I have seen Dr. Zwahlen a few times now for various issues with back, butt muscles and recently a shoulder injury. I have had a lot of broken bones and surgeries and hospital stays and orthopedic surgeons who have patched me up in the past to go on to do more stupid stuff. Luckily Dr. Zwahlen is here to help. Because of my awesome partner and I want to be around a little longer I have stopped doing stupid stuff like flying my experimental airplane, stopped rock climbing (and falling), stopped intense snow skiing/boarding (no moe flips), and stopped other activities from which I have some how miraculously survived (I may have more lives than a cat). Given that, I can still do stupid things in the gym. Recently trying to hang for a minute, yes all 60 seconds, I realized something was wrong and dropped at around the 45 second mark. I kept thinking it would get better and it didn't and was starting to think major jacked up rotator cuff and maybe surgery, again. Well after some imaging the good doctor determined "nothing was torn but very, very angry". So going forward, for awhile, no exercises engaging the shoulder except a few very detailed lifts. A lot of surgeons like to cut, that's what they do. So I appreciate it when the knife is not the first response and second when lots of drugs aren't the answer. Hhhmm, may rethink that last part. Already a week in with daily exercises prescribed by the doc my shoulder is much better and this is way better than rehabbing shoulder surgery. Two closing thoughts. If you are active you need an orthopedic surgeon on speed dial. Dr Zwahlen is the man. If you sit on the couch all day you need a dietician and a mortician. Also, before seeing the good doctor you might want to have a few esspressos to match his energy level. read more

Dr Zwahle sold me there was no option for me to repair my shoulder other than a reverse shoulder replacement. Rather than saying he would do it after telling me last Spring that my shoulder was "hanging by a thread", he left the room after telling me I should modify my routine." Luckily I found a good surgeon affiliated with UCSF, had surgery on August 20, and am pain free. What Zwahle did was unethical. If he couldn't do the surgery, he should have said so. Instead his assistant just said "got some analgesic cream"! read more

Absolutely do not go to this person if you are femme-presenting. He was behind schedule (which is fine because thats not uncommon) and seemed very rushed when he came in. Didn't introduce the femme person who came in to presumably take notes; she didn't introduce herself either and had her back to us most of the time. He looked at my MRI for maybe 1 second, pulled up a chair way too close to me considering he didn't intend to actually examine me apparently, even though they made me change into the paper shorts. After giving me a pretty extreme prognosis, he put his hand on my thigh, which maybe he was trying to be consoling but it felt really inappropriate considering he made no attempt to build any trust or rapport. After reading other reviews that had similar experiences, I can't assume this was in good faith. He told me that my hip looks like its 10 years older than the rest of me, that theres nothing I can do but physical therapy (which is who suggested I go to orthopedics in the first place), surgery would not help, and that I should never expect to regain any flexibility or range of motion. I should stop any impact movements so no running, jumping etc ever again. I'm only 41 so this was intense. He told me I should see a rheumatologist- who actually looked at my MRI much longer than 1 second and thought it was odd that my orthopedic surgeon didn't recommend surgery for a very fixable labral tear. Both my physical therapist and rheumatologist recommended I get a second opinion. This experience was so traumatizing, I was a mess for days thinking there were activities I would never be able to do again. read more

I was referred to Dr Zwahlen by my PCP for knee pain probably resulting from poorly fitting shoes. I left the appointment with several pieces of useful info (e.g., podiatrist for orthotics), which I'm implementing. HOWEVER, I was left unsettled by the visit: From the moment he entered the room with hand extended, his affect was energetic to the point of being overwhelming. He sat very near me, manspreading to an almost gymnastic degree. He declined to examine me (I offered), but he told me that I'd need knee replacement within 10 years. On at least 2 occasions he reached out to touch my thighs, to emphasize a point he was making. I considered calling him on the behavior in the moment but chose not to, as I felt discomfitted but not actually threatened by his behavior, and there was another person in the room. I'm 65 and a fairly assertive woman. Had I been younger, or if I had ever experienced physical or sexual assault, I'd have been uncomfortable at the least. I had a strong suspicion that sexism and ageism were behind his attitude, including his declining to examine me. Maybe this is to be expected in a setting geared towards athletes? No, on second thought, Dr Zwahlen needs adjust his approach to be more attuned to the patient. read more

I made an appointment to see Dr. Zwahlen because I have dreadful pain in my left thigh. I have had a hip replacement (which is what you do when your hip breaks), but this felt different. I thought this doctor would help me sort it out and set me on a treatment plan so I could get back to normal. I was called at 7 am and the person on the phone said I could not be seen by Dr Zwahlen because I'd had a previous hip replacement. ???? Seriously? An orthopedic surgeon cannot see me because I've had a hip replacement - this is a new one. He wasted my time and seriously, I can't believe an orthopedic surgeon cannot help someone because they had a hip replacement in 1998. I've been referred to a sports doctor - but it sure won't be this guy. There is something off-putting about his energy. I had a previous appointment with him and he seemed to have an unusual amount of energy. It was a bit too much. read more

