I had STEM cells injected three years ago. It took about a year to feel 90%. Three years later, I…read morehave no issues with my knee. I was faced with a total knee replacement. So thankful that I went the route that I did.

Dr. Derrington is fantastic! I feel like I've tried it all--chiropractic care, massage, cortisone…read moreinjections, physical therapy, etc. While some treatments provided temporary relief, none have given me long-term hope. I'm now six days post-PRP injection into my lumbar, and while there's still some soreness at the injection site, my daily pain level has dropped to a 1 or 2. It's early, but I'm really happy with the results so far. Dr. Derrington and his assistant, Jocelyn, are fabulous. They explained everything clearly and couldn't have been more professional and supportive throughout the process. Their office is also incredibly responsive to emails and phone calls, which makes a huge difference. I wouldn't look anywhere else for care--highly recommend!

I searched for two years to find this amazing Doctor. Dr. Samagh and his team, Garrett PA and…read moreKristi who runs the office are absolutely amazing. I adore them all. They all made a very scary situation much easier. This was my second exact surgery and Dr. Samagh was kind and caring, and has such great bedside manner, something lacking in todays doctors. My surgery was so much easier than my first surgery two years ago, and my healing has been smoother with the help of both Garrett and Kristi's help. I would not hesitate ever turning to this group if you ever need surgery. They are at the top of game, and have new and innovative ways to get results that others don't. They specialize in areas where others really don't know what they are doing. Trust these people.

I have been going to Dr. Samagh for years and have had surgery with him. He is the ultimate…read moreprofessional who listens carefully and offers many options for care. The office manager Christy has always been awesome. My last visit this past week was with Garrett for a pulled / torn hamstring. He is following in Dr. Samagh's footsteps, as he was incredibly professional and took tie to check all of my leg muscle's and recommended an MRI for further review. He is a great addition to the office there. I would highly recommend their offie for Orthapedic care!!!

Dr. Edmund Evangelista is truly an exceptional physician, and I cannot recommend him highly enough…read more He treated me for about eight years at Community Orthopedics in Mission Viejo immediately after my injury, and during that time he consistently provided thoughtful, compassionate, and expert care. When he moved to San Diego, I had to transition to another doctor, and unfortunately my back progressively worsened over time. Eventually, I felt completely out of options and decided to book an appointment to see Dr. Evangelista again--driving down to San Diego specifically to see him at San Diego Orthobiologics Medical Group. My only regret is that I didn't do it sooner. He immediately identified a significant change on my recent MRI compared to my previous imaging--something that could clearly explain my rapidly increasing pain. His attention to detail and clinical insight were impressive, but what truly sets him apart is his integrity and honesty. Instead of recommending a procedure at his own practice, he referred me to his former colleague who specializes in the treatment that would be most beneficial for me right now, even though he could not perform it himself. That level of selflessness and patient-first care is incredibly rare in medicine. The facility itself is excellent--very clean, modern, and welcoming. The staff is extremely friendly and professional, and you feel comfortable and cared for from the moment you walk in. I also truly believe in what they are doing there; they are clearly focused on the most up-to-date procedures and technology, and it shows in how knowledgeable and forward-thinking the team is. I will absolutely be back there in the future, but I am genuinely grateful that Dr. Evangelista sent me to the right place for my immediate needs at the time. That speaks volumes about his character and commitment to doing what is best for his patients. Dr. Evangelista truly takes the time to think through each patient's situation, explain options, and guide you through difficult decisions with empathy and clarity. I trust him 100%, and I am so grateful to have him as part of my care team again. If you are dealing with spine or orthopedic issues and want a doctor who is brilliant, ethical, and truly cares about his patients, Dr. Evangelista is the one to see.

I just saw Ryan Johnson, PA-C today 1/21/2026 at 6125 paseo del Norte and he was the kindest most…read moreknowledgeable guy regarding my hip pain. He didn't rush in say a few things and done. He explained my options and his recommendation, had he not gave me the choices I may have jumped the gun and went right for hip replacement. Just a few magical words I heard him say left me with no doubt the decision I was going to make. I didn't leave confused about anything. I give Ryan a 5 out of 5 star rating let me also add the nicest smile &teeth. It's the knowledge and of course those little things like his smile that make me happy.2THUMBS UP thank you Ryan

Had my first visit yesterday in March 2025…read more There there is a parking structure. As well as some other uncovered spots. Very close to the five freeway. Very easy and convenient to get to. All of The staff were super nice, cheery, and helpful. The check-in process fairly quick. But new clients have to fill out about 15 pages of paperwork. So give yourself 20 minutes or so to fill that out. Once I got into the back, I was ushered between a few people and places and rooms and eventually got to the doctor. They do have all kinds of services that they offer there too. Doctors, MRI, Xray, physical therapy, etc. Overall I was there about an hour and a half. The doctor took three care of me. And we have to do a follow up and plan to heal completely.

