Dr Macyszyn and his team are the absolute best. Met with him and staff several months ago. He took quality, unrushed time to review imaging, reports and walk me through what his approach to my case would be and why. After my consultation he insisted that I contact him directly with any additional questions. The only board certified, fellowship trained neurosurgeon I met with that told me I did not require fusion and why. Kind, personable, confident, informative, reassuring, visionary with the proven results to back up each of these descriptions of him and his team. After an unexpected delay on my part which he and team took in stride, I am now a week away from surgery and looking forward to it, a speedy recovery and return to painfree life. Look no further, Dr Macyszyn and team are the gold standard in the LA metro for everything spine related. read more

It's not an exceptional business but Dr. Macyszyn is an exceptional, brilliant even, surgeon. Would have remained in a wheelchair if left up to the previous, less confident surgeons, that finally sent me to him. Today I not only walk again, I run, I swim, I dance... read more

Luke Macyszyn, MD - Spine Surgeons Near Me - Marina del Rey, California

Dr. Macyszyn saved my life and I will forever be grateful. I researched a lot of neurosurgeons and met with 4 of them for a tumor on my spinal cord and he was the only one that offered a minimally invasive approach that had me up and walking within two weeks post-surgery. Highly highly highly recommend - really cannot say enough. It's too bad he left UCLA though...sadly, I was not able to get follow up care from him post-op but other than that he is hands down the best choice for a surgeon. read more

Simply put: Thank You, to Dr. Luke, Jenna, Andrew, Darlene, and the entire team at the UCLA Spine Center. Four months of unmanageable back and leg pain forced me to spend days and nights on the floor, counting the hours until my next dose of meds. I wrongly attributed this to a herniated disc, signed up for PT, and found that exercise and stretching made the pain worse. Determined to get a cortisone shot, my primary doc ordered a lumbar MRI, which returned a diagnosis of an intradural schwannoma at L2/L3. Reading the MRI report, looking up the terminology, I suddenly realized I was in bigger trouble that I ever imagined. I have enjoyed tremendous good health my entire life. I was in denial about this diagnosis--I thought it was a mistake--surely it is not a tumor in my spinal cord causing these symptoms! Maybe it was a guardian angel or something . . . sitting at the computer one day, trying to learn as much as possible about this condition, reflecting that UCLA (my alma mater!) has one of the world's best medical programs, I simply decided to do a google search for the terms "UCLA + spine." That search saved my life. I had never heard of the UCLA Spine Center, nor of Dr. Macyszyn, and had no idea of the good fortune that had just come to me. The MRI report was sufficient to get Andrew's immediate attention, and within a week I was scheduled for a consult with Dr. Luke, who communicated that he could do a procedure that would result in complete recovery and restoration of normal function. He displayed humility and ease, and assured me this procedure while dramatic was entirely reliable and proven. I was scheduled for surgery just two weeks later. The procedure was a minimally invasive surgical resection of the tumor and laminectomy that took three and half hours. Gross total resection was completed on July 30, 2020. The next day, I was walking the hallways. The day after that, I was recovering at home. It wasn't easy but every day got better. Six weeks later, it's a complete transformation. There is still some healing going on, and I'm physical therapy to repair and rebuild the muscle and nerve damage this tumor has been causing for years. My life and body and day-to-day activities are totally transformed. Only gradually have I come to realize the tremendous accomplishment this surgery represents. No spinal fusion, barely even a scar. It's a huge miracle wrapped in smaller miracles, thanks to the skill and art and medical genius of Dr. Luke and his team. Every aspect of my experience at UCLA RRMC was first-rate. The office staff, post-op nursing staff and admin team are second to none. This is a profound, life-saving service to me. I can't thank everyone enough. Thanks to Dr. Luke for performing and perfecting such a high-level procedure; to Andrew for making the process so clear and straightforward; to Darlene for consistently checking in and being available with counsel and assistance; to Jenna for recovery planning, a helpful perspective and a confident, comforting manner. And go Bruins! read more