If you are old or have a chronic condition, don't see Dr. Zwahlen. He said I was at too high a risk for developing a fat embolism from a total knee replacement and would only consider an arthroscopic procedure. He was also dismissive of my pain and failed to offer a steroid injection to reduce the inflammation when he knew I shouldn't take NSAIDs. I fired Zwahlen and saw a UCSF ortho surgeon who says the use of grooved rods has greatly diminished the incidences of fat embolisms. Additionally, UCSF doesn't recommend arthroscopic procedures for meniscus tears on people over 55: the data shows only 25% of patients have improvement, 50% have no change, and 25% are worse. Dr. Zwahlen clearly isn't up on the latest techniques and research. He should stick to young people who have athletic injuries. read more

I really appreciate Dr. Zwahlen. I am just 1 week post-op for ACL reconstruction surgery. I thought the entire process was very satisfactory. I feel really great about everything- the office staff, his energetic confidence, his bedside manner, and the beautiful and tiny stitches. He is direct, efficient, thorough, and funny. I felt safe in his hands and would recommend him to anyone I know. Thank you, Dr. Zwahlen! Wanted to also mention that the office prescribed a narcotic painkiller, but I never needed it. I had surgery on Wed, and by Sunday night I took my last Ibuprofen. I haven't needed any pain killers since. I'm very impressed with how recovery is going. He also repaired my torn meniscus with 3 stitches. I am 38 for reference. read more

I am still recovering from meniscus surgery earlier this month but have been very pleased with the care provided by Dr. Zwahlen. He first worked with me to try to restore my knee motion through exercises and when that didn't work, performed the surgery. The incisions were very small, there was no bleeding after the procedure and my recovery has been pretty speedy. I'm very pleased with Dr. Zwahlen and his support team! read more

Concur with another 5-star reviewer: "I feel really great about everything- the office staff, his energetic confidence, his bedside manner, and the beautiful and tiny stitches. He is direct, efficient, thorough, and funny." At age 83 I cherish Dr. Zwahlen's commitment to keeping me active. He motivates by improving my understanding. Godspeed; go Gaels & Bears. read more

Most people only write to complain. If I could provide a grade to Dr. Zwahlen, it would be an A++ . I had a cycling fall which left me with three traumatic tears in my Rotator cuff, and had virtually no use of my left arm. Dr. Zwahlen is direct and honest, which may be "offputting" for some, but for me it was refreshing to have a Dr. be honest and up front. I have since had a near full recovery in just under 5 months. He truly cares about his patients and is advice is pure gold. If you are truly seriously injured and you have to go through surgery, he's your guy. He is the YoYo Ma of surgery in my opinion. Small thing, but also important. He doesn't leave you sitting in the waiting room for 30 minutes. Each visit I was seen within 5 min of my scheduled appointment. read more

He was quick and thorough during our appointments (pre, during, and post)and has high energy. I felt that he took the time to listen to my concerns. Surgery of a torn rotator cuff went very well. Staff was pleasant. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend him to friends and family read more

Context: Dr. Zwahlen operated on my knee for a torn mensicus. Pre, during, and post surgery, he was all that you could ask for in a doctor. He patiently took time to explain things to me, and never, ever rushed through any of our discussions. He distilled complex medical jargon into layman's analogies that I could understand. After surgery, he gave me personal recovery advice while also directing me to physical therapists. (Frankly, I thought his advice and help was better than what I received from PT's.) And he did it all with a positive, energetic attitude that made me enjoy talking with him - I would have hung out with him outside of the office because he has one of those dynamic personalities that draws people in. Some of these yelp reviews refer to his long office wait times. Yes, this is true...because he never, ever rushes a patient out and always takes as much time as necessary to answer questions and provide thorough explanations. Would you rather have a doctor who is always on time but cuts your visits short? Or would you prefer a doctor, one that will operate on your body, to be entirely on the same page as you going into complex, crucial medical procedures? Simply bring a book or some other material to his office and prepare for a bit of a wait, but know that once you enter his patient rooms, you'll receive the best medical care available. read more

