, not weeks for my initial appointment on Wed., Dec. 9^th. By the Sat., the 12^th I was having an MRI, and by the Mon. the 14^th his office was calling me to schedule an epidural steroid shot. He had availability that same week, but I had to schedule a week later, Dec. 22^nd, due to work. The day of the procedure came to talk to me before I was anesthetized to answer any last minute questions and to let me know that I could call him afterwards, at any time, even on Christmas, if anything came up. Unfortunately, I did end up with some unexpected pain on the 23^rd, so I called and I got to speak to him… personally. Who does that anymore?
I just can’t say enough about how impressed I am with Dr. Marks. On my first visit you could almost see the «wheels turning» in his head as he analyzed all the history I’d just given him on my neck problems as he worked to figure out what was at the root of my problem. He quickly formulated a hypothesis and seemed very confident that he knew what the problem was and how he should handle it. And clearly he was right on both counts. I am now almost a month out from my shot and am just about 100% better. Since my epidural shot I’ve been able to stop taking 7 of the 8 Tramadol and muscle relaxant pills I was taking per day. I am back to functioning at full capacity without pain nor the fog of so much medication. Thanks Dr. Marks.

Dr. Marks and his staff are an amazing crew. I am fairly new to his practice but already know this is this place I need to be for treatment. My opinion of my own plan of care is valued and taken into consideration every step of the way. My recent procedure went smoothly and I felt like I was in the best hands possible! My husband researched and gave me Dr. Marks information and I am so grateful I made the call. I appreciate seeing the same practitioner each time for the continuity of care.

I admit that I’ve been sitting on writing this review. I’ve feared that if word gets out about the quality and compassion of Dr. Marks that his practice will grow so large that it’ll be impossible to get an appointment, the quality of care will suffer, etc. The real reason is I’ve been super busy handling life emergencies. I have been seen regularly by a pain management physician or PMR doctor for the past 11 years. One of my former doctors was director of the #1 Rehabilitation Hospital in the U.S. (RIC in Chicago) at the time. I’ve participated in the top chronic pain rehab program. Dr. Marks is just as good – perhaps even better in his ability to truly listen to and willingness to understand his patients. He is also up on all the latest procedures and treatments. What makes this practice outstanding is that every staff member exhibits the same courtesy and friendliness. I actually look forward to my monthly appointments, which says a lot whenever one is dealing with a chronic condition, because of the relaxed yet professional atmosphere of this office. I cannot recommend Dr. Marks and this office highly enough.

Dr. Robert Marks and is new partner are totally awesome. Don’t be alarmed — his new partner is also Dr. Marks and no they are not related — they researched it out of curiosity! Both are very honest and down to earth docs. They do not jump on the pharmaceutical bandwagon the moment you present a symptom. I’ve been seeing him for 10 months now and I absolutely know he has saved my life! Do not be alarmed if you have to wait in the lobby to see him, he does not rush his patients as he treats you like a human being. Something many present day doctors seem to have forgotten about so don’t be rude or freaked out that he does not see you right on the dot! Either of them are worth the wait to see. I purposely like to be the last patient of the day so that no one is truly rushed to give answers and discuss ongoing issues. If you have issues waiting to see a good doc please don’t take it out on these two good docs!!! Marks and Marks are the most AWESOME Docs that I have met in a LONG time in Austin!!!

Wow! Found Dr. Marks by accident while Unilocaling something else. His reviews were amazing so I decided to give him a try. He was very thorough on my first visit, asking all kinds of questions about my condition and what treatments had and had not worked in the past. I’ve been to pain management before, but never felt like I was going to be treated as a person and not an experiment. I would highly recommend Dr. Marks to anyone, even after the one visit. He seems caring, kind and had a great bedside manner. I’m so glad I found him!!!

I’m Kevork H. have been suffer in pain from all levels of my spine: «C» «T» «L» for past ten years, and two surgery, I know at my age of sixty cannot expect any better after had seen two other pain management specialists. I got to lose my believe that I’ll ever have back again my basic daily quality of life. Also I know I’m not the only one to feel this way, there for I’d like to share with all of you who feel as I’ve did, till I’ve got the dedicated professional medical care by Dr. Robert Marks. So y’all know who to reach to, for improving.
Thank you Dr. Marks.
Kevork H.

Dr Marks is the best doctor I have been to he will get to know you unlike other doctors and cut jokes I really like him and his staff I would recommend him over anybody

Dr Marks is the first Dr that I have found that truly cares about his patients. He is very thorough and never rushes through to get to his next patient. His staff is awesome, friendly and very helpful. If anyone is in need of a compassionate, educated and knowledgeable dr then he’s your man.