I had a totally 5 star experience with Dr Macyszyn. My surgery for sciatic pain took away all the pain. I told people I had a minor surgery but then I realized a 3 hour back surgery is not minor. My follow up care was excellent. Andrew Barquera was very helpful with coordinating all my care and treatment. He is the administrative assistant to Dr .Macyszyn. Four months later ,I am still completely pain free. read more

I first went to Dr. Macyszyn last June 2023 about spinal stenosis. I had been referred to the practice by my brother who had a successful operation with Dr. Robert Bray (I think the founder of this practice). I was impressed with my initial meeting (I live in Tucson and went to his office in Marina del Rey, CA) as he seemed to be a good listener, kind and knowledgeable. He agreed to operate on my back (I had one other back operation in Tucson which resulted in some nerve damage). Unfortunately in my surgery Dr. Macyszyn encountered spinal fluid leakage. He worked to repair what he described as an extremely difficult issue given the quality of my dura. In just about 2 months after that operation, the spinal fluid leakage popped up again. He decided to do a repair but in the end, he decided that the issue required a different repair approach and included a reconstructive cosmetic surgeon to help close the back wound. So far, things seem to be very good. I still need another surgery to fix an issue in my lumbar spine area due to stenosis. Dr. Macyszyn is cautiously considering that due to the difficulty of that area. Even though I have not yet resolved my spinal issues with Dr. Macyszyn, I do feel I have had the best of treatment from him and his staff. They all deserve top rating for the highest level of professionalism, care, attention and availability. Despite many little emergencies since my first meeting, he has never left me hanging. That really is important to me so that I don't feel totally alone in this journey. No matter what transpires, they are in touch providing direction. He knows what he is doing! Skilled and capable. I feel fortunate. read more

Doing great. Each day getting better. legs working and getting stronger. Thank you Dr Luke and all his staff. You repaired the damage and fixed me up. Looking forward to getting back to the active me . I recommend you to anyone I know that is having back surgery. all of this during the covid pandemic. It was 4 weeks of being bedridden . In isolation. I had some great nursing staff at UCLA. read more

Luke Macyszyn, MD - Spine Surgeons Near Me - Marina del Rey, California

Dr. Macyszyn and his staff and everyone at UCLA are the best! I have a herniated disc and have managed it with exercise for 30 years. I am 64 and starting in the middle of July this year, that no longer worked. It was time for a surgical solution. I was . so lucky to have heard fro a friend about Dr. Macyszyn and went to UCLA for treatment. I live in Las Vegas, Nevada. I had discussed my situation with a couple of surgeons in Las Vegas. I though I should go see Dr. Macyszyn for another opinion. I was very concerned as no one I know in my world ever had a successful back surgery. No one I have ever known! His self created less invasive surgical solution was the perfect solution for me. After surgery I awoke with no sciatica pain and began to take the recommended pain medications. I found that by 1:30 am in the morning after surgery I no longer needed those medications and I managed the surgical pain with Tylenol. Compared to all the sciatica pain in my back and legs before surgery, I had no pain at all. My back is healing well and I am back on track. Dr. Macyszyn is the expert and has made my life so much better and when healed I will be 100% pain free. What more could I possibly want? He needs to be a part of everyone's consideration when surgery is a possible solution for a spinal issue. Thank you very much!! Thank you to a great staff and a great healthcare system at UCLA. everyone works very hard to make sure you have a great experience. All the best to everyone. read more

Dr Luke, quite literally, saved my quality of life. After three years of surgeries and PT, Dr. Luke performed an anterior/posterior interbody lumbar fusion. Two weeks later, I was walking a mile a day without any pain. Luke is not only a gifted surgeon but is one of those rare physicians who can explain technical concepts with simplicity. He is kind and re-assuring. I cannot recommend Dr. Luke more highly. HE'S A TEN, TEN, TEN. --James LaRossa read more