I am a 38 year old who has been suffering in pain from a chronic hip problem for over a year. I was referred to Dr. Zwahlen as a potential doctor to give me hip surgery after I got a terrifying diagnosis. I saw him twice. I would not recommend him because, as a healthcare provider, he treated me like I didn't deserve treatment or quality of life. *He was extremely late to my appointment. *My husband and I agreed he was probably on some kind of drugs as he couldn't sit still and was bouncing around the room. *He asked me questions and didn't let me answer because he talked over me. *He told me all the physical therapy I was doing was wrong (but didn't let me tell him what I was doing.) *He gave me some very loose instructions for new physical therapy without demonstration. *He avoided looking at my MRI, which was how I was diagnosed with AVN. *I told him I had gone camping and he said, "why would you do a dumb thing like that?" *He said he was being honest with me and told me my diagnosis was extremely bleak and I should give up things I love and postpone care. *I left feeling miserable and have since starting seeing a psychiatrist, a psychologist, and taking medication for the extreme depression caused by my diagnosis and amplified by Dr. Zwahlen. I have since gotten another opinion from a doctor who cares about me, my present, and my future. I have an actual plan for improvement now. read more

I'll call him Brad. The reason I call him Brad is connected to some of the reviews you see here already. He may be late, but when he sees you, he comes across as a concerned friend. So as another one of these reviews pointed out, be happy that the reason he is late is because he is treating another patient the way you want to be treated, and in this day and age of medicine reimbursement and cosy almost oligopolistic behavior in insurance, doctors are caught between wanting to provide engaged care and the need to see many patients. So blame that potential excess wait time on the economics of medicine in America and a sign that at least he is trying to balance that with attentive care. I went to another well known OS many years ago before I met Brad and that guy made me wait for an hour and a half and then when I got to see him, he talked about himself for 45 minutes. Let me move on to demeanor and then my surgical experience. He is an upbeat, generally positive and realistic guy and I think perhaps some of these reviews came from people looking for solutions to their problems that don't exist. I understand that as I have had some nerve issues and dealt with a neurosurgeon who basically told me there was nothing he could do. For a year I struggled with what this meant and perhaps like some of these reviews I should have seeked counseling, but after a year I just got over it. Initially though it can be scary and discouraging, but I don't blame my doctor. Now, let me talk about what really matters, Brad did my right shoulder many years ago and the recovery was quite easy. My shoulder has been great ever since except I also have arthritis in it and there is an example where he couldn't help and told me so. But I don't blame him because unless you or someone else invents a way to regrow cartilage, the problem cannot be solved. And if you do invent it, congratulations, you will be a multi-billionaire. So, because he did such a great job on my right shoulder, I recently had him do my left. Similar problems - torn labrum and issues with the biceps tendon. I am two+ month into rehab and feel great. I never used drugs for pain and was mobile within a couple of weeks. Now, I know this shoulder was not as badly damaged as my right, but the recovery has been incredible. I asked my PT guy, to what do you accredit the success of this recovery, and he said, "to your surgeon". Let me also point out that this PT place I chose. Brad doesn't own it (another subject I could write about) and it is in SF. That was a few weeks back, when I started the rehab, but he mentioned it again yesterday and that is what made me want to finally sit down and write this review. A lot of the negative reviews in here, to me are just noise. If you want to go to someone who cares about you, and is a great surgeon go to Brad, but maybe call him Doctor Brad? read more

Dr Brad is not terribly concerned about serving his patients best interest. His surgical procedure on my husbands knee was admitted by him to not be mandatory for relief but 'thought' it 'might' help. Without letting us know this. Going through this process was unnecessary and detrimental for my husband. Please get referrals of current patients prior to using his services. read more

I have had an opportunity to engage with the practice of Dr. Zwahlen twice. Himself he is quite a personable and friendly individual. However my experience with "him" as the practice was not positive at all. First time, a few years ago, doctor did an arthroscopic surgery for me on my knee. in the next few days I was feeling an unbearable amount of pain that lasted way too long than anticipated. Every time I reached out to his office, I would get an extremely short response from his assistant - that instead of trying to assist me in my situation, gave me some guidance that I felt was not medically appropriate and actually prevented the proper recovery. Even couple years after, I had experience that the surgery was not fully successful. Until the same issue appeared on the same knee couple of years later. However, this time I was abroad. I did an MRI and tried to reach doctor to get his perspective, as local doctors recommended urgent surgery. After two days of not returning my and my wife's calls, I got a hold of the assistant myself. I expected that at minimum doctor would work with me through my options and risk - all I got was a short answer that i should have it handled locally and the doctor does not do urgent surgeries. End of the conversation or my ability to ask questions. Two strikes and a similarities of experiences each time. Caveat emptor. read more

At the referral of my primary care physician, I called in early April to try to schedule an appointment with Dr Zwahlen for my hip. The first available appointment was 5/8, so I scheduled the appointment. On 5/7, I get a call saying that my appointment would be cancelled because he had an emergency procedure. Ok fine. So I rescheduled for 5/29, which again was the first available appointment. Just today (5/28), I get a call telling me that my appointment was scheduled in error and that my appointment was cancelled. I called the office to inquire about why it would be cancelled, and was given a vague response of "Dr Zwahlen decided to cancel because he does not specialize in hips." Unfortunately, now I'm delayed 2 months in seeing a doctor and have wasted far too much time. Clearly, that was a blatant lie. They knew I had a hip issue when I scheduled, and the profile online (http://www.eppleymd.com/brad-zwahlen-md.html) clearly states that he specializes in hips. If you are going to cancel my appointment, at least give me the real reason why and not some obvious lie. Please respect my time and intelligence. I expect professionalism and truthfulness, but that's not what you will get here. I don't know anything about Dr Zwahlen's skill as a doctor, but the office is unprofessional and appointments are impossible to schedule. I would give 0 stars if I could. read more

