Recovery and return to activity reviews

After years of dealing with chronic numbness and tingling in my arms, I finally found relief thanks to Dr. Ortega and his incredible team. From the moment I walked in, I felt welcomed, heard, and taken seriously. I had tried everything—physical therapy, cortisone shots, rest—but the symptoms persisted. Dr. Ortega took the time to review my MRI in detail, explain my condition thoroughly, and walk me through all my options. Just weeks later, he successfully performed surgery to replace three damaged discs in my cervical spine (C4–C7). I’m now just two weeks post-op and already feeling a huge difference. While there’s still some soreness from the recovery process, the intense pain caused by spinal cord compression and disc herniation is gone. This review may be a little early, but I couldn’t wait to share my gratitude. Once I’m fully healed, I look forward to writing an update—but for now, I’m just excited to be getting back to the active lifestyle I’ve missed for so long. Thank you, Dr. Ortega, for helping me take my life back.

Brandon A. Ortega, MD

I can't recommend Prem to enough people! Prem combines truly cutting-edge expertise with a warm and approachable demeanor that immediately puts you at ease. As a former collegiate athlete and special forces officer...I was nervous about dealing with chronic knee pain and truthfully possessed little hope for a return to my former self. Prem soothed my concerns and took the time to truly understand my lifestyle and goals. Young, dynamic, and highly skilled — this is the future of orthopedic care.

Prem N. Ramkumar, MD, MBA

Seeing Dr. Prem has honestly been the best thing that has ever happened to me. This upcoming July will be two years since I was involved in a car accident. In the accident I sustained a few injuries, a hip fracture being one of them. My career as professional soccer player who has sustained an injury that severe had left me feeling lost and scared wondering if I would ever be able to touch the pitch again. I knew it in my heart that it wasn’t over. After being discharged from the hospital and doing rehab I still felt unsure… doctors would think I was crazy or would turn me down and say “in time” on getting back to where I was at, or even worse… maybe not even able to play anymore but I knew I needed to look elsewhere and get a second opinion. When I first met Prem it was like god sent him to me. He told me his previous work and how he had worked on athletes of my caliber and I knew that he would get me to where I know I could be. Keep in mind when I met him I wasn’t able to put my knee to my chest in a 90 degree angle, I had a limp, I had tightness near my groin area, and I had metal plates in me. We created a game plan he would get me to be able to get my knee to my chest, improve my range of motion, remove those plates, and release the tension. I had faith that he could do it, and so did he. His confidence had made me trust him so much more, and his work proves it. The surgeries? A success. I now have my range of motion back to where it once was, my injuries are healed, and it’s safe to say I’m back to being on the pitch again doing what I loved since I was a kid. After countless times of being told “you may not be able to play again” it took one visit with Prem to turn that uncertainty around and prove to those that they were wrong. I owe Prem everything and I appreciate him so much.

Prem N. Ramkumar, MD, MBA

My 89 y/o father had lived with generalized, constant and severe pain for 3 years. Over this period, he had been prescribed multiple forms of pain medications. He also received medical massages, chiropractic care, acupuncture treatments, steroid injections and two epidurals. Unfortunately he received little relief and nothing long term. Because of his age he felt fearful of surgery. But his pain became so unbearable he was willing to take a chance with surgical intervention. He was referred to an Orthopedic Surgeon, Dr. Brandon Ortega. From the initial consult and all following visits Dr Ortega displayed a level of professionalism, expertise and care that far exceeded our expectations. It has been 3 months since his procedure. My father is now 100% pain free. We are extremely grateful to Dr. Ortega and his staff ( Elena) for the exceptional care he has received. Thank you Dr. Ortega for your professional care and compassion of my father.