Dr. Macyszyn removed an intra-dural schwannoma (tumor) from my spinal cord last December. He was the only surgeon I spoke to who was willing to do this without removing my lamina completely, which would have required spinal fusion. As I am only 26 years old, the prospect of having screws in my spine for the rest of my life was daunting. As I am only 26, having to undergo a spinal tumor resection AT ALL was terrifying. From my initial consult with Dr. M, I felt immediately at ease. With a refined confidence that never flared into arrogance, he communicated in such a way that implied this impossibly difficult task was something he lived and breathed. He knew his capacity as a surgeon and my body's capacity to heal, and was committed to preventing me from unnecessarily invasive and complication-ridden alternatives. He is one of only a small handful of surgeons using such minimally-invasive tactics for spinal tumor resection. Moreover, he does these procedures - which are statistically rare on a national level - often enough to consistently be reinforcing his unique approach. For something as incomprehensibly scary as having my spinal cord cut open, I trusted him to do it, because I knew I was in the most capable hands. Dr. M was right on about his capacity as a surgeon - without cutting any muscle, leaving an incision just the size of my pinky finger, and only removing minimal bone, he successfully resected the ENTIRE tumor. I woke up a mere couple hours later, tumor-free. I was walking the next day and out of the hospital the day after. I am now fully-functioning, a far cry from the turmoil of constant back spasms, sleepless nights, and inescapable pain I was facing prior to removal. My family thinks of him as our personal hero. I also want to call out Andrew, his coordinator, for incredible compassion and consistent communication. This includes finding me a surgical date ASAP and helping me tackle insurance issues in the aftermath. When I felt like I needed more contact with Dr. M leading up to the procedure, Andrew brought this to him right away. And how did Dr. M respond? By giving me a personal contact and inviting me to reach out any time. For someone as busy as Dr. M, with the kind of revolutionary surgical vision that constantly fills a schedule, this degree of personalized care and investment meant the world to me. I cannot recommend Dr. M enough. Facing the reality of a tumor in one of the most vital parts of your body is an unmooring experience. Choosing Dr. M felt like going into the jungle with someone who'd grown up traversing it, someone who always knows how to lead others out. read more

There aren't enough "thank yous" on this planet for the work Dr. Luke and his incredible team carried out on my mother. Just when we were at our lowest point in my family and my mother discovered a tumor in her brain, this man gave us a miracle. To anyone reading this, rest assured that with Dr. Luke, you're in great hands and he will give you a fighting chance. Thank you, thank you, thank you! read more

In late 2018 I was diagnosed as having an intradural meningioma spinal tumor. Because of the risks associated with removal of the tumor due to its location, I wanted an experienced surgeon whom specialized in surgery in difficult areas of the spine. After exhaustive research, I learned of Dr. Luke Macyszyn at UCLA and requested a referral to obtain his opinion related to my tumor. It was at the referral visit with Dr. Macyszyn that my wife and I met his assistant, Mr. Andrew Barquera. After it was decided that Dr. Macyszyn was going to perform the surgery, Mr. Barquera contacted us to set up a surgery date, provide us the list of preoperative tests to complete before surgery, and his direct contact information for any questions or follow-up we needed. Additionally, Mr. Barquera advised he would assist us with obtaining the necessary clearance for surgery through our insurance provider, Health Net. Two weeks before the scheduled surgery date, our health insurance company notified Mr. Barquera that they were denying the surgery because they believed a surgeon in our medical network was qualified to perform the surgery. Mr. Barquera immediately notified me of the denial and spent a significant amount of time explaining my options. After the conversation with Mr. Barquera it was my opinion that Dr. Macyszyn was the most qualified surgeon to perform my extremely risky surgery. I asked Mr. Barquera if he would assist me with filing an appeal with Health Net. Mr. Barquera agreed and got to work. He compiled all the necessary information for the appeal including a letter from Dr. Macyszyn describing the medical need for the surgery to be performed at UCLA. Mr. Barquera spoke with me over the phone on numerous occasions providing updates on the status of the appeal. He promptly answered countless phone calls and emails that my wife and I sent to him and helped us navigate the health insurance nightmare that we were tangled within. In the end, we were successful in obtaining approval to have my surgery at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center with Dr. Macyszyn. This wouldn't have been possible without the extraordinary assistance provided by Mr. Barquera while serving as an advocate for me in my time of need. It might seem to some that Mr. Barquera was just doing his job, but to me, he went above and beyond what was required of him and earned a debt that I will never be able to repay. Now that my tumor has been removed, I feel stronger and much of the pain that I was in before my surgery has gone away. None of this would be possible without the expertise of Dr. Macyszyn and the extraordinary support provided by Mr. Andrew Barquera. read more