The medical records staff is difficult to contact, extremely rude and confrontational.read more

Dr. Brizzie is truly one of a kind and an amazing doctor. He is by far the best ever. Not only is…read morehe incredibly skilled, but his bedside manner is hands down the best I have ever had the privilege of experiencing. I have been seeing him for a little over two years now, and his care has truly helped me through a tough time. Being young with MS and all the unpredictable muscle pain it has caused me has been difficult. Dr. Brizzie has given me immense pain relief and has significantly improved my quality of life I never thought would be possible. I can do so much more now. I was struggling with this from 2021 until 2023 until I found him that year. The pain after the second Moderna vaccine was unbearable for me. He was the only one to take my pain seriously, and I will never forget that. He actually listens, really listens, and shows care for his patients. Highly intelligent yet humble. That is pretty rare. He is proactive, kind, patient, and always makes you feel heard. I am ever grateful to him for helping me get my upper body pain and muscle pain significantly reduced. The trigger point injections have relieved my pain like nothing else has and given me the freedom to enjoy life without constantly worrying about it. When you struggle, it has been such a relief to have a provider show compassion. He is the best, truly amazing, and I am very thankful. Fusion Physical Medicine's whole atmosphere gives off zen vibes and tranquility. His practice is so peaceful and warm. It's very clean and comfortable. Everyone is extremely kind here from the staff to the nurses. I cannot say enough good things! Unlike how a stressful hospital environment can be, the vibe here is calm and comforting. Plus you do not have to wait forever. This place is such a gem in California.

Dr. Brizzie is truly one of the best in his field. Not only is he incredibly skilled, his "bedside…read moremanner and quality of care is fantistic. I have had several epidurals over several recent years and appreciated the great relief obtained by this proceedure. Thank you Dr. Brizzie and your entire staff. Best regards, Larry C

I saw Dr. Stark for seven years for bilateral knee pain. He treated me with a scope, PRP, and gel…read moreinjections, and eventually performed my bilateral partial knee replacements. I always valued his recommendations, but I was aware that my knees had an expiration date. As my osteoarthritis progressed, the pain became unbearable. When we discussed the possibility of bilateral knee replacements, he hesitated due to my age, believing replacements were typically for patients in their 70s or 80s. However, I knew that this wasn't a one-size-fits-all situation, and I was certain he was the right surgeon for the job. Even though he suggested I seek a second opinion, I knew that would be a waste of time--I was confident in what I needed and had complete trust in his work, competency, and skill. Dr. Stark gave me my life back. Every day I work, walk, or climb stairs, I am grateful to him for restoring my quality of life. If I had to do it all over again, I wouldn't hesitate to choose him as my orthopedic surgeon.

He did not listen to my boyfriend and put cortisone in upper thoracic rather then the rotator cuff…read morewhich is where his pain was. No relief if anything it made it worse.

It's been quite a journey!…read more I've been on workers comp for over one (1) year and during that time have had a series of physical therapy related treatments -I was transferred out of the Sharp occupational medicine doctors office because they seemed to give up after not being able to fit me in the "carpal tunnel" box. I was referred out to an Orthopedist. Dr. Afra was the 2nd one I saw and although apprehensive due to my fellow Yelpsters review of him and the office staff, I decided to go with him after reading his bio and my online research of him. In my 1st visit, he provided me more information than I had the entire year in understanding my situation and how to move forward. He did not recommend surgery immediately but took time to have me go through more conservative treatment to see if my particular injury would get better. It didn't. I did end up having surgery after all but only after other options had been exhausted. Post surgery, I can say that although I'm obviously still healing and am not pain free, Dr. Afra is an exceptional surgeon and his guidance and treatment plan was what was best for me. I am continuing to see Dr. Afra for other areas of injury and can at least see a light at the end of this dark tunnel where I felt I may never get better. He IS pretty straight forward and does not sugar coat what he says but I prefer directness when it comes to my health. The entire office staff has been great, including Elvina at the front desk whose also pretty no nonsense, which again, I prefer. She has always been pleasant so I'm not sure why others have had the opposite experience. As far as Dr. Afra being pro-surgery, I came to Dr. Afra's office with him knowing I had previously seen another Orthopedist who didn't think I was a surgical candidate and pretty much wrote me off after 1 visit and a cortisone shot which didn't help me in the least BUT Dr. Afra was still willing to review my case, listen and treat me with surgery possibly not being an option at all. I will update my review as I continue my treatment with Dr. Afra and hope that anyone else who finds their way to him give him a try.

