Dr . Nelson, relieved my carol tunnel pain. I am able to sleep at night. Before my surgery,I would wake up at least twice a night with my hand pain. Dr.Nelson is a fantastic surgeon and person. read more

Dr Nelson performed bilateral carpal tunnel surgery on my hands. After only 4.5 days of rest, I felt well enough to head back to work (office job). I took 0 Vicodin. I've still had some lingering discomfort over the months after surgery, but it would be strange not to have that, given that surgery involved healing my hands by first cutting them open. It was no big deal doing both hands at once - actually was a good excuse to binge-watch Netflix for a few days. Just keep those arms elevated above your heart to help them drain and lessen the swelling. Dr Nelson and his staff care about us patients; he has taken the time to create a very informative website but will also patiently answer any questions you may have. If you've been experiencing hand numbness and pain, I would highly recommend a visit with Dr Nelson. read more

Dr. David L Nelson is an exemplary physician in all respects. One of the things which truly impressed me about him is that shortly after I called to make my initial appointment he called me back to discuss my situation/problem while at a local hospital waiting for his wife to recover from surgery. An immediate callback from any physician in this day and age is quite rare, and that he did so while tending to his own wife's medical issues was above and beyond the call of duty. Dr. Nelson takes the time to understand his patients and to explain to them their condition and how he plans to treat it. He also has a great website with a lot of useful information and is active in local organizations for hand physicians/therapists. He's full of energy, loves his job, and loves his patients. You can't ask for better in this day and age of corporate, insurance company-driven medicine. read more

Not only is he a good a surgeon, he listens to his patients, even when you are late (oops!). He dedicated ample time to explaining my condition, the procedure he proposed to treat it and guided me through every step of the treatment. He treats you like an equal, like a partner, the way it should be, so different from other physicians that pretend to be listening and are thinking about who-knows-what... or think that you won't be able to understand what is going on and do not "waste" their time getting to know you as a whole person. His assistents are kind and proffesional. By the way, my hand is great! read more

Excellent hand surgeon. Very nice person and dedicated to his profession. He is passionate about helping people. Very high standards. I'd recommend my Mother to this man! j.shelhart Larkspur Ca. read more

Suffering a fractured wrist I had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Nelson and his wonderful staff. His professionalism and expertise is unmatched. He is caring and bends over backwards to make sure you receive the finest treatment to a speedy recovery. He has a great sense of humor that puts you at ease. Most doctors these days are only concerned about stacking patients up for the day, not this doctor. He really cares to help the patient regardless of time. If you are looking for an orthopedic hand surgeon, this is your doctor. Demi H. read more

I saw Dr. Nelson after I fractured my hand during a vacation hiking mishap in Hawaii. He was very professional, took the time to explain my options for treatment and was respectful of my choice. I have been going back for follow-up every week and he sees me on time and doesn't rush through the visit, which is great. My questions and concerns are always fully addressed and I can recommend him without hesitation. read more

Dr. Nelson is AMAZING!! Such a passionate care giver and excellent clinician. He is a rare find as he genuinely loves what he does and it shows. He went above and beyond to explain, ask, examine and discuss. He is fun and interesting too. I want everyone to know about Dr. Nelson and experience his care. I can recommend with pleasure. What a find! read more

I just saw Dr Nelson for follow up of a badly dislocated finger that wasn't healing as well as I'd hoped. I wish I had gone directly to him after being cared for (well) at the ER in Marin General Hospital. Instead I was referred to a plastic surgeon for follow-up a week or so after the injury. Dr Nelson was very thorough, showed me clearly what was going on in my x-rays, and gave me advice about doing "self-physio", which I wish I had been shown a couple of months ago! I found him personable, professional, and yes, a bit quirky, but that was fine with me. He is clearly passionate about what he does. read more

Dr Nelson was very helpful with my injury. He immediately knew what was wrong with my hand and quickly treated it with antibiotics. Less than a day later, I was already feeling so much better! He is extremely experienced and made me feel very comfortable. Very nice guy and a great doctor! read more

Dr. Nelson is a gem! He is compassionate, caring, knowledgeable and thorough. He really cares about patients and obviously loves his work. He took time to explain everything to me about my injury and the prognosis for recovery. He answered all my questions. I never felt rushed. His staff is also terrific. I would highly recommend him to anyone who needs a hand surgeon. read more

My husband had a growth in a joint of one finger; of course it was very uncomfortable. Dr. Nelson knew immediately what needed to be done, and had a surgery date scheduled before we left the office. Dr. Nelson is a pro - his handouts answer all your questions for before and after the procedure. On the day of the surgery he was ready to go, and made sure the team working with him was ready. The surgery went perfectly, as has the recovery (just read the handouts). At the followup visit, the doctor took time, again, to explain what he'd done, and the process the finger was going through to recover. The doctor's office is run like clockwork, thanks to Stacey. If you want an expert for your hand surgery, go to Dr. Nelson! read more