First let me say, this review is long overdue. I first met Dr. Macyszyn a year ago. I was suffering from extreme pain radiating from my spine and down my left leg to the foot. I suffer from degenerative scoliosis. I saw several doctors during my search before meeting Dr. Luke. I, like most, have heard many horror stories of folks who have had back surgeries which have gone bad. I did everything I could do to avoid a surgery. Dr Macyszyn's first comment was he, too, was going to do everything possible to avoid surgery as well. We tried physical therapy and pain management shots but on 11/15/18 we headed into surgery. At this point, I had been in pain for over a year. I was reasonably certain I was going to loose my ability to walk. I woke up after surgery to find that the pain was gone, completely gone. Dr Luke was able to clear the nerve paths on the L3 and L4 nerves on my left side. Thirty days after surgery, I snow skied three days in Mammoth Lakes CA. At 120+ days post op, I feel great. Everyone needs to be confident in the direction their doctor is taking them. If you are not, keep looking. I can say with absolute certainty that if you are in need of a neurosurgeon, you should at least talk to Dr. Macyszyn. I would never let anyone else near my spine. read more

Thank you to Dr Luke and Andrew and the entire team. My surgery on March 14 2019 gave me back my mobility and my joy since I'm no longer in pain. I'm very grateful read more

I have never been treated so poorly by a physician than with this doctor. I was in severe chronic pain from a car accident. I went to see Dr Macyszyn when he was at UCLA Neurology and he refused to even examine me because of my age. I sat in a non air conditioned room for almost an hour and waited while one of the nurses kids ran around yelling. They actually forgot I was there. When I finally was seen he told me I was too young and laughed in my face when I questioned why other neurosurgeons had found the problem of my discs slipping. I came to this doctor as an extra opinion regarding surgery and left completely disrespected. Be wary. read more

Last December some texting dumbass center-punched me from the rear on my bike, and I totaled his Toyota Yaris with my body. Dr. Luke (or Dr. Dreamy, as all the women in my entourage called him) forever married my C4/C5 into a titanium embrace. I really didn't start remembering much for a couple of weeks, but dude put my shit back together well enough that UCLA kicked me out after two days for being "combative". I don't remember any of that either. Did I mention how good looking he is? OMG. All the women were just aflutter over him. He wouldn't let me ride for about four months- said he would appreciate me not messing up that fine work of his. LOL. If you are badly broken, I can't recommend this guy more highly. https://www.uclahealth.org/luke-macyszyn read more

I am still fresh out of surgery but so far I'm super thankful of everything Dr Macyszyn along his team (NP Pastorelli, and their assistants Andrew Barquera and Jasmine Penaloza.) They have all been wonderful. I had a back fusion after back complications from Scoliosis and a car accident at work. Dr Macyszyn was so quick to submit for needed MRI and CT scans where later explained surgery was needed. Without his dedication and the help of Andrew, and Jasmine being prompt with returning calls and or emails my claim and process with insurance would have taken so much longer; they made it happen! Once surgery came, Dr Macyszyn met with me right before to reassure everything was going to be ok. He is well respected and everyone including hospital staff advised me I was in the best hands possible. As I'm recovering, I'm already feeling better and do not have that pain from my injury just pain from any surgery and recovery from bone healing. I've already called for medications as I get better and NP Pastorelli has been on top of returning my calls and after care. I am beyond grateful so far of the care I received personally from Dr Macyszyn, his staff and all the staff at UCLA Hospital. I can never repay you for bringing me back to life. I am forever grateful. read more

Dr. Macyszyn (pronounced Mekwīzin) is a great surgeon. He took great care of me and diagnosed my problem immediately. I have been suffering in silence, getting pain, relief, treatments, epidurals, facet, joint blocks, etc. Dr. Macyszyn was immediately able to diagnose and explain my problem to me, as well as what my possible corrective treatments could be. In this case it was surgery. We began to schedule surgery, and in the middle of waiting for an authorization from my insurance company, I began to have some serious leg weakness. I went to the ER and Dr. Macyszyn had me admitted, as this was a dangerous development. Two days later, on a holiday weekend, Dr. Macyszyn performed surgery (L2 laminectomy with spinal synovial cyst removal). I woke, feeling better, and was able to go home from the hospital later that afternoon. Five days later, I am pain-free, and I'm able to walk standing upright. I had been relegated to using a cane. I would recommend Dr. Macyszyn very highly, because of his skill as a physician, and because of his patience in explaining clearly to his patient what your options are. read more

