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    Erik C Spayde, MD

    3.8 (48 reviews)
    Closed 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

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    Dr. Todd Alamin, Stanford corrective sugery. Thank you Dr. Alamin!!

    Dr. Spayde, I wrote you months ago but you never replied. Or maybe someone intercepted my letter. I came to you with sciatica. Your bilateral fusion crippled me; I could no longer stand up straight or walk normally. My mobility was 70% disabled. I could barely walk and no longer work. I was 73, at 23 comitted to a vegetarian life of health and fitness. I was perfectly healthy and athletic, surfing, rock climbing. I was getting treatment from Dr. Dirkx, seeing Jonathan Rice, but not you, you missed 3 appointments with me. Maybe all of you knew the problem but pretended everything was fine. I lost a new $30,000 Toyota RAV that was almost paid for, and a custom $30,000 Harley Davidson motorcycle. Two custom $7000 acoustic guitars, my $1,000 surfboard, my $2,000 mountain bike, my backpacking equipment, my daughter Sarah who stopped talking to me because she was afraid I was going to ask her for help. I lost or had to sell everything to pay my rent, my $1400 SSI and VA pension was not enough. Every day I was terrified of being homeless. I fell into deep depression and hopelessness. I wasn't physically recovering. Finally, I went to Dr. Thomas Jones who told me the problem was the bilateral fusion. He said, "it's not what I would have done", that it was permanent and irreversible. I was completely devastated. I went to Ram Alluri, MD Assistant Professor of Clinical Orthopaedic Surgery at USC and Luke Macyszyn, MD, FAANS, FACS at UCLA and they also told me the same thing. Your surgery was flawed and the cause of me being permanently crippled for life. Then last October Dr. Todd Alamin at Stanford looked at my x-rays and said, "The problem is Dr. Spayde did it wrong. The hardware is angled 40 degrees forward and totally misaligned with your sacrum. But I can fix you. I'll need to remove that hardware and install new hardware angled 30 degrees back. You will be able to stand up straight and walk again". When he said that I cried with relief and gratitude. The surgery was November 8th, 8 hours and 10- days of rehab. Thank God I can stand up and walk again. It's going to take me a long time to put my life back together. I'll never recover my health, the years I lost, my unlived life, all the things I lost. But I am persistent. And besides all the glowing reports you control I want people to know the truth. James S. 10/17/23

    exactly 6 months post XLIF fusion, artificial disc, 2 bone spur removals and a host of other fun things.

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    Ask the Community - Erik C Spayde, MD

    I think Dr. Spayde is an amazing surgeon but I'm wondering if anyone can answer some billing questions since he is out of network. I'm having a hard time getting a call back for answers. Does anyone have any tips or insight? Thanks!

    I don't have experience with what you're asking although I do know the folks in his office are very nice and can answer your questions specifically.

    I've read a lot about spinal surgery does Dr. Spayde do many neck surgeries or would my husband need to consult with a neurologist?

    Dr. Spayde does do many neck surgeries.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Erik C Spayde, MD

    from the front office staff (Kennedy is amazing) to Morgen, Jonathan and of course the magnificent Dr.

    Mentioned in 10 reviews

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    Modern Orthopedic Spine Specialists