Either answer your phone or get an answering machine. Dr Afra consulted on my daughters broken arm,…read morewas very nice, but a doctors office who doesn't answer their phone all day long and doesn't have an answering machine is unacceptable.

I was having intense nerve pain. Dr. Amory Jr referred me to Physical Therapy. Marc Garber and…read moreBehzad Faridani helped me with an exercise plan, worked with me to assure that I did the exercises correctly. I'm able to do my daily activities now. Thanks to all of you. I'm still putting in the work to be strong and pain free.

Orthopedic Specialists of North County - Dr. James Layson & Team…read more I truly can't say enough about my experience with Dr. James Layson and his medical assistant, Danielle. From the start, Dr. Layson showed incredible flexibility in seeing me quickly and took great care in evaluating my condition. What impressed me most was his diligence--he even ordered additional imaging right before surgery to fully understand the extent of my patella fracture. That extra step gave me confidence, and I know it made a difference in the outcome of my surgery. Danielle was consistently attentive, professional, and kind, making the whole process much less stressful. I also want to recognize the Carlsbad Surgery Center, where my procedure took place. Every single person I encountered was warm, informative, and supportive. They made me feel comfortable at each step, explained everything clearly, and followed up with a thoughtful note after my surgery. That personal touch meant a lot during recovery. I'm deeply grateful to Dr. Layson, Danielle, and the entire surgery center team for their expertise and compassion. They turned what could have been a very difficult experience into one where I felt cared for and supported at every step.

As a former dental specialist in private practice and now as his patient, I consider Dr. Skyhar the…read moredefinitive choice for orthopedic care. My background allows me to appreciate the high level of clinical precision he brings to his work. He was remarkably meticulous in identifying the source of my shoulder pain and limited mobility, delivering a diagnosis that was both accurate and actionable. Furthermore, he excels at communication, explaining complex medical alternatives in clear, layman's terms. I was also particularly impressed by his technique; I experienced zero discomfort during the administration of a cortisone injection. What truly elevates my confidence in Dr. Skyhar is his distinguished history of medical leadership. Having served as Chief of Staff at Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas, he was responsible for leading the medical staff and serving as the primary liaison for clinical excellence. His tenure in this executive role focused on: Elevating Patient Safety: Overseeing hospital-wide protocols to ensure care met the highest safety benchmarks. Defining Surgical Quality Standards: Setting the agenda for surgical best practices and ensuring staff adhered to rigorous quality metrics. Clinical Governance: Leading the Medical Executive Committee to maintain the hospital's status as a regional center of excellence. Dr. Skyhar's commitment to these high-level standards--further evidenced by his past roles as Chief of the Department of Surgery and Physician Leader for the Scripps 'System of Excellence'--translates directly to the high-quality treatment he provides in private practice. I highly recommend him to anyone seeking an orthopedic leader who masters both the science of surgery and the art of patient care.

Two months ago, I had a really bad fall and dislocated my shoulder. To make a long story short, the…read morefirst orthopedic surgeon I saw completely misdiagnosed me and refused MRIs as he said they were not necessary he knew it was wrong with me. He had indicated I might need a full shoulder replacement and then referred me to PT. For two months I have been at a pain level of 9+ and have not had any sleep. I finally had to demand MRI imaging because the pain was so excessive I needed to find out what was really going on. His office also totally messed up the request for the MRIs and I had to go twice. Another delay and more pain. I knew I needed a second opinion and was referred to Dr. Skyhar by two friends, and I have to say was one of the best decisions I've ever made in my life. He is one of the most caring and intelligent doctors I have ever spent time with. He reviewed the MRIs slide by slide and explained in detail what each slide was showing. He determined that I did not need to have any kind of surgery and that my pain that I was experiencing was neurological in nature. He even explained the MRI report by the radiologist that to be honest was not written correctly. He is a wonderful doctor. He is a kind and loving person and I cannot thank my friends enough for referring me to him. My husband said OK. we now know any orthopedic issue that we have guess where we're going: to Dr. Skyhar. His staff are absolutely lovely people truly a blessing to find a medical professional that really is truly an expert.

Dr Cooperman has been my orthopedic MD for about 5 years. He's caring, knowledgeable, and…read morepersonable. I highly recommend him and have sent my friends and family to his practice.

Dr Cooperman is a very nice person. unfortunately his staff does not communicate. After several…read morecalls over a 3 month period I never received a response. I spent a great deal of money and ended up with another Doctor starting all over.