AH LIFE! with paint's gruesome ...without it: ECSTASY (even without drugs!). So, IF You are so fortunate to meet dynamic and capable Dr Luke M...and he accepts Your case, then Know this: You are in Capable Hands. The Good Lord has endowed him with skills uncommon, even on the WESTSIDE. My own personal experience is so good that it would be over the top to express here. Suffice to say: i Now Walk without pain..when previously every step brought a tear. YAY to Dr M and his entire TEAM (especially those handling the scheduling and the processes) best wishes, barry shore ENJOY! and KEEP SMILING read more

Dr. Macyszyn MD. gave me my life back. I am so grateful. He is extremely skilled and knowledgeable in his field of spinal surgery. I would recommend him to anyone with any type of serious back problem/pain that won't go away with other non-invasive methods such at physical therapy, acupuncture, yoga, palates etc. read more

Neurosurgeons told me that either I could not be helped or that I should resign myself to living the rest of my life with pain. I was not able to walk up steps and had difficulty walking at all because of the debilitating pain in my legs. Fortunately, Dr. Macyszyn performed a microscopic lumbar laminectomy at the L3-L4 region, after diagnosing me with narrowing of the spinal canal, or lumbar stenosis. I am happy to report that I now walk up steps (even though wobbly) and walk without pain just ten days after surgery. I will soon begin physical therapy to strengthen my back so I will not be "wobbly" anymore when walking up steps. As the saying goes, Dr. Luke Macyszyn is the best thing since sliced cheese. In his hands, surgery is worth it to become free from pain! Thanks, Dr. Luke!! read more

I'm really lucky to have found Dr. Macyszyn. I was in shock to learn that I had a tumor in my spine that needed to be removed, but I was fortunate enough to get in to see Dr. Macyszyn quickly. He patiently answered all of my (many!) questions and walked me through what the surgery and recovery would look like. He's everything you want in a surgeon -- very skilled, knowledgeable, kind, present, patient, and a great communicator. I met with another surgeon at a different hospital for a second opinion but quickly realized that Dr. Macyszyn was the one I wanted to do the surgery. During the surgery he and his team were in frequent contact with my family, and he checked in on me every day while I was in the hospital. He was able to completely remove the tumor and I was out of the hospital in two days. Thanks to the minimally invasive procedure that he used it's remarkable how fast the recovery has been. I can't say enough great things about Dr. Macyszyn and the caring support staff. Thanks also to Andrew who made coordinating all of logistics very easy, and to Darlene who checked in on me frequently by phone once I was home. It was all a really positive experience especially given how scared I was after learning about the tumor. read more

This doctor is a genius he had a very tough case to do on my son and he managed to succeed microscopically under unusual circumstances. My son was bedridden and unable to walk for 10 months and after Luke performed the surgery my son was walking that night. He is now 2 weeks post-op and walking without assistance however his legs are weak and the physician has recommended Physical Therapy. My son has very limited back pain from the surgery and I cannot recommend this doctor High Enough. He is a genius in my opinion. He is very kind considerate carrying gentle and an absolutely gorgeous babe read more

Thank god for Dr. Macyszyn and the staff that works with him they were always on top of everything and compassionate the entire way. I had seen a neurosurgeon was not confident with his ability to operate on me. I had a spinal cord tumor and got a second opinion at UCLA with Dr. Macyszyn, and after seeing him I was not letting anyone else perform this surgery on me except him. He took a little longer on the surgery than expected because he takes that extra care to help minimize any potential damage, I was up and walking within two days of surgery and I'm at my three week mark and I feel better than I did before surgery. He is very knowledgeable and skilled at what he does, and it shows by his work. I'm very happy with the outcome of my surgery and would recommend anyone with spine or back problems to go to him. read more

