Reviews by topic · Procedures

Disc replacement.
In patients’ words.

Want to hear how patients describe conversations and care involving disc replacement? Read their accounts alongside the faces and profiles of our clinicians, with links back to each review’s source.

33 matching reviews3 clinicians

This collection shows written reviews rated 4 or 5 stars. These are individual experiences. A topic mention does not establish who performed a procedure, medical suitability or a typical result.

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Excerpt

When Dr. Ortega spoke with me about Complete Disk Replacement surgery I was relieved.
MG
Google
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Brandon A. Ortega, MD

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Excerpt

Dr. Bae is really an expert in cervical disc replacement.
SK
Google
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Hyun Bae, MD

Excerpt

My husband and I both had disc replacement surgery from Dr Bae.
RR
Google
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Hyun Bae, MD

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Excerpt

to get x-rays on the two cervical disc replacements I’d had done 3 years ago. He found that one of them was failing.
DD
Google
Reviewer’s Google activity

Sanjay Khurana, MD

Excerpt

Had cervical disc replacement, 2 levels, and I'm about 16 months out now and doing great.
AN
Google
Reviewer’s Google activity

Sanjay Khurana, MD

Read all 12 matching accounts for Sanjay Khurana, MD →

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33 written reviews

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Dr. Bae takes the time with you to give a full explanation of what is wrong and how to address the issues.. Incredible surgeon!!!!!! I am a 10 year patient of Dr.Bae, C4-C6 2 level disc replacement… Just did my follow up and the discs look perfect… All of his staff is just amazing!!!! Just make you feel welcome and relaxed…. I’m referring patients to him he just really is the spine expert…. I’m in music, I refer to Dr. Bae to my musician friends the Eddie Van Halen (Best guitar player) of the spine for his innovative techniques that are changing how everything is perceived on the spine…. Could not thank him enough…
NR
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Hyun Bae, MD

Dr. Ortega has been amazing, life changing!! I was in so much pain by the time I was referred to him, I was barely sleeping, and missing a ton of work because of the pain and feeling off balance. I was initially referred to physical therapy which was helping both my neck and a shoulder condition. I wasn’t understanding how so many symptoms (pain in my arm, fingers tingling, feeling off balance) all stemmed from my neck. When Dr. Ortega spoke with me about Complete Disk Replacement surgery I was relieved. Though the procedure on my neck sounded scary it HAD to be better than how life had been. I was actually excited for the surgery and couldn’t stop smiling any time it was brought up. Surgery day couldn’t come fast enough. Dr. Ortega took time to explain the surgery and what to expect after it. There were literally no surprises. I felt very little pain after surgery, mostly from the incision itself. There was some discomfort in my neck, almost felt as if there was a lump in my throat. This went away in about 6 weeks. I was off all pain meds within days of surgery. I was nervous about swallowing and stuck to a liquid diet for a few days. Swallowing was back to normal with in a week or two, ice pops became a favorite! . My voice was a little raspy for a short time as well, cleared up within a month. I just had my 6 month post-op appointment and I can’t tell you enough how amazing I feel! The pain and tingling are completely gone (went to physical therapy for some time…work the process). I can sleep through the night again! I did have one odd symptom around 3 months post op, when I tilted my head down I felt a static sensation from neck to my fingers which lasted a second. Dr. Ortega was able to see me next day, checked X-rays and everything looked great. My nerves were heeling and the sensation went away after a couple of weeks. I know the thought of surgery on your neck sounds very scary…if Dr. Ortega is your surgeon, rest easy…he knows what he’s doing. He takes the time to explain everything about the surgery (CDR), what to expect after, answered every question I had which eased my mind. He gave me my life back! Thank you Dr. Ortega!!
MG
Google
Reviewer’s Google activity

Brandon A. Ortega, MD

Dr. Bae is really an expert in cervical disc replacement. This is my send consult with him. His staff is very friendly and accommodative. Overall a great experience. Recommend him hihgly!
SK
Google
Reviewer’s Google activity

