Pain experiences.
In patients’ words.

Thank you, doctor. My mom, it's 80 years old. Thanks to the surgery, you did my mom have a Second Life. I'm so happy my mom. Not suffer anymore of pain. Little-by-little. He's walking way better. This hip replacement. It's a total change for my mom. God bless you. God bless your family.

Prem N. Ramkumar, MD, MBA

Hello my name is Larry I’m a 45yr old truck driver. For over two years my left leg was experiencing really bad nerve pain. L4 and L5 disc was pinching my nerve. After trying every other solution myself and Dr. Ortega agreed on surgery. He replaced both disc . Honestly speaking 6 months out of surgery and it has been a blessing. Before surgery my activity was very limited due to the pain. Walking or standing for more than 30 minutes was impossible sitting even caused me pain. Now I’m back to regular activity working out taking my young kids places. Work has been so much easier. I’m grateful for Dr Ortega and his team they took such good care of me after surgery and has continued to do so.

Brandon A. Ortega, MD

I am extremely happy with the results of my surgery with Dr. Khurana. The improvements have gone beyond what I expected. I can go upstairs pain-free, sleep comfortably on my side, and walk with considerably less pain and much more confidence. Those everyday changes have made a real difference in how I feel and how I move through the day. His office staff is efficient and well coordinated, which made the whole process smoother. I also want to recognize his PA, Brianna Sugimoto, who responded promptly to my post-operative concerns and was a big help during recovery. I would highly recommend Dr. Khurana and his team without hesitation.

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Sanjay Khurana, MD

I am extremely happy with the results of my surgery with Dr. Khurana. The improvements have gone beyond what I expected. I can go upstairs pain-free, sleep comfortably on my side, and walk with considerably less pain and much more confidence. Those everyday changes have made a real difference in how I feel and how I move through the day. His office staff is efficient and well coordinated, which made the whole process smoother. I also want to recognize his PA, Brianna Sugimoto, who responded promptly to my post-operative concerns and was a big help during recovery. I would highly recommend Dr. Khurana and his team without hesitation.

Sanjay Khurana, MD

I would like to say that Dr. Ramkumar is very driven and compassionate with his craft of being a Orthopedic doctor. If you read his bio and you will know why I say he is a patients doctor. He performed a meniscus repair on my right knee and after surgery I was not in any pain like I was the 1st time when it was performed by Kaiser. Thank you Dr. Ramkumar and keep up the great work of keeping people up on their feet. Peace and Blessing from the most HIGH.

Prem N. Ramkumar, MD, MBA

Dr Estess is an amazing surgeon and has fabulous bedside manners and very patient with my in pain aunt. Everyone in our family fell in love with her and we appreciate her very much.

Allyson Estess, MD

This was a very positive experience for a visit to a new orthopedic doctor for pain that was intense and new. The appointment went better than expected and I can definitely say I was treated well by everyone I saw.

Amandeep Bhalla, MD

Writing this review 4 week post op from a meniscus repair surgery. I seriously could not recommend Dr Prem Ramkumar more. I had been dealing with a horrid aching pain in the back of my knee for a whole year. I am 26 years old and it had negatively affected me so much that I could no longer do most physical activity that I liked to partake in. I had even gone to see multiple doctors/orthos who gave me indefinite answers. But - it wasn't until I met with Dr. Ramkumar that we were able to finally figure it out. He took one look at my MRI images and instantly knew what it was. Six weeks later from that appointment and my life is forever changed for the better. If you have knee or hip pain, don't wait!! See this doctor, it will be the best decision you could ever make!

Prem N. Ramkumar, MD, MBA

I had a great first impression of Dr. Ramkumar. He was straight forward with the accomplishment that I needed to do before my surgery. He motivated me. to Lose Weight to be ready for the surgery he told me to lose 22 pounds which I lost 40 thanks to his motivation I was in a lot of pain due to the metal that I already have . but right now it’s been 2 weeks knee feels absolutely great of course different type of pain right now. It’s only been two weeks, but I feel the difference. Dr Ramkumar is an amazing surgeon . great experience great motivation from him. amazing Surgent 🙏🏼

