Imaging and diagnosis conversations reviews

I have plenty of experience with orthopedic surgeons and I have to say Dr. Millstein is the best. I've been in for several issues and appreciated his careful diagnosis and explanation of the problem, and especially the way he talks patients through options for treatment including non-surgical options. Solid. And I'll add that his offices have been great about scheduling appointments and getting me in soon after I call. Just a top notch operation all around.

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Eric S. Millstein, MD

Dr. Bae installed a Prodisc artificial cervical disc at my C5-6 two months ago. I had talked to 5 other ortho surgeons prior to this about my neck and arm pain. I am 65 years old, had spondylosis and radiculopathy from degenerated C5-6. Three surgeons recommended fusion (wouldn't do artificial disc) and the other two offered this and artificial disc. I chose Dr. Bae because of his publications in the field, his excellent reviews, and his calm and forthright demeanor during the diagnosis/intake office appointment. I dismissed the negative yelp reviews about bedside manner, concluding these were people who had trouble trusting people, requiring people to spend an exorbitant/unnecessary amount of time with them in order to gain their trust. I didn't want that. I wanted a doctor who is plain and direct, and professional. The surgery went well, no complications. I could have gone home the same day, but chose to stay overnight at Cedars Sinai. I had slight/moderate pain for a few days, and then just some limited movement and discomfort for another few days. I only took one pain pill during this period at home. In 12 days I was back swimming and playing tennis, and within a month I had no pain left at all, and wonderful extra neck movement from the artificial disc. Dr. Bae basically gave me a new life, and I am grateful to him for it. I also loved the compassion Dr. Bae showed prior to my surgery in the surgery prep room at Cedars. He came in and just held my hand for a bit, and exuded an ease, confidence and comfort level you won't see many surgeons exhibit. I know; I've had many surgeries in my life. Dr. Bae's Surgery Fellow, who assisted the procedure, and visited me afterwards, praised Dr. Bae's skills in a reverential way, which is what you would expect with a surgeon of Dr. Bae's caliber.

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Hyun Bae, MD

After 30+ years as a police officer, my back was really messed up. I went to Dr. Bae to see if there was something he could do to help me. He was wonderful but after an MRI, X-rays, etc....it was his opinion that surgery was needed to fix me. Surgery was at Cedars and they were great. Dr. Bae went in to my C-7, T-1 and fixed it. While he was there, he noticed that I had a potential worse problem just above it at C-6, C-7 so, he fixed that too. I woke up with blood running down my forehead (screws to hold my head in place during the surgery) which made me look like Herman Munster LOL, but there was ABSOLUTELY NO PAIN. My surgery was in late 2010 and I am still pain-free with no limitations. Thank you Dr. Bae, Lisa (PA) and Julie (#1) for your excellent work. BTW, I have referred several other police officers and firefighters to Dr. Bae and they all have the same opinion.

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Hyun Bae, MD

I couldn't have picked a better Dr. for my disk replacement. For over two years I suffered with debilitating neck and shoulder pain due to a damaged disc C5-C6. I saw two surgeons here in Las Vegas and tried all the nonsurgical treatments (anti-inflammatory medications, acupuncture, two rounds of physical therapy and epidural steroid injections) to no avail. Both local surgeons eventually recommended spinal fusion. NO WAY, I said. For over a year, I spent hours researching alternative treatments and that's how I found Dr. Bae. On June 2015, I had my initial consultation. When you enter Dr. Bae's office the first person you will interact with is Julie, Dr. Bae's medical secretary. She is incredibly efficient, helpful and skillful at communicating with nervous patients like myself. When you meet Dr. Bae the first thing you will notice is how confident and forthright he is. First, he examined my medical history and MRI images, he showed my husband and I where the prolapsed disk was pressing against the spinal cord and then he explained (in plain language) what could be done surgically to free up the nerve. Both my husband and I were extremely impressed with Dr. Bae's minimally invasive approach to surgery, his communication skills and sincere desire to stop my pain. The surgery, insurance coverage, hospital stay, follow up care, etc was all made possible by his wonderful PA Lisa. Lisa was instrumental in coordinating the "long distance" planning of my surgery in Santa Monica - most of it through email and phone calls. She was SUPER quick replying to all of my questions! Thank You Lisa. Seven weeks ago, Dr Bae replaced my degenerated disk with a Mobi-C cervical disk and I'm feeling fantastic. I Just completed the first week of physical therapy here in Vegas and for the first time in years I'm starting to live free of pain. If you are struggling with a spinal condition, trust Dr. Bae and his amazing team!