Hyun Bae, MD

I was in constant pain from a pinched nerve root in my cervical spine and was told by multiple Drs that they wanted to fuse and cage my neck. After meeting with Dr Khurana he told me that he could help me with a disc replacement instead of fusing and caging my neck. I am going on 8 weeks since my surgery and i finally have my life back. the whole staff and the team that took care of me are beyond amazing. thank you Dr Khurana!!!!!
JH
Google
Reviewer’s Google activity

Sanjay Khurana, MD

I went to see Dr. Khurana to talk about the low back pain I’d been having but while I was there he wanted to get x-rays on the two cervical disc replacements I’d had done 3 years ago. He found that one of them was failing. He got me in within a few days, removed the replacement and fused that level, feels great now but could have been bad news had he not been on top of things and ordered the x-rays. His attention to detail is second to none and his team and staff are always incredible!! There is no one I would trust more with my spine!!
DD
Google
Reviewer’s Google activity

Sanjay Khurana, MD

Amazing surgeon, this is the man to trust your spinal health to. Staff is wonderful as well, Marineh was always so helpful. Had cervical disc replacement, 2 levels, and I'm about 16 months out now and doing great. Easy recovery especially compared to other procedures I've had. Dr. Khurana has more of a conservative approach which I appreciate, but he also has the knowledge to know when something will do better with surgery. His bedside manner is wonderful which isn't always the case with surgeons, and he takes his time to explain things thoroughly. Thanks Dr. K and team!
AN
Google
Reviewer’s Google activity

Sanjay Khurana, MD

Dr. Bae and his team were amazing, start to finish. It’s hard to believe that something as complex as Cervical Disc Replacement surgery could be handled so smoothly, and the fact that it was completely an outpatient procedure made it even more comfortable. I’m going to be recovering for a bit but I just had the surgery a week ago and I’m already feeling 200% better. Would definitely recommend Dr. Bae to anyone in need of this kind of procedure!
TT
Google
Reviewer’s Google activity

Hyun Bae, MD

Not enough room to say all of the great things Dr. Khurana and his staff have done for me in the last several years. Multiple lumbar fusions, decompressions, reinstumentations, revisions, cervical disc replacement, the continuing care to get me out of pain. It's an ongoing process with severe degenerative disc disease but every level, every surgery is done with extreme caution and care, keeping what's best for me always in mind. Good people here and I won't go anywhere else!!
DD
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Sanjay Khurana, MD

My husband and I both had disc replacement surgery from Dr Bae. The whole process from the office girls to his assistant to seeing Dr.Bae was a great experience! The surgery was the easiest surgery we ever had! We love Dr Bae, he is happy, friendly and very professional. Our entire experience was awesome.We would highly recommend Dr Bae and his team!
RR
Google
Reviewer’s Google activity

Hyun Bae, MD

I received some pretty upsetting news about my back. I was told I would need a spinal fusion in the future. I was devastated, and immediately started researching alternatives. I learned about disc replacement and researched the top 36 doctors who perform this operation (in the US). After researching, I chose Dr. Bae to consult with - he had innovated in the area of disc replacement, his satisfaction rate was thru the roof, and he seemed very understated in his interview. I set up a consult and he was exactly as I expected! Confident, but not ego-forward. He told me I would be a great candidate for disc replacement, but that I didn't need one. He told me it was way overkill and gave me some ideas and suggestions for treatment if my back started really giving me problems. He also told me I was welcome to visit him at his practice anytime. He could have 'sold' me on surgery - but he didn't. If I ever do need any surgery or treatment in the future, I will definitely be back! Thank you, Dr. Bae!
LL
Google
Reviewer’s Google activity

