Kenneth D Candido, MD

I have been to see Dr. Candido many times. For my back, my knees and now my neck. He is always very attentive and kind. His staff — which includes students — are always professional and polite. The bottom line is the pain goes away. The fact that he is personable and very kind is a bonus. I go there to get relief from very bad pain. And I always get it. There is always a wait but sometimes that happens… that does not speak to the doctor but to the hospital management team who makes the decisions on how patients are booked.

Imagine being in a near fatal accident, 19 broken bones, wanting to find medical pros that understand that you really want to walk again and lead a normal life but being frustrated because only a very few doctors really care about helping you map out a plan that works. Frustrating right? Well that was me and thru the process I met all kinds of doctors and nurses and therapists but only a few stand out as bright, caring, articulate «real» people that want to help you reach your goal and as long as you show that as a patient you are ready to put in the work — they will show you how to getter’ done. Ken Candido is a shining example of the kind of pain doc you want.
run a check and you will see he was the top of his class, hand picked by Loyola in Maywood to handle the roughest tasks, now he’s at Advocate Masonic where they not only made him the chair the department but they custom built the clinic to his specs, investing millions to keep this guy there. Why? He’s the pain doc that OTHER doctors go to for a second opinion. He’s done well over 30 surgeries /​procedures on me and got me back up and walking like normal and helped me to live with chronic pain. I know I will have pain the rest of my life, but having the confidence in knowing that this rockstar of a doctor is there to guide me is a HUGE help. He’s great about giving patients choices on which general direction they want to go, honest about recovery times and how painful the procedures will be, but he’s also spot on with the results. If he tells me that the procedure he wants to do will cover 60 to 90% of the pain — he’s right. Always right. I cannot understand how he keeps SO busy, runs a tight ship with a first class staff, yet still wins awards for patient care.
I’ve tried 5 other pain control spots and no doubt, Dr. Candido is the top of the top.
Others here have complained about his clinic being a training facility, yep it is. Young resident doctors flock to Candido and know he’s tough, picky, maybe difficult at times, but brilliant. I never have a problem meeting and talking to the residents and see it as a compliment that there are always so many around.
If you are a chronic or severe pain person and want it straight and are prepared to follow the rules and do your Physical Therapy, KC is your man. If you just want to go on disability and take drugs and watch daytime TV to avoid going to work, he’ll see right thru you and move you to one of his junior doctors or right on out the door.
Without this guy, I would not be walking and would have a miserable life. Imagine what that means to me.
Thank the stars above for Ken Candido.
WC

I visited dr. Candido for an I.M.E. and had several issues with how the case was handled.
1) Dr. Candido said there had been no significant weight loss in my case.
I have lost 30 pounds since January 1, 2015. This was discussed, in detail, during my visit.
2) Dr. Candido reported my medications incorrectly, even though these were gone over repeatedly, as I tried to describe the different directions my pain specialist and I had taken toward dealing with my pain.
3) Dr. Candido failed to report my pain during my trip to the I.M.E. or the pain I was in while waiting for his examination, even though I reported it upon beginning my examination.
4) Dr. Candido and I shared personal anecdotes, where he referred to carrying a firearm, and knowing the sheriff of the county I live in. I shared some of my desperation and fear and stated that I hoped this was my last I.M.E. This last statement has no medical value in itself, and was included in my I.M.E. only as a means to show me in a negative light.
5) I do not see anywhere that Dr. Candido referenced my Functional Capacity Exam. this exam was long, painful, and supposedly all inclusive.
In section 8 of his report, he invalidates all the effort I put into cooperating with physical therapy specialists to provide well documented limits to my capabilities. At no point during my F.C.E. did I «self-​limit». All testing was limited by the tester only, under whatever guidelines they follow.
6) Dr. Candido is extremely critical of my increase in opioid use after receiving my spinal cord stimulator.
I tried, and apparently failed, to explain that since receiving the stimulator, I have been compelled, by workers compensation, to volunteer for increasingly painful activities.
7) Dr. Candido fails to mention that our visit was interrupted 3 times, and those interruptions were not insignificant. Each consisting of several minutes with the doctor absent from the room entirely.

I may not understand the mechanisms behind my injury. In fact, I know I don’t understand them. But I have always expressed the utmost honesty in dealing with the insurance company, and every doctor that I have seen, in the somewhat vague hope that someone might be able to help me, beyond prescribing me more pain medication.
If you’re going for an I.M.E. be honest, but don’t be fooled, Dr. Candido is an affable individual with kind mannerisms, and funny anecdotes, but not on «your» side.

Dr. Candido without a doubt is a great physician. He’s honest, compassionate, and understanding. I would definitely recommend anyone in need of a pain specialist to see him. He truly cares for his patients.

Of course there is no evidence of any thing fraudulent that you have written «doc». An arbitrator simply decides whether or not to give your opinion any weight. Have you ever asked yourself why so many people who have seen you on an IME basis have seen numerous other IMEs previously? Insurance companies «doctor shop» for a less than ethical individual who will write an opinion in their favor. You fit that bill perfectly. It was actually funny watching the arbitrators face when AIG gave him one report in their favor and 9, yes 9 reports from other IMEs in my favor. Needless to say you helped my case, the arbitrator immediately realized what was going on and that you had been bought. Thanks.

Dr Candido is a wonderful and compassionate doctor. I appreciate he also has a healthy sense of humor. He is knowledgable with my condition and he has done all he can to try and make things more manageable. His nurses are also very easy to work with and they genuinely seem to care about the patients.
My only complaint is the front desk staff. Each time I call they seem dismissive and always say «it will be another week.» Either they are not calling my insurance company like they said they would or they are hopelessly behind in their work. Either way, if you say you will call and let the patient know what is happening, then that is what should happen.