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Hyun Bae, MD

Dr. Millstein : Babyboomer Athletes Best Friend. Dr. Millstein's no nonsense approach to evaluating my knee problem (swelling from past surgeries), resulted in a spot-on diagnosis. No knee replacement needed (as other Dr's have suggested). He simply said," You dont need me - you need good Physical Theropy." Millstein directed me to his website and suggested me to use one of his Theropists. Following his instructions, a Theropist was chosen. The rest is history. My knee is now strong and fully oprational. Dr. Millstein changed my life. F. K.

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Eric S. Millstein, MD

I'm not it ANY way associated with Dr. Millstein and his office outside of the many positive experiences with him and the staff. The least I can do is share here. This is my first review. I am a performer with a touring Broadway production. After many non-surgical treatments for an ongoing shoulder injury, it was time for serious intervention. After researching surgeons around the country I landed here in LA and had an appointment with Dr. Millstein. He was not quick to diagnose without first hearing ALL of my questions/concerns. He was very realistic and truthful about my recovery which any athlete/performer appreciates when your livelihood depends on it. It did not take long for me to decide this was the proper route. The front office has been very communicative, polite, professional. Response to any questions I'd have usually were responded to via callback or email the same day. (Not to mention Dr. Millstein called me the night of my surgery to check up!) The nursing staff in the office is amazing as well. They have always been very encouraging, upbeat, and "in tune". None of this feels "put on" or disingenuous. In approximately 6 or 7 appointments I've not waited more than 10 minutes to be placed in a room. Within another 5 minutes a nurse is taking blood pressure, etc. and another 5 Dr. Millstein is there. Something to consider is other patients, like myself, who have 1000 concerns and Dr. Millstein sits, listens, and answers without rushing. We should appreciate an office that functions this way. What's waiting a bit longer, if needed, to know you (and others) will receive top care? Finally, (and most importantly) I have made a FULL recovery. I am SO glad I went through with surgery with Dr. Millstein. I am back to 8 shows a week with no pain.

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Eric S. Millstein, MD

I just can say that it was a wonderful experience. His staff is very helpful the wait was less than 10 minutes but what is more important is that he is a very knowledgeable doctor. He will listen to your questions and explain them thoroughly . I had a knee dislocation and the MRI results were not very good but he was able to detect a mistake in the reading and gave me peace of mind. He has great bed side manners and is a compassionate and caring doctor. I was referred to him by Dr Sunu Alhluwalia also an excellent doctor but since he was out of network and I need surgery he referred me to him. I don't have enough words to say the peace I feel after visiting him. I have tear tendons and will need surgery. I trust that my recovery is going to be just fine with him. Finding a orthopedian surgeon is a challenge particularly when mobility is at stake. I am glad I found him.

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Eric S. Millstein, MD

I had surgery on my back in March 2014 and I had a number of issues finding a doctor which you can read about (if you want... http://www.huffingtonpost.com/noam-friedlander/affordable-care-act-costs_b_5149120.html). I have to say, that of all the doctors I visited, Dr Bae's office was the most helpful - even before I actually made an appointment to see them. In total, I ended up meeting with around six surgeons, I did A LOT of research, and settled on Dr Bae and his team. He had operated on TWO of my friends, all successfully, and is an expert in his field. The surgery - a massively herniated disc L4/L5 - WAS a success. I received plenty of help prior to the surgery and my emails and questions were all answered in a timely manner PLUS I had a number of follow up appointments to check my progress. I tried everything I could to avoid having surgery, and, as was suggested, I did physical therapy before the operation to see if that could alleviate the pain as well as two epidurals. I found that the office NEVER tried to push me to have an unnecessary surgery, they were incredibly kind and patient, and, it was swiftly apparent to all after my MRI that surgery was now my only option. There aren't many people I would trust to stick a knife in my back, but I truly trusted Dr. Bae, and was rewarded with my mobility back. Everyone's post surgical results are different - physical therapy, diet and looking after myself are all my responsibility BUT I feel I gave myself the best shot by selecting Dr. Bae to be my surgeon. Highly recommended.