Hyun Bae, MD

Once upon a time, in the not-so-fairy-tale land of Chronic Painville, lived an adventurous soul (that's me!), who, following an automotive misadventure that would make even a stunt driver wince, ended up with a neck and back more twisted than a mystery novel plot - think C6/7 and L5/S1 playing the lead villains in this spine-tingling saga. Picture this: a disc replacement at C-6 and 7 became my immediate quest, as I was in such excruciating pain that moving my neck felt like I was auditioning for the role of a non-flexible robot. Now, disc replacement surgery at the time was the new kid on the block in the US, strutting down the medical runway with its shiny new potential. Lumbar spine, though? Not so much on the VIP list yet. And fusion? Oh, I'd heard the tales of woe and stiffness - a motley crew of friends still in agony or moving like vintage robots post-fusion had me saying, "Thanks, but no thanks." So, there I was, waiting in the wings, pain as my constant companion, for years, dreaming of the day when lumbar disc replacement would hit the mainstream. And let me tell you, the idea of doctors rummaging around the front of my torso gave me the heebie-jeebies - like, serious "Are you sure you don't need a map?" vibes. But then, as the pain crescendoed to a level of unbearable that had me contemplating a career as a human pretzel, I embarked on a quest to find the Merlin of spine surgery. Enter Dr. Khurana - a wizard, a magician, a veritable rock star of the OR. Initially, he was like, "Hmm, your disc has left the building, and we're talking bone-on-bone - wanna see the MRI to prove it? Might have to go the fusion route, but let's give it a whirl." D-Day arrived, and guess what? Dr. Khurana pulled off the impossible with the panache of a maestro conducting a symphony - no fusion, just pure, unadulterated surgical genius. His team? Angels in scrubs, each more caring and considerate than the last. And Dr. Khurana? A man so passionate about his craft, he could probably perform surgery with his eyes closed (not that he did, mind you - just saying, he's that good). Sure, a year later and I'm still on nodding terms with some residual pain, but it's nothing - a mere whisper compared to the cacophony of agony I endured for years. So here's to Dr. Khurana and his crew - the rock stars of the medical world, who gave me back a semblance of normalcy and taught me that, sometimes, the best fairy tales don't involve princes or dragons, but gifted surgeons with the power to change lives.
MA
Read review on Yelp

Sanjay Khurana, MD

Wonderful care. I had disc replacement C3-C4. My symptoms of shoulder and arm pain are gone. Thank you Sanjay and staff.
RA
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Sanjay Khurana, MD

There is no doubt Dr. Khurana is one of the most talented spine surgeons in the country. However, his talents go far beyond his surgical skills. By way of background, I had an artificial disc replacement at the L5-S1 level. After a decade of countless epidurals and two microdiscetomies, I finally opted for surgery. Everything went as planned. To say “Dr Khurana has been there every step of the way” is a massive understatement. He has called me numerous times post-surgery to ask how I’m doing and walk me through what to expect next from my body during the recovery. I have never encountered such a thoughtful and caring doctor in all my years. You can hear it in his voice and more importantly see it in his actions. I couldn’t be more thankful for what he has done to get me through both my surgery and my ongoing recovery. Now for his staff. I have to thank Jessica and Nancy for making the pre-op process so smooth. They walked me through the process and helped me take care of everything I needed to do prior to the surgery. I have to give a special thank you to Jessica for dealing with my insurance company. It feels like an on-going battle, but I have a feeling all will work out with Jessica fighting by my side. Saving the best for last…I can’t thank Marineh enough for all the support and care she has given me. She is an absolute superstar!! I text or call her almost every day. She answers every time without delay and helps me in any way she can. She inspires a sense of calm and confidence. She embodies the definition of compassion. The long and the short of it is that Dr. Khurana and his staff are hands down the best team in the country. Putting my spine in their hands has been the best decision I have ever made.
MC
Google
Reviewer’s Google activity

Sanjay Khurana, MD

Exceptional, compassionate care! Dr. Khurana is a patient, kind, wildly competent surgeon. He instills confidence. Many great surgeons lack bedside manner. Dr. Khurana delivers in all aspects. 10 days after 3 cervical spine disc replacements, virtually all of my major pain symptoms associated with severe foramimal stenosis are gone. I will be forever grateful to him and his crew. The staff in the surgical center were also truly outstanding. I’ve been told I can be a “tough customer.” I can tell you Dr. Khurana and company far exceeded all my expectations-which were high to begin with! May all the good Dr. Khurana and staff do come back to them in abundance…
JJ
Google
Reviewer’s Google activity