I saw Dr. Marks after an injury to my neck due to a fall down the stairs. Before Dr. Marks I saw several doctors regarding my pain, all of which were pretty much useless. They either acted as though I was just drug seeking or wanted to give me injections (which I was wary of and didn’t want at the time). Dr. Marks was very thorough, asked many questions and actually listened to me. Some of the previous doctors didn’t even examine my neck at all! One specific so-​called pain management doc in Austin spoke to me for about five minutes, prescribed medicine that I was already on (that I told him wasn’t working) and wanted to «wait a month or so to get to know me better» before he would make a diagnosis. In addition this other doc wanted me to come to see his psychologist for 2 appointments before he would feel «comfortable» prescribing me any meds that might have actually worked. Anyway, Dr. Marks really seemed to know his stuff. He explained to me what probably happened to my neck when I fell that was causing my pain. He didn’t try to force any injections and suggested some medications that might work. Instead of sending me for further expensive testing, more CT and MRI scans, he requested my previous scans that had been done in a different state and received them in minutes. All I can say is that I was thrilled and impressed with the care I received from Dr. Marks and would recommend him to anyone who needs pain management treatment.

Full disclosure: This review is premature from a diagnostic standpoint. I have only had one appointment with Dr. Marks but that, plus the follow up, has been enough to demonstrate the quality and integrity of his office.
I have dealt with consistent, debilitating pain for over seven years now. Many doctors want to cut me open to «see what’s wrong» or give up and just throw painkillers my way because «I’m too young to have real problems.» NOT DR. MARKS. He treats every situation as something unique, takes a full body approach to diagnostics and aims to treat the cause not the symptoms. This is *incredibly rare* and no words can describe my appreciation for his approach to medicine.
Now, as I’ve only had one appointment, I have to get some tests done before I can speak more about diagnosis and treatment (I will update once we get there!) but I wanted to write this review now for other reasons.
When I hear the word «tests» the first thing I think is a secretary telling me they don’t know how much they’ll charge me until after services are rendered and then I get a surprise bill in the mail for $ 3,000. But, again, NOT DR. MARKS. So far the two businesses (one pharmaceutical, one medical imaging) that he has sent me to have been incredibly transparent and above board with their pricing practices, *incredibly* affordable and have gone out of their way to get me the cheapest service possible. I have done A LOT of «tests» in my quest for a diagnosis and never, ever have a seen this kind of service.
Those are the biggest praises I have but I can go on: super responsive and on the ball staff, incredible bedside manner (I was comfortable talking to him in my stupid layman terms! Many doctors can be condescending, especially to a 24 year old with «pain» and he was never even remotely so), wonderful nurse.
I’ll stop now because, like I said, I’ll update further in my treatment but this is the first time in a long time that I’ve left an appointment feeling like I’m in good hands so please, if you’re in a similar situation consider Dr. Marks!

Dr. Marks is an amazing doctor. I came to him with chronic back pain, and he has done amazing things. He knows all the latest pain management techniques, and he’s really understanding. When no one knew why I was hurting, he figured it out by getting me to take a weight bearing MRI. No one else believed me. Turns out I needed surgery, and Dr. Marks got me through everything with flying colors. If you’re hurting, go see him. He’s honest and interested in your well being and health, not lining his pockets. He won’t put you on a treatment he doesn’t believe will help you, and he will always listen. I can’t rate him highly enough!

This guy is beyond amazing. He has been handling the pain management for my wife’s CRPS/​RSD, and he has not only done everything right, but he has managed to do things that were downright unexpected and unheard of.
For one thing, he’s incredibly coherent for a doctor. That may sound odd, but how many times have you been to a doctor and you either weren’t sure that they were understanding you, or that you were understanding them? I find it very common. Dr. Marks seems to be able to understand the language of every patient, though, which is a heck of a useful talent for a pain management doctor.
He is friendly, conversational, and sometimes downright goofy. He’s also extremely professional, when the situation calls for it. He will go above and beyond to make sure that you are comfortable. He will get truly and amazingly frustrated if his first attempt at treatment does not go exactly as well as he thinks it should, which is an extremely rare trait for a doctor, in my experience. He will keep trying until he gets it right, and he will work with you to make sure that you fully understand everything he is doing, why he’s doing it, and the potential risks.
He’s also a licensed anesthesiologist, so if you have problems with rolling or hard to find veins, he’s your guy. My wife’s body is notorious for thwarting anything needle related, and he does a better job than anyone else ever has at getting an IV into her.
I can’t say enough good things about this guy. i wish every doctor was just like him.