I've been a patient of Dr. Sponzilli's for nearly 10 years. Throughout this entire time, I've always found him extremely professional and competent. He takes time to listen to my condition updates, then discusses any new possible procedures/medicines. While my condition is age-degenerative and not really "curable", he has continued to find the proper balance of injections and medications to significantly lessen the chronic pain. Recently he added a new RN/Associate to his team who is both very communicative and compassionate, thus making the planning, visit and follow-up care function very smoothly. Give Dr. Sponzilli a try, I think you will be pleased with the experience. read more

Sadly, My experience with this office is that there is apparently only ONE person, Veronca who can schedule the procedure I need. I called the office 9 times, over 3 weeks, it was always something, but the best was when I was on hold for 30 minutes and who called through? Sponzelli's office. At that point I had to go to another appointment so couldn't take the call. They didn't even remember/know I was on hold. She was sick, she was with a patient, doesn't retuen phone calls...extremely poor customer service. Makes me wonder about the physician. If his standards accept this from his employees...what are his standards like? I won't know. I requested my doctor give me another referral. read more

I've been almost pain free since the back procedure was done by dr SPONZILLI suffered with chronic lower back pain for over a year my pain level has been drastically reduced since the faucet injection was done by dr sponzilli i would highly recommend this dr read more

Very disappointed with this physician (Sponzilli)! Uncaring and lacks professional principles. Performed an EMG on me with a promise to call me the following day to discuss results. Never called me back despite three follow up messages from me to his message box and his staff for a call back, as per his own indication. All those requests have also been ignored so far, which is over 2 weeks later. He also had me do couple of MRI's there, benefiting from the insurance charges for his office, I assume. I am waiting to get my EMG and MRI results from his office so I can take it to a more responsible physician. read more

I find Dr. Sponzilli extremely competent. I recommend him to anyone who experiences chronic pain. He helped me with pain around my skull and neck. read more

I've had two nerve block procedures done by Dr. Sponzilli to address my cervical spine pain, the most recent yesterday. I find Dr. Sponzilli to be be very professional and competent, plus he always shows concern for my comfort during the procedures. In addition, all of his staff, nurses, etc., at the surgery center, are very professional, and they also demonstrate much concern for my comfort, both before and after my procedure. Elena M. read more

Called for an appt and they had one the following week. They called me a few days later and moved it to September 6; a full month later. They just called again and moved me to October 2nd. Next! read more

Did not care for this guy. I agree with the other posters where Dr. Sponzilli was very rude. I came in to see what my options were now that medicine and technology have advanced since my accident in 1982. I was paralyzed from the waist down after being run over by a truck and regained mobility with heavy spasticity preventing me to walk correctly. I went to see him and he told me I walked funny. I really wanted to tell him that I've only hear that coming from 4 year olds but blew it off thinking he might be trying to break the ice, but no, he wasn't. He told me 3 options he thought of and would not allow me to ask questions as I thought of them. He would continue talking over me and in the end he said the only thing he could do for me was write me a liver test and a PT prescription. He did not offer and referrals or recommendations of who to see next and told me to go research on the internet the 3 options instead of discussing them with me. He told me I had been through the worst already and I told him "Ya now I am just a guinea pig in a lab" I later went to another doctor who recommended me back to the Mt Tam Spine center to see a different doctor there which Dr. Sponzilli could of brought in for the appointment the day I was there =X read more

Dr. Sponzilli is the worst doctor I've ever encountered. Although he came to the waiting room to greet me, he never said who he was. His attitude that I was already supposed to know continued throughout our encounter. He left the exam room at one point and didn't come back for 15 minutes. I asked him to go over the radiologist report with me, but his response was "there's nothing here you need to know." I asked what terms meant, especially those in bold that indicated need for attention. He dismissed my question and left the room again. I waited another 15 minutes when I inquired of his assistant where he was. She responded with sarcasm and said my appointment was over. read more

Dr Spinzelli is a fine doctor but the front desk staff is a nightmare I called up to let them know I would be late due to some heavy rains . I was left on the phone for 15 minutes to let them know I'd be late I arrived there 17 minutes late and they would not see me I had driven all the way from Lagunitas with an aching back I am only allowed to be 10 minutes late they said yet I have waited a half hour to an hour to see the doctor many times Boooo to the front deck read more

Dr. Sponzilli is great. He is honest and straightforward, explains all of the options, and the one time I've had an injection from him it was painless, quick, and easy. I feel very confident with him, which is important when it comes to your spine. My PCP told me when she first sent me to him that she had heard from others that they didn't like his bedside manner, and some reviews here seem to indicate the same thing, but I don't know where that comes from. His personality is a bit quirky, but in a good and interesting way. I wish that people would not use Yelp to review a front desk or other operational feature under the name of a specific health provider. It can really throw others off. Sure, this is a big facility with lots of room for improvements in efficiency, but you can't hold that against the individual doctors who work there. If you want to give Mt Tam Ortho a bad review there is a separate web page for that.... read more