Prem N. Ramkumar, MD, MBA

Dr. Bhalla is great! I've had back issues and intermittent pain throughout my adult years. Whenever it got intolerable I resorted to acupuncture and/or chiropractic care and on a few occasions epidurals. Someone cutting on my back was not anything I was receptive to. When sciatic episodes became more frequent and longer lasting and I was forced to postpone scheduled knee replacement surgery I reluctantly decided to again consult an orthopedic surgeon. After initial consultation, x-rays and MRI I had follow up appointment with Dr. Bhalla to discuss options. He recommended surgery. Still reluctant to go that route I opted for another try with an epidural, but to to no avail. Back to Dr. Bhalla who told me the problems were going to continue to get worse so at age 73 I finally agreed to surgery. Lower lumber fusion surgery was performed at Long Beach Memorial Hospital by Dr. Bhalla and Dr. Rao (vascular surgeon). Anterior Lumber Interbody Fusion (ALIF) and laminectomy surgeries were performed on Monday and Thursday of the same week. The week in the hospital (overall very good care and treatment) and first 2 weeks at home I experienced moderate pain and discomfort but nothing intolerable. After 2 weeks of light rehab at home I started physical therapy program. After several weeks of PT my back felt really good. It has been nearly one year since the surgery and other than minimal discomfort during the initial recovery period I have experienced no back pain! From the initial consultation through the post-op visits Dr. Bhalla thoroughly explained all the options, the details of the surgical procedure, the recovery and rehabilitation process and patiently answered all my questions. Dr. Bhalla is a compassionate and highly skilled physician and surgeon! And, kudos to his very competent and kind office staff. While back surgery is a last resort, if there is no other viable way to address your pain and problems Dr. Bhalla is the surgeon for you.

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Amandeep Bhalla, MD

Dr. Estess is very knowledgeable, a terrific listener and very good communicator. She explained what was causing my knee pain and told me what could be done and why. Couldn’t ask for more and everyone I interacted with in the office was also great.

Allyson Estess, MD

My 80 year old father had been in progressing pain and compromised quality of life due to his knee, but decided he was done suffering and needed surgery. He tried everything, I mean EVERYTHING before deciding on surgery. When he met Dr. Ramkumar, he felt like he was in good hands. From the first consultation, pre-surgery, surgery, and post-surgery appointments, Dr. Ramkumar took ample time and showed patience with my apprehensive parent. Both of my parents are surprised by the quick recovery and ecstatic with the results. A partial knee replacement with full mobility and activity in 2 weeks - wow, just wow! As a child of aging parents, I worry about my folks, but I never felt any concern or doubt in the ability or expected outcome. I feel relieved and am glad that my dad has his quality of life back. He's actually better than ever! I attribute it all to Dr. Ramkumar's skill and ability. I recommend him to anyone that needs a procedure or consultation. He will be honest and tell you the truth. Trust his opinion.

Prem N. Ramkumar, MD, MBA

I underwent the FAI arthroscopy with Dr. Ramkumar last month and the recovery has been very smooth. The early results have been great with more range of motion and less stiffness compared to before the surgery. The pain was so minimal after the surgery that I had to actively remind myself to follow the rest guidelines and not bear weight on my joint too soon. My original symptoms were a lot of hip stiffness and limited hip range of motion. I would also notice intense aching with weight lifting, long distance running, and skiing. I regularly stretched and would see physical therapists but my symptoms remained the same. Dr. Ramkumar did an incredible job of running through my symptoms, physical exam findings, and X-rays to diagnose the FAI and rule out other conditions. His discussion of management principles and what surgery and postop would entail was very helpful and reassuring. Also, knowing that he’s done so much of this type of surgery reassured me that my outcomes would be great and recovery would be smooth. He also has a physical therapy team in his clinic that has a structured routine to help improve the recovery process after surgery. I would 100% undergo this surgery with Dr. Ramkumar again and have already scheduled the surgery for my other hip. I would recommend anyone that notices this or similar symptoms to at least schedule a consultation with him to discuss further.

Prem N. Ramkumar, MD, MBA

The entire was thorough and helpful. Dr Bae listens and provides thorough and logical next steps. I feel very comfortable with him and his team. Hoping we can solve for my back pain.

Hyun Bae, MD

I visited Dr. Estess for ongoing knee pain and couldn’t be happier with the experience. She listened carefully to my symptoms and explained what was going on with my knees and the treatment options available. She took the time to answer all my questions without rushing, and I left with a clear plan going forward. Highly recommend her for anyone dealing with knee issues

Allyson Estess, MD

Could not have been treated better. All the nurses - Veronica, Linda, Cassie and Mary - were terrific. Same with Dr Michael Port, who was delightful, knew his stuff, and genuinely wanted to help me get rid of my lower back pain. What’s not to like?

Michael Port, MD

What a refreshing experience with a very knowledgeable doctor and his NP Margo. Have had on going back problems that had become a chronic pain problem and was radiating into my groin area. Went to dr ramkumar who did some mobility testing and an x-ray. He diagnosed my issue very quickly. He offered me a hip injection which has taken away 90% of my pain. Wish I had made the decision to see him sooner. Highly recommend

Prem N. Ramkumar, MD, MBA

Dr. Port and the Commons Clinic care team were amazing. I highly recommend them. Very professional and great communication. Results were also good, great pain relief.