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Hyun Bae, MD

I thought that I would always be in pain. I had back problems since I was a teenager, Dr. Bae couldn't see the problem, in my MRI but could see that I was in excruciating pain. He sent me for bloodwork and a biopsy which confirmed that I had an infected disc and an absess in my psoas muscle. He removed the infected disc, Drained the absess and worked with an infectious disease specialist To find the right antibiotics to make sure the absess didn't come back 8 weeks later, I walk better than I ever have and am completely pain free. His PA, Lisa Cano, kept my family posted every step of the way. I feel so lucky......I feel 20 years younger and starting exercising again. Thanks Dr. Bae!!!! L. d.

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Hyun Bae, MD

Dear Dr. Hunt, I want to thank you so much for making me enjoy life again. My hip was hurting so much when I came to see you I could hardly stand for any length of time. You diagnosed the problem, It was coming from my spine. You said one of my discs was wearing out and was on an angle that was pinching a nerve . I have been completly free of pain since the Surgery. Thankfully, H. Ader. Los Angeles, Ca.

Leonel Hunt, MD

Luckily I do not know Dr. Millstein from a patient perspective (knock wood). However, as a physical therapist and owner of Evolution Physical Therapy, I have had the pleasure of working with many of his patients. Over the years I have had the opportunity to work with many physicians and orthopedic surgeons and I can say with great confidence that Dr. Millstein is among the best. If any of my family or I needed an orthopedic consultation, he would be the one we'd go to without hesitation. From a professional perspective, I appreciate that he does not rush into surgery which is a real breath of fresh air. He encourages other conservative methods of treatment prior to surgery. His diagnostic skills are great and all the patients we treat appreciate his bed-side manner. Without exception, every patient feels that Dr Millstein genuinely cares for their health and takes time to explain procedures and answer all questions. This fact alone sets him far above many other clinicians. When surgery is in fact indicated, his skills are remarkable. His patients recover very quickly from surgeries and outcomes are exceptional. He is also an active physician and he understands the mentality of patients who are eager to return to sports and active lifestyles. If you are in need of an orthopedic consultation, do not hesitate to go see Dr Millstein. You owe it to your body!

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Eric S. Millstein, MD

I've had 100's of doctors (seriously) and he's one of maybe 2 I've felt compelled to review. He's highly intelligent and helped sort out my 5 year chaotic medical nightmare and put me on the right path towards healing. He's a fine surgeon but worth his weight in gold when it comes to diagnostics. You won't find anyone say anything bad about the guy and he was recommended to me by several well respected doctors.