Ken Candido is one of the lowest forms of life on this planet! He takes money from insurance companies to lie and make false reports on their behalf. He is a registered IME which means he takes money to lie and make false reports on patients real illnesses. We gave it to GOD, knowing that his work is just. I feel ashamed for him and also sorry for what his afterlife entails. Please do your research and pick a Dr. Who actually cares for his patients and not his pocketbook!

Dr Candido is a great doctor well versed in many types of conditions. He is witty and sarcastic but seems genuinely happy for you when a positive result is achieved.
This is also a teaching facility so be prepared to give your history to a med student and resident first. Annoying, but not a big deal.
If you have to leave a message his nurse always calls back within the same day.
My only complaint is the wait time. They are always behind. And not a little. A lot. My longest wait was over 2 hours. I have started bringing a book. The office needs more nurses and not to double book as much. But I keep coming back because I know he won’t stop until I am pain free. And for that, I really admire him.

I meant to put this in Unilocal a while ago. I was working on unstable SI joint pain, between the help of my Chiroporactor and Dr. Candido was the best team ever. I have not seen him in over a year, so everything that he performed, worked. I feel better than ever. For people going through pain, its takes a good Doctor like Dr. candido, but it also takes your effort to make some changes.
I thank them all for all for getting me through my life changing process.
Sherry

Dr. Candido is as”“good as it gets”. I have read some of the previous reviews regarding wait times etc. Dr. Candido and his nurse Veronica give me 100 per cent of their attention when seeing them. If I have to wait a few moment then I have to wait. It’s interesting I would wait for a cup of coffee, or a cab or any number of things. Pain Management is a complex issue I am sure. I am glad that Dr. Klarquist referred me to Dr. Candido.

These reviews are spot on. He is the Chief of Pain doc’s that’s why you have to see these interns which is a pain in the butt. Very fast to inject and will not return you messages, not cool… The wait is way to long for a 3 – 5 minute visit… Was referred by my M.D. and will not go back either. Where are all the good pain doc’s really!!!
I cannot seem to find one that can give me any relief.

Dr. Candido is an excellent doctor! I had an IME with him and I was completely impressed by the way he treated me with so much respect and concern knowing that it was a workers comp case. Dr. Candido actually took the time out and answered my questions and he explained everything to me. He also joked around not making the situation tense as I was extremely nervous. But he made me feel like he actually cared about my hand. He did receive phone calls and did step out but whenever he came back (within two minutes) he apologized for it. I will definitely recommend going to Dr. Candido he is one of the best doctor! Honestly he is a very passionate doctor and be will listen to everything and will give you time! Thank you Dr. Candido!!!

Wow, I had the complete opposite experience of other Unilocalers here. I actually laughed at the review that said Dr. Candido was, «kind, compassionate, and empathetic.» That’s funny.
I was referred to Dr. Candido because I was still experiencing quite a bit of pain from a surgery I had last July.
First of all, I waited an hour and 46 minutes to be seen. You read that right — my appointment was at 10am, and he did not enter my room until 11:46am. I know this because I was about 2 minutes away from walking out. He then sat down, asked me two questions, then his cell phone rang and he answered it — it was his kid, because I could hear her say, «daddy?» He stepped out of the room and disappeared for another 10 minutes. Are you kidding me?
When he finally came back in, he spent all of two minutes with me and was rude and condescending the entire time. He concluded my pain was nerve related, threw a prescription at me, and then said if that didn’t work he’d do a celiac plexus nerve block. Then he said, and I quote, «I’ll repeat that slowly since I know you’ll go home and google it. Celiac… plexus…nerve block.» Completely talked down to me like I was a fucking idiot.
In the end, I was there for 2 hours to spend a total of 5 minutes with him, be talked down to, and basically treated like shit. If he thinks for one second I will ever come back to see him, let alone allow him to put a needle in my back, he is wrong wrong wrong.
Also, it is obvious that he is a total prick by the way his med student acted — she was clearly terrified of him. When he came back in from talking to his kid, he barked «who took my pen!» and she was frantically showing him it was in the file where he left it. It was actually really sad to see. So not only does he treat his patients like crap, he obviously treats his staff like crap as well. Well done, doctor! You’re the man.
The best part is the billing — you will get a bill from both the pain clinic AND Illinois Masonic, and that’s just for an exam — I had no procedures done. That 5 minutes cost around $ 800+, of which I had to pay $ 200 of. I’m in the wrong job — I could get paid all that money to treat people like shit!

Doctor Candido is kind, compassionate, and empathetic. He listens! He looks you in the eyes when you converse. He values the thoughts and opinions of his patients, and he believes in collaborative relationships with his patients. He inspires confidence. He doesn’t throw a prescription at you and shove you out the door like so many other doctors. After seeing many, many doctors with no relief or success, I nearly cried on my way home – I have found a doctor I can trust who I know will do whatever it takes to make me better!

I saw Dr. Candido after 10+ years of suffering with pain in the base of my skull. I was sent to him by my neurologist for a nerve block. He was extremely kind, thorough, and caring. He seemed to actually want to figure out what the cause was, instead of just «bandaid-​ing it like so many had before him.» After a lengthy conversation, I had 3 nerve blocks in my neck right in the next room. Although it was painful, he was so thoughtful and talked me through the entire procedure. I have had minimal pain since, and plan to follow up with him as needed. Wonderful experience!!!