I have had two nerve block procedures to my lower back done by Doctor Sponzilli. The latest was this morning at 9:00 am. For both procedures Dr Sponzilli met with me before hand and explained the procedure in full. He also made sure I was comfortable, and checked to see if I needed anything. During the procedure, he informed me of the steps he was taking. I was offered to be sedated, but chose not to, so he made sure that if anything mildly uncomfortable was coming up, he let me know. He is an excellent Doctor and I will always request him for further procedures. Thank You Doctor Sponzilli. read more

He's great!!! So happy to be i see his care. My only reservation is that's the administrative office still has not called me back to schedule my shot appt. But the doctor is wonderful read more

Dr Sponzilli from the greatest dr I have ever seen, he was my aunt's Dr from 2010 Till she past away this year. He is amazing patient , she had Alzheimer, she was Rude to him, she went through 7back surgery ,she wasn't able to walk to the restroom, once he treated her from first time at his clinic , she walked back and forth at his clinic. He was very gentle . I think any reviews here to put him down, I think someone behind it, to fight his success. read more

Ernest H Sponzilli, MD - Our cute kitty. - Sports Medicine Near Me - Larkspur, California

For seven or eight years I saw Dr Sponzilli for sciatica and his course of treatment was incredibly helpful it relieved major pain without recourse to painkillers for several years. I would also commend Dr Byers who eventually did what by that time was necessary surgery. In fact two years prior to surgery he suggested one more try at the treatment rather than surgery which he said is the last resort. He was right, didn't need it for two more years when another vertebrae went belly up. I likened it to a mechanic saying "I don't need to rebuild your engine, just replace this $20 part." How often does that happen. Incidentally the surgery was successful and I no longer suffer from it. I was 68 at the time and am now 74. I heartily recommend both these doctors and all the staff at Cal Orthopedics, Everyone was great. Gerry Tucker read more

I have been been under his care for a few years, and he has been excellent, kind, professional and compassionate. I highly recommend Dr. Sponzilli read more

I took my son to see Dr Sponzili following a whiplash injury. Dr Sponzili was very condescending, telling my son to stop "babying" his injury. He even told him to start running, jogging, doing exercises while other doctors following my son told him to not do any physical activity! He didn't show any empathy when my son told him he has neural pain. Instead he prescribed a steroid and told my son to stop the Neurontin he had been on for weeks wothout tapering it. My son's neurologist warned us to not stop this medication abrupty but to taper it down! This was a very discouraging appointment and I DO NOT recommend Dr Sponzili to anyone. read more

Before seing this guy (Dr.?), I should have read the reviews First, AND,listened to my Dr.!! Could have saved myself 3 exspencive Tests for my Lower Back, (Xray, MRI and EMG). Never before have I met up with a Dr. being sooo rude, and showing no interest for my problem. After the final appointment with him, first questions were; how is my RIGHT LEG (??) and what did I think of the MRI report (?). And here I thought that it was the Dr.'s place to inform me about the results???? He finally circled the different problems on the written report, crossed his arms, gave me 3 Options. Surgery, Cortosone shot or medication. Than he asked ME what I wanted to do?? Hey Doctor..come again?? You are the professional, you tell me!! With a motionless face and sarcasm he had evasive answers, like: the cortoson shot is given by him, the surgery is performed in the hospital, and than there is medication for pain. With this I came to a dead end with him. I had no faith in what he presented to me and left. For him being quote, a "Doctor" is really a JOKE. AMEN!! read more

I sat in on Dr. Sponzilli's appointment with my husband for his back problems. #1: The Dr. showed a high level of competence. He got right to the point, described the problem areas of my husband's back my on films and x-rays we brought. He also gave positive advice to my husband how he could improve his posture without surgery or pain pills, (my husband is 73). The Dr. offered an injection procedure for pain, but decided, based upon current symptoms that was not necessary. He gave my husband a PT referral and even showed him what he wanted him to do. I thought he was excellent and so did my husband. I would go to him and highly recommend him. When we see our Drs. we expect a wait--that is why it is called a waiting room. read more

I am a physician who has suffered with cervical pain for many years after an accident. Dr. Sponzilli first injected lidocaine to prove efficacy, then performed diathermy destruction of sensory nerves which has markedly improved the pain although it is still managed with analgesics. For me his skill was remarkable and I did not experience any lack of professionalism. read more

I had an appointment with Dr. Sponzilli for a spinal cortisone injection which I was ambivalent about. He took the time with me to review the MRI and told me that in my case it really was optional. When I decided to not have the injection, he took further time to review some of the rehab exercises I had been doing. I felt that I was treated in a very professional caring and thoughtful manner. read more

First, this is a BUSY BUSY place so yes, I can see where people take issue with trying to communicate with the front desk. In the end, Dr. Sponzilli worked magic with my mom, performing a spinal procedure that took away a lot of pain. He was very compassionate and understanding of an elderly woman and also took into account my input as family. She loved her experience with the surgery staff for the nerve block and they all took very good care of her. read more

Dr. Sponzilli has great bedside manner. Friendly, concerned and professional. I am extremely grateful for his help in managing my pain!