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Sanjay Khurana, MD

In short, Dr. Millstein is a FANTASTIC doctor. He's all you could ask for. For full details of my experience, read on: I called Dr. Millstein's office at the suggestion of a friend who is a physical therapist. The receptionist was able to give me an appointment six days later. I am 53 years old, an active athlete for most of my life, and in the last six months I had developed some severe unfamiliar knee pain. I was concerned that my symptoms might be from a torn meniscus (cartilage) in my right knee. I went to Dr. Millstein's office in Beverly Hills, filled out some forms and had two X-rays taken of my knee in the office as a baseline check. Next, Dr. Millstein came in and listened attentively to my history of the problem and what type of pain I was getting. He did a hands-on physical exam, manipulating my knee in the test positions that would be painful if I had a meniscus injury. From that exam and my history he concluded that I probably did not have a meniscus injury, and it was likely another kind of soft-tissue inflammation that was giving me pain. I was still worried and wanted to rule out the possibility of a meniscus injury, so Dr. Millstein was willing to prescribe an MRI scan to be 100% sure it was not a meniscus tear. This was what I was hoping for, because if I could be sure it was not a tear I could treat my knee with anti-inflammatory drugs and physical therapy. Dr. Millstein also consulted me on my drug history and what I had taken and what worked best for me. This was very considerate -- most doctors just say: "Take this pill." I got the MRI results and it showed that Dr. Millstein's in-office diagnosis was correct: my meniscus was intact. I have since then been able to resolve the pain 95% with the anti-inflammatory drugs he prescribed, ice, exercise and resting the knee. Let me tell you the three things that most impressed me about Dr. Millstein: 1) He's a very modern guy with state-of-the-art tools, procedures, and ideas about treatment. Every aspect of his practice is totally up to date. 2) He was a good listener and did not have the superior attitude you get from a lot of doctors; I felt he was interested in my problem and in figuring out how to deal with it. 3) He was happy to take the most conservative, low-impact course of treatment. Some doctors would have wanted to do "exploratory" surgery on my knee. Not Dr. Millstein. This was great news for me. Dr. Millstein only wanted to do what was needed to put my mind at ease, treat my knee pain, and no more. He was patient-focused and really showed great medical ethics. One of the principal ideas of medical ethics that all medical students are taught in medical school is that, "given an existing problem, it may be better not to do something, or even to do nothing, than to risk causing more harm than good." It reminds the physician and other health care providers that they must consider the possible harm that any intervention (surgery) might do. So I applaud Dr. Millstein for giving me restrained, minimal, successful treatment. I would highly recommend him to anyone.

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Eric S. Millstein, MD

Great doctor and great staff. His protocol is to have his staff take X-rays but since I was there for a minor issue i declined and the doctor had no problem with that.

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Eric S. Millstein, MD

Today I received probably the worst news an athlete could have expected on a first visit - a potential Rotator Cuff tear (needs further diagnosis via MRI). The positive is I felt I was dealing with a total professional, nice, human who understood that, though in my 40's, I am still a competitive athlete who just wants to continue doing what I love. No lectures, no obvious impatience with my chosen lifestyle, etc. He introduced himself as Eric (i of couse said nice to meet you Dr....) and then walked me through what he saw at this point in my examination - explained on his iPad (yes the dude is tech savvy) how the rotator cuff is comprised, its function, and why I am feeling the pain I do. In the midst of all this potential bad news, I felt comforted, his staff was top notch, facilities clean etc... Yes I have an MRI to go - maybe surgery (maybe not!!!) but all I can say is if you are in the same boat I am, don't muck around, call his office, go see him - then make your decisions based on what you learn. Oh and though I saw him in Beverly Hills I was in and out in an hour... Lovely.

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Eric S. Millstein, MD

I was having a painful knee issue that came up rather suddenly, over a period of two or three months, and went to see Dr. Millstein based on some of these Yelp reviews. I had no idea what was going on and wanted someone to really delve into whatever the problem might be. I'm glad I did. His office was both very organized and compartmentalized to cover the x-ray/MRI needs and the examination rooms, and his staff was very gracious and helpful. I ended up having x-rays, which is standard for new patients, then Dr. Millstein came to talk with me in an exam room. He showed me the very clear x-ray images on a computer screen, then graciously told me he'd answer anything I had to ask and reminded me that that's what he was there for, which I found to be genuine and calm-inducing. He really did end up answering all my questions. The x-rays indicated that I have a case of runner's knee, a common condition, even though I've, interestingly enough, never been much of a runner. He then explained to me what that condition means and told me I'd need to get some orthotics for all my shoes and go for a few physical therapy sessions. Overall, I found Dr. Millstein to be a very friendly, knowledgeable practitioner and I'd recommend him to anyone who needed an orthopedist.