    Modern Orthopedic Spine Specialists

    5.0(7 reviews)
    1.8 mi

    I was referred to Dr. Armen Oganesian's office from my primary doctors office because I was having…read moresevere nerve pain in my lower back and down my right leg and foot. When I called Dr. Oganesian's office I spoke with Christina and she was able to get me into see Dr O's office within a timely manner. Dr. O was very quick to evaluate the urgency of the situation and the level of weakness that I was experiencing in my right leg and foot. Dr. O and his staff have been extremely accommodating and sensitive to my needs and concerns. Dr. O explained this advanced procedure that would have a much faster recovery and healing time compared to my previous back surgery that took me over 4 months to recover. Dr. O perform an endoscopic surgery - discectomy on my lower spine. I was able to go home that same day, where the last surgery in northern CA I was in hospital for 3 days and had a lot of discomfort from the surgery site. This time, it felt nothing like that experience. Friends and family saw me up and moving around within days. Obviously it is still a surgery and I did have to recover and have physical therapy, but this experience with Dr O and his staff really impressed me. They assisted me and my wife especially when I was struggling in pain. I'm in a much better situation now after being treated by Dr O. Having back surgery is a serious matter and I'm not one to jump into surgery unless I feel comfortable with the surgeon and their evaluation, skill and perspective of need for surgery. Thank you Dr O and staff for the high level of care you provided along with support you gave my wife and family pre and post surgery. I am feeling so much relief from pain in my back and leg as I was not able to function at all pre surgery, so it has been a dramatic improvement on how I'm feeling. Thanks for your genuine concern and care for me and my family. Neil Goldberg

    Ever since my serious auto accident life his been filled with challenges but has also been filled…read morewith many blessings. Thank you Dr. Oganesian for performing emergency surgery on me, I am truly grateful for you and your medical team. Dr. Oganesian and his entire medical staff truly care for their patients by being very attentive. They identify patient needs therefore providing the best treatment plan to recovery. Overall Dr. Oganesian's medical practice is outstanding! As a patient you will receive the fantastic care you need for your quality of life; including your well-being. Thank you everyone for your support.

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    Arnau Benet, MD - California Neurosurgical Specialists

    Arnau Benet, MD - California Neurosurgical Specialists

    5.0(8 reviews)
    5.3 mi

    I am forever grateful to Dr. Benet and his entire team, as well as the ICU nurses, outpatient…read moresurgery staff, and surgical staff at Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara. At only 26 years old and in the middle of nursing school, I never imagined I would need a craniotomy. Facing brain surgery was one of the most frightening experiences of my life, not only for me but for my entire family. During such an overwhelming time, Dr. Benet gave us something priceless: confidence, trust, and peace of mind. I truly could not have asked for a better surgeon. After my surgery, Dr. Benet personally sat with my family for nearly 30 minutes, carefully explaining everything and answering their questions. With a large family gathered and understandably terrified, his compassion, patience, and confidence reassured every one of us. It was clear that he genuinely cared not only about my outcome but also about the people who love me. The level of skill and care I received was extraordinary. Recovery is different for everyone, but I honestly believe that finding Dr. Benet was one of the greatest blessings in my journey. I woke up after surgery feeling far better than I ever expected, and my recovery has continued to exceed my expectations. Just two and a half weeks later, I am already back in nursing school--exactly as Dr. Benet predicted. That outcome felt impossible when I was first facing surgery, yet here I am because of the exceptional care I received. Thank you, Dr. Benet, for your expertise, your compassion, and for giving me the opportunity to continue pursuing my dreams. I will never be able to fully express how grateful I am. You and your team changed my life, and I will carry that gratitude with me forever. From myself and the entire Puentes family, thank you for giving us comfort during one of the most difficult moments of our lives. We will never forget the exceptional care, kindness, and support you provided. Your impact on our family goes far beyond the operating room, and we will be forever grateful.

    Dr. Benet and his amazing NP Christina were beyond wonderful from the first moment I met them…read moreduring my father's head injury related bleeding around his brain. Dr. Benet took the time to come in to see us in the ER after having performed 4 surgeries that day, in order to give us a very detailed explanation of what was going on and what needed to be done to fix it. He took his time and answered all of our questions and did not leave until we were calm and confident that we were in very capable and loving hands. This was priceless for me and my family during a very devastating shock. My family and I are so very grateful to Dr. Benet and his NP Christina, for all that they do and for bringing a much needed high level of care to our community and Los Robles Hospital. We are indeed so lucky to have them. Forever and ever grateful! Bana Zarrabian