I had a 10 AM appointment. I downloaded the intake forms and arrived about 15 minutes early as per instructions. I got to the waiting room at 9:55. I was not taken to an examining room until 10:20. A nurse came in and said that I required an X-ray. I informed her that I had been a Mt Tam patient about 4 years ago and had an MRI with me at the time. She ostensibly went to find the MRI and never returned. I waited 12 minutes and she never returned. At 10:40 I got up got up and left. I have an expectation that when I make an appointment more than two weeks in advance, I will be seen by the doctor shortly after the appointed time. The attitude in this office seems to be that my time has no value; Dr Sponzilli is "god" and will deign to see me at his convenience. I will not return to Mt. Tam Orthopedics. If this all seems petty, I made this appointment because I was in pain and expected that Dr Sponzilli would attempt to find the origin of my pain. No joy! read more

Dr. Sponzilli is a very gifted provider. He has helped me with lower back pain twice (I've had epidurals in his office twice, which negates the need for heavy sedation). He helped me with a pinched nerve in my neck (unrelated). He's compassionate, he listens and he's extremely experienced. I am very grateful to be able to see him. read more

Dr. Sponzelli was my work comp doctor (not by my choice) and he was extremely condescending and rude from the first time I met with him. Furthermore, he misdiagnosed a very apparent shoulder tear (rotator cuff tear) and stated I had tendinitis! He injected me with very painful cortisone shots which in fact made me worse! Since I'm only 34 years old and never been injured before I decided to get a second opinion. The second and third doctors both stated "a first year medical student would have known I had a tear and not tendinitis!" since it was very apparent from the MRI. The last time I saw Dr. Sponzelli which was several weeks ago he screamed at me in the exam room and accused me of being a "dishonest" patient. Mind you this is AFTER he's misdiagnosed me and been informed of it by the other two physicians. He also refused to fill out my long term disability paperwork which was his duty as the treating physician to do. I had been warned about him by another friend and former patient of his and should have listened to her prior to allowing this jerk to mistreat me for over a year. I am seriously considering reporting him to the medical board. Lastly, when I was waiting for him in the room he was shouting at another patient to quit interrupting him! I have never been treated more unprofessionally by any physician! read more

Dr Sponzilli is a short little guy who's rude, condescending, impatient, mean, an extremely poor teacher (he explains things very poorly and hates it - he seems to view his job as a)TELL you what you have b)TELL you what your options are c) get you out of his sight as fast as he can if you dither with the options or choose one that isn't something he himself treats, Plus, he appears to be one very very unhappy person - when he administered nerve tests over the course of a half hour or so, during which I said absolutely nothing, he was throwing the equipment and wiring about - very rushed, intense, miserable, short, unhappy little man with a nasty disposition. All 3 experiences were unnecessarily ugly.- do stay away from this guy if you can. read more

Avoid this doctor at all costs - there are others nearby that are far, far better. He redefines "poor bedside manners". He doesn't explain the situation properly, but demands answers from confused patients. He does not respond to questions, but instead interrupts habitually, so that questions cannot be posed. He takes no time to assess the patient's condition. After months of seeing him, I'm worse off than when I first walked in the door. read more

I went to see Dr.Sponzilli for back pain that was undiagnosed. I found him to be professional, patient, and respectful. He took his time determining what was wrong and explained exactly what he thought the problem was. He answered all of my questions - which were quite a few- and gave me suggestions on how to prevent injury in the future. Overall, I found him to be a good doc. read more

I saw Dr. Sponzilli for a nerve conduction study. I thought he was great. He was caring and friendly. The nerve conduction study called for me to be pricked with needles and pulsed with electricity and he was as gentle as possible and kept checking in with me to let me know what he was going to do and asking how I was doing. I had a good experience with him. read more

I had laser surgery performed by Dr. Sponzilli and found him to be very professional and the surgery made life great for about 4 years. While he is very serious in his manner I like that in someone who has my life in his hands. read more

My 15 yr. old daughter recently had a sporting injury with her back. Dr Sponzilli and Nurse Lauren were absolutely wonderful in helping her to get better. She had a 4:00 appt and by 5:00 we were at a brace specialists getting fitted for a special brace. After wearing for 8 weeks, she still wasn't feeling 100%. They got her in right away, always answered all of our questions and were just fantastic. She is now doing much better, and we are thankful to this office. I would recommend DR. Sponzilli and his staff to anyone of my friends or family members. read more