As a older woman, a wig designer, and an owner of a very busy practice my hands are everything to me. At this stage of life my hands started with trigger fingers and mobility challenges. I tried cortisone shots with another doctor only to end up at the same place within a few months. I decided to seek out a hand surgeon and found Dr. Nelson. This was my experience during COVID which has put a new spin on how we all do business. From the first moment both he and his receptionist were kind and welcoming. He drew out my hand condition on paper so I could visualize exactly the what and why of what was happening to me. Their attention to keeping both the environment in the office and me safe was really reassuring. The pre surgery information was clear and informative. I was operated on a Friday and was able to return to work with moving fingers the following Thursday. The 1 1/4 inch scar is almost gone in less than two months because it was so finely done. He turned a really scary situation into a total win for me. My experience was awesome. I am very grateful! read more

Really great, warm service. Dr. Nelson is a very interesting man to speak with and his receptionist was caring and always smiling.

Jennifer S. Dr. Nelson is a tell it like it is person. He told me what to expect and what not too....I would much rather someone tell me the truth (without sugar coating it) than to just let me find out for myself. My surgery wasn't painless (as none are) but he made sure that my pain was kept to a minimum. He is thorough in explanation and technique. I look to have a very minimal scar. Also already showing improvement 9 days post surgery. Thank YOU Dr. David L Nelson!!!!!! read more

To say that you he is a magician is an understatement. His expertise, professionalism and genius is very much appreciated by this patient. He explained everything he was going to do, answered all my questions, (and yes, I had a gazillion of them), worked his magic on my contorted and battered wrist and gently held my hand as he whisked me into surgery. I had no pain to speak of and three days after surgery stopped taking the Acetaminophen Arthritis and Aleve as per his pain protocol. No narcotics were ever needed. Even though I consider myself a very healthy being, I marvel at how quickly and painlessly I have healed from his competent surgery. A thank you seems so very inadequate. I am forever in your debt Dr. Nelson. You are the best. Many blessings flowing your way for all that you do for us humans who are lucky enough to come under your care. In gratitude, Elizabeth A. Bloom Another satisfied and grateful patient!! read more

This guy talked about him self for 25 minutes then told me he couldn't help, I got a bill for $334.00...or should I - you did as I use Medicare. read more

Rude! Rude! Rude! Does not listen, just wants to hear himself talk. He gets irritated if you ask questions. I left with no insight into my problem or how to address it. read more

Steer clear! As a medical professional myself, I believe this man is truly 'unbalanced' and should not be in practice. He was rude, demeaning, dismissive, and extremely unprofessional. I've never EVER been treated so badly by any physician. At one point he stuck a syringe deep into the middle of my palm, and I sucked in a breath - he then let go of the syrnge (still stuck into my palm) and berated me for "acting like a hysterical child" (I am 65) This man needs to retire and pursue getting some professional help. He seems to have an ax to grind with women. Really, steer clear. Can't believe he is still allowed to practice. Oh - and after I saw a physician who truly knew his stuff, turns out Nelson's diagnosis was completely wrong. read more

Dr. Nelson did Carpal Tunnel Release Surgery on my right hand on the 16th of December, 2011. Today is the 21st of December. I could not be more please with every aspect of the care that I have received from Dr.Nelson. I have had no pain at all. He explained every detail of Carpal Tunnel, the surgery procedure and the post surgery care of my hand. When I have called him with, he either answers the phone or returns my call promptly When I was at Marin General, where the surgery was done, several times I was told that, "Dr. Nelson is an excellent surgeon", by the staff that assisted with the surgery. My Personal Physician also has a high professional opinion of Dr.Nelson. I have read some of the reviews on Yelp, and do not think that they are accurate at all! To begin with, the vocabulary in 2 of the reviews are similair. I really question if these reviews are legitimate. Dr. Nelson really cares about what he does professionally as a surgeon and a Doctor. read more

I can not say enough good things about Dr David Nelson and his right hand ( no pun intended ) assistant Stacey-- He managed to make me feel completely at ease in a complicated Metacarpal surgery from a nasty fall-- Dr Nelson has a terrific personality answers every question and goes beyond the call of duty making sure everything goes according to plan on the day of surgery. The very best part is NO PAIN- he has a unique cocktail of Pain med's that are synergistic and require no Vicodin at all- this is 90% of the success rate in post operative care. I feel so lucky that he was recommended to me by a wonderful nurse ( and remember they know the best ) read more