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Eric S. Millstein, MD

I hurt my wrist on the pole and went on Yelp to find a doctor. Dr. Millstein is fantastic. I was a walk-in and they saw me within an hour of calling in! His office is clean, efficient and prompt. Dr. Millstein is warm, receptive and very helpful. After my x-rays, he explained what had happened to my wrist and what exercises I should do to strengthen to avoid further injuries. Seriously the best! Thank you Dr. Millstein!

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Eric S. Millstein, MD

My 11 year old son had been complaining about knee pain for a few weeks, and his pediatrician recommended an orthopedist we weren't happy with from a previous visit (we waited almost two hours to see him, while my son was in pain with a broken wrist). I needed to find a good doc, so I did what I always do... Checked in with Yelp! When I saw Dr. Millstein's listing I remembered him from two years ago when I had taken my daughter to his old office in century city, and at the time thought he was terrific! Very professional and very personable at the same time. I remember thinking, at that time, that I needed to remember his name, but alas, life gets hectic... Bottom line, I called and got an appointment for my son for a few days later. The office has you fill in paperwork at home (big time saver!) and when we got to his beautiful new office, we were taken in within about 5 - 10 minutes. The office staff were all very friendly, and seeing Dr. Millstein reminded me of why I was so happy on the first visit, years ago. He has a great personal manner and my son was immediately comfortable. The Dr. took his time in speaking with my son, learning the progression, and doing a complete physical exam. When he gave his diagnosis, he took out his new iPad to show my son an animated 3-D image of the knee and explained how the knee works and exactly why his was hurting. My son was very impressed and so was I. We are a very active family and have seen too many orthopedists here in L.A. Until now, I haven't been impressed by anyone like I am with Dr. Millstein. He clearly knows his craft very well! My son will be starting physical therapy next week, and we'll check in with Dr Millstein in a couple of weeks. It's good to know that my son's knees are in good hands, and Dr Millstein's number is now programmed into my phone!

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Eric S. Millstein, MD

I had some severe pain in my knee after running so I decided to go see Dr. Millstein.I called the day before and got an appointment right away. His facilities are state-of-the-art and flawlessly clean. What I like about Dr. Millstein is that he took the time to explain why my injury was not severe and was not quick to suggest or recommend in x-ray or MRI in order to save me money. I definitely highly recommend Dr. Millstein should you have any need to see a specialist. He is very professional,cares about his patients and definitely knows what he's talking about. He will shoot you straight and his facilities are top notch. you will not be disappointed!

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Eric S. Millstein, MD

I can not rate Dr. Bhalla, as I never got to see him on this first appt. Therefore, I cannot rate him. His office staff was very cordial, pleasant, and helpful. The X-ray technician was very professional.

Amandeep Bhalla, MD

Arrived at the office, short wait, staff was personable, friendly, knowledgeable, and efficient. Dr, Bae was friendly, sincere, intent, and explained what the images of the MRI revealed and what is causing the pain in my neck. More recent tests are required to accurately diagnose the injury. My doctor strongly suggested I go see Dr. Bae. Best advice I've gotten in a long time. He and his staff are absolutely the best. Thanks Glenn

Hyun Bae, MD

I received rather overwhelming diagnosis and still trying to grasp it all. Dr Ortega spent a great deal of time in describing it to me. But a day or so later, I had adjusted emotionally, but there still many questions. I have a pre-op appointment in about a 6 weeks and until then, I feel like I am in limbo. I reached out to the surgery scheduler but have not a return call or answers.

Brandon A. Ortega, MD

It was difficult to know where to park. Then it was difficult to know to follow the signs. Then when leaving you have to have a code which I did but machine would no work until I also put my credit card in. These would be simple instructions to be given to new patients. My problems were not resolved yet. I didn't realize they would need my neck MRI as well but next time they will. Unfortunately I have to wait another month. Dr. Khurana was very personable and positive. He did not rush however I left with no suggestions for my discomfort.

Sanjay Khurana, MD

Dr. Bhalla was very nice and was able to look at my X-ray and suggest a non-surgical remedy for my lower back problem. His entire was extremely nice and was in and out within an hour.

Amandeep Bhalla, MD