Michael Port, MD

As a Div 1 Track athlete with bilateral hip pain before meeting Dr. Ramkumar no one I went to could accurately tell me what was going with my hips. After the first visit with Dr. Ramkumar he explained in detail what was going on and what my options were, from there I decided that I wanted to go through with getting a bilateral hip arthroscopy. He explained exactly what was going to happen during the procedure and about the recovery process before hand so there were no surprises. The procedure went great and I would say the recovery went even better. There was minimal to no pain within the first few days and I was walking the day of the procedure. It has now been around 4 months since the surgery and with the help of physical therapy and strength training my hips feel way better than they did before and I am able to run pain free again. I am very grateful to Dr. Ramkumar for playing a major role in my journey of getting back on the Track.

Prem N. Ramkumar, MD, MBA

For almost half of my life, pain was not something that happened to me. It was the backdrop against which everything else happened. I am 23. Since I was 13, I cannot remember waking up without stiffness/pain in my back. Pain has a way of changing shape over time, beginning as a symptom but becoming part of your identity. Somewhere along the way, I stopped hoping to feel better and accepted it as part of my life. As a former UCLA Division I tennis player who has always loved being active, I spent years searching for an answer: physical therapy, massage, cupping, acupuncture, strengthening, injections, imaging, and countless evaluations across the world. I never got a clear diagnosis despite seeing several orthopedists, and was told to consider chronic pain syndrome, with exploratory spine surgery as a last resort. Every opinion carried the same message: learn to live with it. Meeting Dr. Prem Ramkumar was the first time someone wasn't just listening to my symptoms; he was trying to understand my story, asking why instead of accepting the limits of what had already been tried. As a former D1 athlete, I'd worked with plenty of physicians, but he treated me with the same precision I've learned he gives medal-winning Olympians and Stanley Cup champions he treats professionally. I felt like one of his VIPs. It changed everything when he diagnosed me with hip impingement after a careful battery of tests, since my presentation was atypical. It was the first time I had an answer, and a solution. What will stay with me forever is not just the surgery itself, but the morning after. I sat on my bed and waited for the familiar stiffness in my lower back. It never came, and to this day, it still hasn't. I biked 130 miles the first day after surgery!! I began physical therapy on day three at his office, and weaned off my crutches and brace within a week. Since then, I have moved through daily life without pain. The absence of pain has been remarkable, but what surprised me even more is everything that was restored: I sleep through the night, my mind feels quieter, and the constant background noise chronic pain creates has disappeared. My mood and energy are better, and I'm standing taller. My wearable's resting heart rate and sleep scores reflect it too: my body is finally healing, not merely enduring. It isn't just excitement, but disbelief; my brain keeps searching for the pain it's so accustomed to finding. Then, little by little, I realized it isn't temporary relief. It's freedom, for the first time in a decade. People often think surgery changes your body. With Dr. Ramkumar, it also changed my relationship with the future. For years, every decision carried an invisible calculation: could my back handle this, would I wake up unable to move? Pain quietly dictated where I went and who I believed I could become. I didn't realize how much space it occupied until it was gone. Today, I believe this surgery will make me a better athlete than I was. So many others told me this wasn't possible. Dr. Ramkumar never accepted that answer. That speaks to his character: his persistence, his curiosity, his genuine commitment to patients who've spent years searching for someone willing to keep looking. He treated me as a person whose story deserved to be understood, not another MRI. As someone who now works in medicine, I've learned he believed in me when no one else would. Medicine is often described as restoring function. Sometimes it restores possibility. No review could fully express what he gave me: mornings I had forgotten were possible, confidence in my body, and a future no longer defined by limitations. If you have spent years searching for answers, feeling unheard, or wondering whether anyone will look beyond the obvious, I cannot recommend Dr. Ramkumar enough. My experience changed the course of my life, and I will always be grateful he refused to stop asking why, and fixed me. Additionally, Margo, his NP, matches that same excellence. Her clinical sharpness was matched only by the genuine care she brought to my recovery.

Prem N. Ramkumar, MD, MBA

Dr. Prem Ramkumar is amazing. I recently had my second total knee replacement from him. He is kind, considerate, knowledgeable, current with the latest technologies, all around, the ideal doctor for a joint replacement. Less than one week after surgery I feel the progress I’ve made. My physical therapist was impressed that i could slide my knee into almost 90 degrees 4 days post op. I’ve never experienced a more caring and responsive doctor. He responds to emails very quickly and answers all questions. He understands his patients and is never dismissive. Unrelated to my knee replacements that Dr. Ramkumar completed, I mentioned hip pain I am experiencing. Not only did he refer me to a colleague he respects but he phoned the colleague to discuss my situation. He asked to be kept in the loop to see me through my hip issue. I am so impressed with his kind and compassionate demeanor. I was impressed with Dr. Ramkumar after I first met him, but even more so impressed after I looked at how many studies he performed, research he completed, and papers he published. In speaking to so many about him, the overwhelming consensus seems to be the same, Dr. Prem Ramkumar is top in his field and a lifelong learner.