Brandon A. Ortega, MD

My testimony is giving God all the Glory for Dr. Brandon Ortega and his team. Many days I wanted to give up but didn’t! I believed God would heal me someday! It was 2012 when I truly started feeling the spinal pain. I was also experiencing joint pain! It began getting worse throughout the years. It was 2023 when I first met with Dr. Brandon Ortega who is part of the Optum Group. Dr Ortega is a Dr who took the time in explaining my condition. Dr. Brandon explained my condition which was, Cervical Nerve Root Disorder. He explained MRIs, X-rays and so forth. Dr. Ortega is just one of the many Drs. left in the medical profession who takes the time with his patients! Thank God. This has been my experience in such short period of time. Prior to Dr. Ortega, I saw many Specialist regarding my medical issues.I tried every Conventional Medicine and Physical Therapy to help relieve the painful suffering, I was dealing with. Not to mention years of depression. Dealing with the fact, that this aliment had left me drained was not easy. My health was rapidly declining. It was sometimes difficult for anyone to tell unless, I was having difficult days which kept me indoors. I was a silent sufferer! Dr. Ortega was honest enough to let me know, the only medical solution to stop the pain would be surgery. He discussed the procedures. I saw and read all the necessary information I needed to know and see. I sort the Lord on this matter. It was then I knew in my heart, that Dr. Ortega was the right Dr. in performing this procedure! I had my surgery on April 8th 2025. It has been one of the best decisions made. I am feeling 99.9% better in my life today. I thank God everyday. If do cry, it’s tears of joy! Anyone who has ever suffered from chronic pain can tell you, it will rob you of whatever joy you had or have. I’m am far happier than I have ever been. I’m slowly but surely recovering and getting back to enjoying life once again! Thank you Lord🙏🏼🙏🏼Thanks to Dr. Ortega and his awesome team at the Institute and Memorial Hospital 🙂

Brandon A. Ortega, MD

Dr Prem Ramkumar is truly exceptional! I was hesitant at first to get partial knee surgey, but now I can say that I’m glad I did. The level of pain and discomfort from the day of the surgery through the recovery period was minimal. With Dr Ramkumar, I know that I am in good hands.

Prem N. Ramkumar, MD, MBA

Dr. Wassef is my hero. When I was about 6, I was diagnosed with a somewhat rare condition known as Perthes disease. 24 years later I had developed advanced osteoarthritis, among other complications. I’m lucky to have had such a great doctor take on my case. It’s been three weeks since I had my hip replacement , and after all these years, I’m finally pain free!!

Andrew Wassef, MD

Best Surgeon Ever! Tore my ACL and never had any prior surgeries beforehand, so you could imagine how scared I was to undergo my first one. I was truly blessed to have been referred to Doctor Ramkumar for my condition as he is not only overqualified, but also cares deeply for his patients. He goes above and beyond to fix other underlying issues that could potentially affect the progress of my healing and mobility. Even after several months post-surgery, I never had any complications as Dr. Ramkumar stayed updated on my condition, making sure I was hitting every milestone on my journey towards full recovery. I can whole heartedly say that this man changed the trajectory of my life for the better.

Prem N. Ramkumar, MD, MBA

Absolute expert in his field. I was in so much back pain for years. Dr Bhalla and his team helped me through my surgery and recovery and now I am pain free. He is a great listener and very kind.

Amandeep Bhalla, 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!

Sanjay Khurana, MD

INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE – Dr. Wassef, Jason his assistant and Mason from the Stryker MAKO team were amazing! Dr. Wassef is a highly respected and sough-after joint replacement surgeon and I am thrilled with the results. I have had several different kinds of surgeries but never experienced the level of technical detail from the medical evaluation, surgery analysis, pre-op training materials, nutritional recommendations, surgical preparation, exercise training videos and Dr. Wassef’s post-surgical care. I had a severely compromised knee with bone spurs and a second knee that was not much better so I scheduled to have both knees done about 12 weeks apart. I have had some friends and family members have different experiences with joint replacement so I decided if I am going to do this once I wanted the best surgeon I could find and did extensive research. Based on Dr. Wassef’s recommendation I committed to strength training before the surgery to help with the healing process and was amazed at my recovery. The support staff was very professional and you can tell Dr. Wassef is highly respected at the surgery center based on the number of comments I received about this patient outcomes.