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    Arnau Benet, MD - California Neurosurgical Specialists
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    California Institute of Neuroscience

    California Institute of Neuroscience

    4.6(18 reviews)
    1.9 mi

    Made an appointment a week and half ago. Told them I have records I can bring in during that call…read more The front office girl whom I can't even understand said it was ok and that they would request the records from my doctor. I had an appointment today at 11am. I call 10:45 because my televist link wasn't sent. That's when I found out that my appointment was canceled because they did not have the records. I also cannot get an appointment until June because Dr. Martin will be out doing surgeries all of May. How do you run a business like this? This is the worst experience I have ever had with the healthcare system. Some people are not meant to be doctors.

    This surgeon is in my opinion a very incompetent, and dangerous man. No one should submit to…read moresurgery by him. I have photos of at least 9 lawsuits by patients families that their loved ones either died or seriously harmed at his hand. I have reported him to the CA Medical Board but everyone is covering up for him, Dr. Death. He operated out of several hospitals but not an employee of these hospitals. He has so many different names, so many different websites, you get the picture. Some of the names are: California Institute of Neuroscience, Inc., California Brain Institute, Inc. Cineuro.org. Also, he goes by several different names. Very sketchy. He even lost the part of my brother's skull during a surgery that he botched, where my brother eventually died. He pretends he is the best in the world, but look out. The problem is most people don't have time to google him or do a deep dive as their loved ones are in the emergency room with brain injuries, that need immediate care. But you can find all this information on Unicourt.com or Trellis.com, that shows you how many people have been injured by his surgery. This needs a below a one star review, it should be a minus one thousand.

    Anthony A Virella, MD

    Anthony A Virella, MD

    3.0(28 reviews)
    7.4 mi

    Thanks to Dr. Virella, my debilitating back pain is now completely gone!!!…read more Having had chronic lower back issues for decades, I had previously tried chiropractic care, acupuncture, physical therapy, and epidural shots to alleviate the pain. While some of these treatments temporarily helped me, the pain kept returning until it became unbearable. After watching my friend recover brilliantly from her back surgery performed by Dr. Virella, I bit the bullet and scheduled my own two level lumbar laminectomy last February. I'm beyond thrilled with the results, and wish I had scheduled the surgery sooner! Mina, Dr. Virella's amazing office manager, effortlessly steered me through all the necessary paperwork, helped me prepare for my recovery, and calmly answered zillions of questions. (Sorry Mina!) Dr. Virella and the other staff who were involved with my surgery spent a lot of individual time with me before the surgery, explaining what their roles were, and what exactly was going to happen. They were all so kind and reassuring, I wasn't nervous at all before the procedure. The first few days post surgery were quite painful, but I was stunned that I no longer needed any pain medication at all after just six days--not even Tylenol. I continued to improve daily, and my recuperation really ramped up when I started physical therapy. After 12 weeks of P.T., I felt stable enough to begin riding my horses, and felt strong enough to hike with my three big dogs. It feels so amazing to have my active life back again! I couldn't be more satisfied with this surgery, and owe the success to Dr. Virella. I'd highly recommend this skillful surgeon and his wonderful staff to anyone who wants to alleviate their back pain once and for all.

    Hi Everyone ! I had my lower spine surgery on Oct-18-2022…read moreand I will like to thank Dr. Virella because he and his crew did a wonderfull job ! I'm so happy that I'm recovering very good and I feeling stronger every day. My therapy sessions Nov-16-2022 to Feb-06-2023 and those help me a lot with the recovery. I still have precautions of no heavy lifting, no twisting and no bending until Dr. Virella approves it and just keep walking to fortalize muscles and give the time for the bones to get fusion. I sincerelly recomend Dr. Virella for your spine surgery, he is a very ethical and professional surgeon.