Prem N. Ramkumar, MD, MBA

I first learned about Dr. Ramkumar because of his reputation for taking care of elite athletes, including Freddie Andersen, one of my favorite NHL players. As someone who has always been very active and views sports and movement as a major part of my life, I was immediately interested in his approach. My experience with Dr. Ramkumar showed me why he has earned a reputation among athletes. He has an exceptional ability to understand the demands that active people put on their bodies and combines that perspective with deep orthopaedic expertise. He was incredibly thorough, thoughtful, and took the time to explain things in a way that made complex issues easy to understand. What stood out to me most was his commitment to helping people maintain an active lifestyle. He doesn’t just look at an injury or condition in isolation — he thinks about the person, their goals, and what they want to get back to doing. That mindset is especially valuable for athletes who want to continue performing, competing, and doing the activities they love. Following his guidance, I have felt a renewed confidence in my ability to stay active and continue pursuing the things that are important to me. He helped me better understand my body and gave me the perspective and confidence to keep pushing myself and do things I wasn’t sure I would be able to do again. Dr. Ramkumar is the type of orthopaedic surgeon athletes should seek out — someone who understands that getting healthy is not just about reducing pain, but about getting back to the activities, goals, and performance levels that matter most. I have tremendous respect for his knowledge, his approach, and the care he puts into helping active people get back to doing what they love.

Prem N. Ramkumar, MD, MBA

I was taken by LB Fire to Memorial after falling backward off my paver-covered porch and walkway, sustaining 4 fractures to my femur and making my 2012 hip replacement unstable. I was seen by the orth trauma team and referred to Dr. Ramkumar. He came to my room in the hospital, explained what was on the xray and CT scan. We planned for surgery after July 4th holiday. He went over potential benefits, complications, plan of care, etc. I was acutely aware that not too many ortho could do the complex repair. I had surgery, stayed 3 nights. Pain managed. Excellent care from all hospital staff, dept. My first post op appt with Dr. Ramkumar was positive, with wound vac and staple removal. Fracture healing was 2.5 weeks ahead of schedule! PT to be started in the next week at his office. I have to say when I called the office on a Monday morning at 8:01 a.m. to report wound vac battery died, I had a response within 1 minute. I found out that Dr. Ramkumar responded to me, issue resolved. I have positive outlook for my future, as a result.

Prem N. Ramkumar, MD, MBA

I am a 32 year old very outdoorsy girl who had an MPFL reconstruction done in 2025 by Dr. Ramkumar. I chose to have this surgery because I had dislocated my knee cap on my right leg multiple times doing different things, including walking. There was 6 different structural problems that made it so my chances of dislocating my knee were higher than your average person. In 2024 I dislocated my knee cap slipping on ice and tore my quad tendon. That same year I Dislocated it another 3 times. i had sloughed off so much cartilage that, not only was my knee super unstable due to my MPFL being stretched out, but also I had really bad arthritis. I decided to get an MPFL reconstruction and also have stem cells placed in my knee joint from my hip to help with the arthritis. I chose Dr. Ramkumar because of his expertise in MPFL reconstruction; it is a super specialized area in orthopedics, not many surgeons are skilled In dealing with patellofemoral instability. Dr. Ramkumar is, and he Changed my life. I am now able to hike 10 days in a row, 10 plus mile hikes, thousands of feet of elevation gain and be thriving. I run on the trails so happy to have a working knee that feels like a knee should feel, stable, without pain, strong. I also hiked el Teide, The tallest peak in Spain. It stands at 12,128 ft, you gain over 4,500 Ft of elevation. It was one of the coolest days of my life. I have also snowboarded an entire season ( before that I spent two seasons unable to hit the slopes because my knee cap kept dislocating or subluxing). I love the slopes and Dr. Ramkumar helped me get back out there safely. I have been surfing as well and work as an ER nurse running around every day at work. I could not recommend Dr. Ramkumar more if you need knee surgery. Not only is he a brilliant surgeon, he also has amazing bedside manner and is very responsive when you have questions pre and post op. His office helped me With my disability paperwork so that I could be out from work to recover from Surgery and are super easy to get a hold of as well. Thank you Dr. Ramkumar for helping me get back to doing what I love :)

Prem N. Ramkumar, MD, MBA