Andrew Wassef, MD

Hip Replacement So, your hip is hurting bad enough that you finally need to get it checked out, but you're not sure who to see. That was exactly the situation I found myself in. I knew I wanted a surgeon who specialized in the anterior approach rather than the posterior, since the recovery with the anterior method tends to have fewer limitations. While I was researching, I came across reviews for Dr. Prem Ramkumar. After looking into his training and current practice, it became clear that he was a standout in the field of hip surgeries. He was exactly the kind of doctor I was looking for—someone who used modern techniques to ensure the best possible outcomes. I made an appointment, and within two weeks, I was meeting with him. After reviewing my case, which included hairline fractures, arthritis, and bone-on-bone rubbing, Dr. Ramkumar agreed that I was a good candidate for a total hip replacement. We scheduled the surgery a couple of months out. During that time, I followed the instructions given by both Dr. Ramkumar and Long Beach Memorial. There were daily exercises—nothing too strenuous—but I’m sure they helped my recovery. When the big day arrived, I met with Dr. Ramkumar before the surgery. He reassured me that everything looked good and we were ready to go. Later that day, after the surgery, he came to check on me again to ensure everything was progressing as it should. I could tell he was genuinely invested in my case. That same day, I was able to walk to the restroom with a walker, use the toilet independently, and go up and down a few steps. By the end of the day, I was cleared to go home and was discharged. After the surgery, I stuck to the post-op exercises Dr. Ramkumar recommended. In the first week, I walked around the house and outside with a walker. After that, I graduated to using a cane. Now, almost three weeks post-surgery, I’m feeling fantastic. I’m walking two 1-mile walks a day and continuing with my exercises. I can’t recommend Dr. Ramkumar enough. His expertise made the entire surgery nearly pain-free, and I honestly can't believe how well I’m doing at this point in my recovery.

Prem N. Ramkumar, MD, MBA

I went to Dr. Port regarding an injury I sustained at work. I was seen, given an MRI and had all the important information sent out to all associated parties. Dr. Port took time to explain the process and gave me a prognosis of how to improve my injury so that I could return to work as soon as possible. I’ve been very pleased with Dr. Port and highly recommend him and his staff.

Michael Port, MD

Excellent surgeon- had lower back surgery 13 months ago(anterior lumbar inter body fusion L-5 S-1) after experiencing severe pain. I am now pain free and back to enjoying normal activities. I highly recommend Dr. Bhalla.

Amandeep Bhalla, 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!

Hyun Bae, MD

Every chance I get, I tell people about Dr. Prem Ramkumar. Here’s why. He masterfully replaced my left hip using the Anterior approach or entering from the front versus the posterior. Having replaced both hips, one by anterior and one by posterior, I officially know the difference. Dr. Ramkumar informed me that the Anterior method means fewer restrictions, less pain and quicker healing. He was right. OK, no one gets out of surgery pain-free, but if you take his advice and follow up with physical therapy (I love the team at the Long Beach Orthopedic Institute) you’ll be functioning in no time. Example: I was walking the first day and driving in a week. Turns out, there is more than one way to replace a hip. Find out what’s right for you. Dr. Ramkumar is specially trained in the Anterior approach. Not every surgeon is. Dr. Ramkumar has also operated on Olympic athletes. If I had a Gold medial, I’d give it to Dr. Ramkumar and his wonderful team. By the way, he’s also funny. Humor is the best medicine of all.

Prem N. Ramkumar, MD, MBA

Dr. Bae is very professional, yet down to earth, and comforting. Spinal surgery, in and of itself, is a rather daunting thought, but his expertise, thorough research of my case, and the way he explained the process, and recovery made my decision easy. Surgery has been scheduled, and I’m looking forward to having a healthy and working spine.

Hyun Bae, MD

Dr Ramkumar is a great doctor. He made my experience of having partial knee replacement as positive a process as can be. My recovery is going great thanks to him. I have been able to return to all my normal activities after 2 months. I have recommended him to friends and family, and will continue to do so.