Dr. Nelson has been wonderful in taking care of our four year old son's broken arm. He was the one who came to the ER when the other orthopedic doctor "on call" wouldn't. He worked patiently with our little guy doing three resettings over two hours with great attention to his pain and overall fear. Each of our follow-up appointments has been more confidence-inspiring. He has been consistently on time, professional, clear, and is obviously very experienced and skilled in treating these injuries. Our son's injury and fear have been completely treated under his care -- Dr. Nelson has earned our unequivocal gratitude, respect and confidence! read more

Dr. Nelson did bi-lateral carpel tunnel releases on me in 2003. I recently went to him for a second opinion for my elbow which he was gracious enough to do because he specializes in hands. My original orthopedic doc said "there is nothing that can be done" and did no diagnostic tests after I "tore" something in my elbow. Dr. Nelson not only referred me to two specialists but he sent me a 2 page write up of what he believed the diagnosis was - i.e., not tennis elbow. So now I have an MRI set for tomorrow morning and hope to know exactly what's wrong with my very painful elbow. I would highly recommend Dr. Nelson, he is kind, very thorough and I haven't had any issues since my carpel tunnel surgeries. He also knows how to give painless steroid injections. read more

Dr. Nelson is fantastic! He is attentive, compassionate, knowledgeable, meticulous, pragmatic, friendly and diligent in caring for his patients. He will go the extra mile to help you achieve a better quality of life and his care is all-encompassing. He is willing to bridge the gap between any and all your providers to ensure that everyone, including the patient, is doing their very best to ensure that the optimal results are reached. My only wish would be for Dr. Nelson to be my primary care physician, because he's someone you can truly trust with your health and well-being. He's a real gem and I am very grateful for having the privilege to be under his care. read more

I returned from a trip to Europe where I had cut my thumb, but had not seen a doctor. I knew something wasn't quite right, so I called Dr. Nelson's office the day I returned. I had never met him or had reason to contact him, but had heard good things about him. He returned my call and had me come in immediately (that day) and diagnosed a lacerated tendon. He cleared his schedule to do surgery the next day (time is of the essence in this type of injury). The information on his website and the thorough briefing he gave me before surgery allayed my fears and gave me abundant clarity about the injury, the aftercare, and the prognosis. I am now two months out from surgery, and although my thumb and hand are still healing, as you can see, I'm typing and doing most normal things. He is great doctor with a very reassuring bedside manner. I feel so grateful that he and his staff acted so quickly and took care of me so well. read more

If you want an excellent MD/Specialist with a highly efficient office and pleasant staff, this is your guy. Of the 5 appointments I had to address an injured finger, he was always on time and my finger is now back to new. A dedicated doctor who loves his work and has the experience to put him in the top tier of his peers. read more

Dr. Nelson did a beautiful job reconstructing my wrist. I got in a terrible bicycle accident and shattered my wrist into 15 pieces. Dr. Nelson explained that my injury was a "10 out of 10" in terms of severity and seemed genuinely interested and excited about rebuilding my wrist. From day one, he was very accessible - he answered the phone himself in the evening hours several times, spent 30 minutes during our first consult to closely examine my injury, spent another 45 minutes with me several days before the surgery to explain how he would perform the surgery and walked me through my cat-scans and x-rays in great detail. He got me invested in the process to set my expectations appropriately. After the surgery, he called me several times to check in on me. Then we had regular post-operative visits to check on my recovery process. I also must add that he is very focused on research and education. He has taught many hand and wrist surgeons and has conducted significant research on various surgical procedures and pain management. His website is a terrific resource with numerous articles he has authored. Also, both of his office staff (Westine and Nancy) are delightful. After 12 weeks, my wrist is functioning quite well now - which is a minor miracle. Bottom line, Dr. Nelson is an experienced and seasoned surgeon who loves what he does. read more

Dr. Nelson performed surgery on my thumb to re-attach a nerve that I severed at work. He and his staff are truly wonderful care-givers! I first went to my regular clinic after cutting my hand, and they patched it up (not seeing I had severed a nerve) and told me to inform them of progress. After a couple weeks my thumb was still numb, so they recommended a specialist, but she wasn't the right kind of specialist! I finally found Dr. Nelson on my own, and he took worker-comp - I would've gladly used my regular insurance if needed - but that's another story.... Dr. Nelson saw me immediately because it was 4 weeks since my accident, a critical time with such an injury (he's the only one to tell me!). He determined I needed surgery ASAP and his office made it happen within a couple days. My surgery went great, and my thumb is almost back to normal (it's a slow process). I had no pain because Dr. Nelson has his own protocol to reduce post-surgery pain without taking narcotic pain-killers (though he makes them available if needed). I could not have been more impressed with his ability, knowledge, concern, passion, urgency, communication, etc. I didn't know such doctors existed anymore! I owe the use of my thumb to him. A great, fun and charismatic person - thanks again, Doc! read more