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    Anthony A Virella, MD
    Anthony A Virella, MD

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    Ian Armstrong, MD

    Ian Armstrong, MD

    3.3(7 reviews)
    1.9 mi

    Dr Armstrong is a fine surgeon, The BEST. I do not live even…read moreclose to Thousand Oaks but to have him as ones surgeon it is worth the long drive. He removed a cyst/tumor which had wrapped itself around my sciatic nerve. I was ready to dance the day following surgery! In January Dr Armstrong performed a fusion between C5 and C6 . Again, his work was spot on. And the scar is almost invisible.

    This office is a mess…read more They don't return phone calls. They don't call your insurance to get approval for scans. You have to call them over and over again to try to get them to do their job. After months, yes! MONTHS, I finally gave up and took my medical care somewhere else. As for Dr. Armstrong, you get the standard "let's look at your scans" examination. He might be s good surgeon, but he is not good at diagnosing a patient who doesn't have an obvious mechanical issue. As for relying solely upon scans which the patient is lying down, when are doctors going to start listening to their patients and realize that maybe all of these scans they order with their patients lying down aren't showing the complete picture, especially when the pain occurs upright and with certain movements. Because his office never called my insurance to get approval for the scans Dr. Armstrong ordered ( four of them!) I took my problems elsewhere. Fortunately, the new neurosurgeon I went to didn't need to order more expensive, stressful scans because he was able to diagnose my problem with the MRI/X-rays I had done previously. Although I am not happy with my diagnoses, at least I have one, and can have a plan to get a handle on my pain issues. My time and money were wasted with Dr. Armstrong.

    UCLA Health Thousand Oaks Primary & Specialty Care

    UCLA Health Thousand Oaks Primary & Specialty Care

    2.8(128 reviews)
    2.3 mi

    My internist there is qualified and highly reputed. I like her! But NOT the UCLA system, or any…read moresimilar corporate systems. I need a dr without a "call center". Another downside, for me, is that when they order any kind of test, the order has an expiration date in a week or two. I'm a senior, don't drive, and suffer from fibromyalgia with severe fatigue. All the orders from my independent drs are good for 6-12 mos! I'm guessing that large medical corporations serve a wider variety of clients, often across the entire country, so some are unreliable and do things without discussing with their drs, ergo the corporate CYA policies. Ok, but that's not me, and the independent drs I've always seen know that. Computers do not. I'm now 65 and the doctors I was with for 25+ years straight are retiring sadly. Or going "concierge" style. I got a phone message saying that my dr won't be in the day my next appt is set after all. AGAIN!! ! Each time it's ANOTHER 3-4 months before they can fit me in. Because of my fatigue added to being a lifelong "night owl", I can only do afternoon appts. I can't get to sleep until at least 3 am most nights. I also had to change my phone's "do not disturb" settings because UCLA calls at 7 am. All my life I have been taught it's rude to call others at home before 9 am. So I never get to talk to the office or person that called, since when I call back it's routed to that call center. Extremely impersonal. No one there has ANY medical training, not even receptionist level, all they do is look for open spaces on a computer screen. No empathy, and zero offers of any other way to schedule an appointment or ask a question- you have to push for any of that. When I use the app, I can interact directly with my dr's office, but it's still a series of steps from who reads my message, to a nurse or other medical assistant, to the dr, then back to me. This leads to very poor information sharing. I prefer a much more individualized approach.

    Not only were they not helpful over the phone, but they didnt listen to what I was coming in for,…read moreuninsured. AN ULTRASOUND of my thyroid. They made my appointment, I walked in and I had to pay before services were rendered which is ALWAYS a nasty business tactic. When the doctor came in she said they dont even have ultrasounds there. She admitted that this was a waste of my time and money and nothing could be done moving forward. I walked out. PISSED. paid close to $200 for a person in a white coat to tell me they did not have the proper equipment for the need I had. THEN WHY CHARGE PEOPLE!!!! arent there rules for this??????

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    UCLA Health Thousand Oaks Primary & Specialty Care
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    Erik C Spayde, MD - spinesurgeons - Updated August 2026

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