Prem N. Ramkumar, MD, MBA

I highly recommend Dr. Prem Ramkumar. He recently performed a MAKO robotic hip replacement on me. My rehabilitation is progressing well, and I am very pleased. During my first appointment with him, he carefully explained the treatment options and was very clear about the advantages and disadvantages of each. I also found detailed information on his website. He is easy to talk to, he listens, and he really cares. I am glad that I chose him to be my physician.

Prem N. Ramkumar, MD, MBA

I cannot recommend Dr. Amandeep Bhalla highly enough! From my first consultation in 2018 to post-surgical care in 2020, he demonstrated exceptional expertise, professionalism, and compassion. Now in 2025 I am facing new obstacles that I am certain he will guide me through. Dr. Bhalla takes the time to explain my condition and treatment options thoroughly, ensuring I feel confident in my care plan. Dr. Bhalla's dedication to patient-centered care is evident in his approach--he listens, educates, and involves you in the decision-making process. His use of advanced, minimally invasive techniques made my procedure smoother than I ever expected, and my recovery was outstanding. Beyond his surgical skill, Dr. Bhalla is kind, attentive, and genuinely invested in his patients' well-being. I have to give a shout out to his Office Manager Ronnie T. She is a bright star, kind, attentive, and genuinely invested in the patients' well-being. I initially met her hen he was Dr.. Bhalla's Nurse. The office staff, including Khalil the X-Ray Tech, are very friendly and you are made to feel like you stepped into a friend's home. There is also an abundance of FREE parking! I am incredibly grateful for Dr. Bhalla and his expertise and I highly recommend him to anyone in need of top-tier spinal care.

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Amandeep Bhalla, MD

I am returning to see Dr Bhalla at his new office. He accomplished a successful surgery on my lower back 3 years. He delivered exactly on his prognosis and expected outcome. I am returning on another issue unrelated to the first. This is my first visit to this new practice. It is well managed, and I was able to see a couple of friendly faces. I highly recommend Dr Bhalla and his practice.

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Amandeep Bhalla, MD

March 2025 update I love you, Doc! I’m back to doing two things I love - running and yoga! Had arthroscopy done on both of my hips now and I’m so happy. As long as you don’t have arthritis yet, this procedure is amazing if done properly, and this doctor is the best! 2022 Look no further, this is the doctor you want to see for your hip issues. I saw Dr. G almost a year ago after running my 25th marathon and developing pain in my right hip, I really did not want to do surgery and he gave me options to see if this pain will go away with physical therapy and no running. After six months of no results, I went back to Dr. G and he showed me on the x-ray that hip arthroscopy would be the best choice to fix the problem. I went to other famous orthopedic surgeons in Santa Monica and West LA for second and third and fourth opinions. And it would be fine to choose one of them for the surgery but going with Dr. G felt like the right choice. The level of care and attention you get from this doctor is well above average! He’s meticulous, thorough and has the first-hand experience of this procedure as a Patient. Him being a runner himself gave me confidence I can return to the sport I love.. His assistant Zohra is amazing, any questions - I get answers via emails promptly. She guided me through preparation for the surgery, post-op, etc. it’s six weeks post-op and the doctor saw me three times already to follow up on the progress of my recovery and physical therapy. I have been recommending him to my friends.

Tigran Garabekyan, MD

Dr. Bhalla is great! He did surgery on my lower back. Once I got through the recovery & physical therapy, I no longer have back pain.

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Amandeep Bhalla, MD

Dr. Leonel Hunt gave me my life back to be there for my family and my kids. I am so lucky to have met him, he is so talented god gave him a gift that no one has. Every doctor told me that I cannot ever be back to normal. Dr hunt performed a surgery on my back and I am 100% back to normal walking running and doing exercises. Anyone is very lucky to have Dr hunt as their doctor. He is carrying and loving I am so happy and grateful that I’ve met him. Cannot express my feeling towards this Dr. All I have to say is that god bless him and look after him.

Leonel Hunt, MD