Sanjay Khurana, MD

Incredible results from an incredible spine surgeon! Dr. Hyun Bae possesses a completely different level of understanding and surgical skill-set that elevates him well above his peers in his field of expertise. Just look at his resume, it's clear why he's considered the best spine surgeon in the U.S. by those who've had the pleasure of being repaired by him. It wasn't by chance that I went to Dr. Bae, I researched spine surgeons in the U.S. extensively and interviewed several before concluding Dr. Bae was clearly the most talented surgeon I could select. And he didn't disappoint me! The entire staff at The Spine Institute Center for Spinal Restoration is very professional and highly efficient. This included scheduling my appointments, working with my insurance company, coordinating my surgeries and all follow-up appointments, including phone calls checking on my recovery progress. Tackling my complicated issue required two separate cervical spine surgeries. The first consisted of a posterior laminotomy, medial facetectomy and foraminotomy at level C7/T1, followed 3-weeks later with a complete 2-level anterior disc replacement at levels C5/C6 & C6/C7. State of the art titanium/polymer artificial discs were securely implanted, providing me with a full range of motion and pain-free use of my neck. Both surgeries were performed at the Advanced Surgical Center of Beverly Hills on an outpatient basis, which would have been unimaginable just 5-years ago. Amazingly, my disc replacement surgery began at 7am and I was in my vehicle being driven home at 1pm the same day, wearing only a soft neck brace for the ride home, which I never needed to wear again. My recovery and pain management has been way better than anticipated. In fact, the most difficult part of my entire recovery has been forcing myself to take it easy to give myself time to heal, simply because I feel so good. It's only been 7-weeks since my second surgery and I honestly feel like I can physically do anything without pain or limitations. I'm patiently waiting for Dr. Bae's clearance before returning to my regular workouts, active lifestyle, and pursuit of competitive golf. My recommendation to anyone in the U.S. searching for the finest spine surgeon available to diagnose and perform spine surgery on them is to include Dr. Hyun Bae on your list to interview. Resist the urge of selecting your spine surgeon simply based on geographical conveniences. Travel if necessary, your spine is too important.
MH
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Hyun Bae, MD

Brief Update on C5-6 Disc Replacement surgery from September 2015 6 years later and still 100% perfect! All thanks to Dr. Bae!!
RB
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Hyun Bae, MD

If you want the best spin surgeon, you go to Dr. Khurana. He truly cares about wanting to fix any issue you have with your spine. I had L3-4 to L5-S1 fused back in 2001 by another well-known surgeon in Los Angeles and ended up having to fuse L1-2 to L2-3 in September 2020 and disk replacement (ADR) at C5-6, C6-7 in December 2020 by Dr. Khurana. The difference was night and day. Not only was Dr. Khurana's technique different but my recovery time was so much easier. He always made himself available to answer any questions and always checked-up on me post-surgery. I am extremely happy the my post-surgery results and recommend Dr. Khurana highly. His staff is exceptional and I cannot thank Amanda and Elaine enough for their time and devotion with helping me through the process. I'm truly Thankful for having Dr. Khurana as my doctor. He has changed my life for the best!!!
RN
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Sanjay Khurana, MD

If you want the best spin surgeon, you go to Dr. Khurana. He truly cares about wanting to fix any issue you have with your spine. I had L3-4 to L5-S1 fused back in 2001 by another well-known surgeon in Los Angeles and ended up having to fuse L1-2 to L2-3 in September 2020 and disk replacement (ADR) at C5-6, C6-7 in December 2020 by Dr. Khurana. The difference was night and day. Not only was Dr. Khurana’s technique different but my recovery time was so much easier. He always made himself available to answer any questions and always checked-up on me post-surgery. I am extremely happy the my post-surgery results and recommend Dr. Khurana highly. His staff is exceptional and I cannot thank Amanda and Elaine enough for their time and devotion with helping me through the process. I’m truly Thankful for having Dr. Khurana as my doctor. He has changed my life for the best!!!
RN
Google
Reviewer’s Google activity