Dr. Macyszyn was my surgeon and I met with him many times. He always seemed rushed and acted like he needed to be somewhere else. I asked a lot of questions and he seemed bothered by having to explain the spinal fusion surgery to me. His assistant Andrew was also very rude and dismissive. If you have other options, take them read more

If I could give Dr. Macyszin a big fat ZERO I would. I called Dr. Macyszin's office for a second opinion regarding surgery on my spine. My daughter saw him and he is a skilled surgeon. However, his office staff NEVER sent me any paperwork regarding appointments, cancellations, or the location of his office. So I was forced to look him up on the internet and I attempted to get to the office myself. My daughter saw him at a separate location which I went to first, unfortunately. I arrived an hour late, however I called three times that morning to let them know. At NO point did anyone inform I needed to reschedule or illuminate his "strict"office policy about tardiness. After driving a HUNDRED miles WITH AN UNSTABLE SPINE I was turned away at the door. He's not worth it. There are plenty of other good surgeons around. And, I BEGGED to be seen offering to wait ALL day if necessary. Nope. So, I limped back to my car for another EXCRUTIATING 2 hour drive home. Jerk. FYI, USC has doctors just as good and they're a hell of a lot closer! P.S. When I arrived at the office I was told that somebody had allegedly called to inform me that I would need to reschedule. I have no missed calls and no messages so that is an untruth. I would have turned around and gone home had I known that I would be turned away at the door to limp back to my car. read more

1 year and 3 weeks, post surgery, (L5-S1 Anterior Fusion) and I feel great! Nearly 100% pain free! Pre-surgery, I could barely walk, and now I can run, hike, exercise, pretty much do anything, pain free! Every day, I think about the journey that it took, to find the best doctor, have surgery, go through the recovery of physical therapy, and taking the time to recover. I am incredibly grateful for Dr Macyszyn. Everything he told me to expect was accurate. I followed his instructions and recovered perfectly. He really gave me my life back! read more

disappointed feel like I was thrown in the pool and cant swim. I need help so desperately

I can't praise Dr. Macyszyn enough! I didn't have a Yelp account before so just getting around to this review now. My daughter was diagnosed with severe scoliosis at 12 years old in June of 2017. We live in the Las Vegas area. While there are some great neuro surgeons here, there aren't any that are specialized in pediatrics scoliosis that I trust. I did my research and spoke to many surgeons out of state. Dr. Macyszyn was recommended to me because he specializes in scoliosis at UCLA and worked with Shriners PA. My husband and I immediately felt at ease with Dr. Macyszyn. This was an extremely scary thing for anyone to think of going through, especially for our 12 year old daughter. Dr. Macyszyn has a great bedside manner and takes the time to explain everything in detail. He genuinely loves what he does and in healing his patients. He has top notch surgical team! My daughter has full fusion surgery from T2-L4,and 8.5 hr surgery on November 16, 2017. He was able to obtain and amazing correction on her curve in her spine! UCLA was great in keeping us informed during her surgery and keeping is comfortable. The PICU is amazing! My daughter is 100% after her surgery. Her post OP when amazing well and her pain was very manageable thanks to Dr. Macyszyn and his team. read more

I went to a neurosurgeon in Las Vegas. He told me I could die, be paralyzed , have a stroke or a heart attack. He barely looked at me. This was after waiting 2 1/2 hrs for him to return from lunch. It was a horrible experience. I decided to become pro active and find a neurosurgeon at UCLA. I sent my CT scan and My MRI to the dept of neurosurgery at UCLA and then In turn they would find the right Doctor for me. The following day I received a call from. Andrew at Dr Macyszyn's office. I told him I would like a consult with the Dr over the phone or I would fly in to meet him. Within a minute Dr Macyszyn got on the phone we talked for a few minutes and I flew In to LA the following week to meet him. The rest is history. He was the most compassionate caring brilliant reassuring Dr I have ever met. I had surgery a few weeks later And now 5 weeks later, other then wearing a neck brace I am doing great!!! Surgery was great and the care was fabulous!!!!! He is the man you would want to do your surgery I can't thank Dr. Macyszyn enough !!! read more