Sanjay Khurana, MD

The best spine surgeon in the business IMO. He's recognized as a Super Doctor for a reason. Important training you want to look for in a spine surgeon doing fusions, which Dr Khurana has, is a fellowship in spine reconstruction because the doctor is removing certain parts of your spine and putting it back together with implants like a car engine that's taken apart and put back together. I've had several surgeries with Dr Khurana... 2019: L4L5/L5S1 fusion, instrumentation, and decompression and 2020: L4L5/L5S1 hardware removal from the 2019 fusion and C5C6 disc replacement. For my neck, I had radiating pain/ongoing tingling down both arms which was exacerbated even from carrying groceries and severe chronic pain in the lower back due to having very little disc material left and couldn't sit long. After the 2019 fusion, I was walking the next morning as soon as I was allowed and my neck disc replacement was a complete success getting rid of the pain down both arms. Dr Khurana is efficient and to the point, answers all your questions, and will diagnose your condition very accurately. He has a great team taking care of patients in different capacities such as his PA, medical assistants, schedulers, billers, surgery staff, etc.. If you're considering spine surgery or want a consultation to discuss a game plan to rehab your spine, I highly recommend you see Dr Khurana.
JK
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Sanjay Khurana, MD

Dr Bae fixed my back pain! Thank you Dr. Bae. I had severe low back pain. Dr Bae installed the Pro Disc in my L4-L5. The surgery was very successful as I’m still living pain free after 19 years. If you’re a candidate for disc replacement I highly recommend Dr Bae and the Spine Institute.
CD
Google
Reviewer’s Google activity

Hyun Bae, MD

I chose Dr. Khurana from three other neck surgeons on my research list. I’m so happy I did! I’m one week post cervical fusion and disc replacement surgery and I can feel the difference already. His personality and kindness of time to explain the surgery and answer all my questions allowed me to make my decision and go into surgery with no fear or anxiety. His staff is amazing and on point and the surgery center nurses and anesthesiologists were 1st class. On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the greatest. He’s a 10! Thank you so much and I look forward to my post surgery follow up to Thank him again personally. Update: I had my three month post op w/ Dr. Khurana. 🙏🏼🙌 PT is going great and I finally feel like I’m on the road to getting my pain free life back. Thank you!!!
MH
Google
Reviewer’s Google activity

Sanjay Khurana, MD

I had to have back surgery and I was referred to Dr Bae for a disc replacement. This surgery changed my life. I went from pure agony from the bone on bone damage to not feeling pain in my back anymore. I can’t wait to be fully healed and get my life back 100%. I can’t thank Dr. Bae enough for this amazing procedure. - Estella Sumaoang
IS
Google
Reviewer’s Google activity

Hyun Bae, MD

I had a fantastic result from C3-4 disc replacement surgery. I feel so fortunate to have found Dr Bae ( was referred by two separate physicians as the surgeon they would go to for cervical surgery). As a busy surgical dentist I was very alarmed to feel slight numbness in my fingers and as a competitive tennis player I lost the ability to run. I returned to dentistry in 2 weeks and jumped into a full schedule with no difficulties. My tennis game came back after 2 months. Thank you Dr Bae, Lisa and team. Jim Mellert DDS.
JM
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Hyun Bae, MD

I had a fantastic result from C3-4 disc replacement surgery. I feel so fortunate to have found Dr Bae ( was referred by two separate physicians as the surgeon they would go to for cervical surgery). As a busy surgical dentist I was very alarmed to feel slight numbness in my fingers and as a competitive tennis player I lost the ability to run. I returned to dentistry in 2 weeks and jumped into a full schedule with no difficulties. My tennis game came back after 2 months. Thank you Dr Bae, Lisa and team. Jim Mellert DDS.
JM
Google
Reviewer’s Google activity

Hyun Bae, MD

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