Dr. Zwahlen is an incredible surgeon. I have had multiple knee reconstructions and I finally felt comfortable with him. I also ended up with a post op MRSA infection. Dr. Zwahlen hung in there with me through the entire process. His bedside manner was incredible. He made me feel good because I knew he was going to be there. So many people/doctors will bail if things get challenging, but Dr. Zwahlen proved his character. read more

The most important thing: He performed shoulder surgery to fix a shoulder joint that was loose and kept dislocating. The surgery was a complete success, and I recovered fully, ahead of most time estimates. He took his time explaining the procedure, and explaining the followup, and had a very good "bed-side manner". I was especially appreciative of his willingness to explain the different types of surgery and recovery methods, and why he choose the types he did, as opposed to just saying "I did this." His staff is quite good - he's in the same office as (the more famous/well-known) Dr. Eppley, whom I also have only good things to say about. They did an above-average job dealing with my insurance, as well. When I needed a physical therapy recommendation in the South Bay, he (or his staff) actually called around and found me a great recommendation. Also, a while later, when I needed an emergency orthopedist wrist recommendation (for a family member), his staff was willing to both slot her in on two days notice and also referred us to another good expert. read more

I have known and been a patient of Dr. Brad Zwahlen for over ten years. My wife and a few of our children have also needed Dr. Zwahlen assistance. I have also known a few of his patients over the year as well. I know of very few doctors, surgeons or anyone in the medical community that takes such a personal approach to their patients and their medical needs. He will spend as much time with you as you need to understand your current or future physical ailments. He goes out of his way to educate you and helps you understand what is needed for treatment, recovery and prevention. He has done a great job with whatever I have needed to be done. I simply can't recommend Dr. Zwahlen enough. Thank you for everything you have done for me and my family. Sincerely, David S. read more

I saw Dr. Zwahlen at the recommendation of my pain doctor. At first I thought he was great, but after six weeks of jumping through various pre-surgical hoops (podiatry, PTSD therapy), I discovered that he didn't even perform the type of surgery I needed (an anterior total hip replacement). He recommended that I see his partner, Basil Alwattar. Dr. Alwattar was brusque, rude and uncaring. He told me he couldn't do the surgery for months (after I'd already wasted six weeks jumping through Dr. Zwahlen "hoops"). When I got upset, he suggested I find another doctor by looking in the phone book. When I tried to contact Dr. Zwahlen after that horrible experience with his partner, it was as if I no longer existed. He never returned my phone calls or responded to my emails, even if only to tell me he could no longer treat me. Luckily, I found another orthopedist, who did the hip replacement I needed (I'd still be waiting for Dr. Alwattar) and whose care has been five star. I'm sure that if you need the kind of surgery Dr. Zwahlen performs (posterior hip replacement), he's great, but his lack of concern or follow-up has a lot to be desired. read more

1 star based on office staff. Snippy & rude was what I read in 1 review & I do agree. I tried to make an appt for my son who was injured in an accident & was told they don't take accident victims. Wtf?! I have private PPO insurance but nope no way, won't see him. She even went as far as to say good luck, NO ONE will probably see him. Well, thanks Cal Sports. You're a lot of help read more

Okay, he seems like a very nice doctor when you meet and talk with him. Very caring. But he did my total knee replacement and total hip replacement, and within one year of the latter, I ended up needing to have them both redone by another orthopedic surgeon. The knee was by Dr. Zwahlen was too wobbly and the hip was not fitted correctly so my leg ended up being significantly longer than the other. Revision surgery corrected both situations, after months of pain and discomfort plus the revisions were much harder than the original joint replacements. Was it slipshod surgery on Dr. Zwahlen's part? That's my conclusion. All I know is that I would have been better off in life had he never operated on me. I don't like to speak badly of people but feel that I need to share my experience. read more

I sought out Dr. Zwahlen for a knee consult. I knew I had knee osteoarthritis and the pain in both my knees was getting worse. I wanted to find out if it was time to have knee replacement surgery. He was in a hurry, poked at my knees hard enough for me to cry out in pain and then he said he couldn't do anything for me and I should go see his colleague for synvisc shots. I didn't feel he was compassionate at all. He almost seemed sadistic, poking at me knowing it was going to hurt and then had a flippant attitude when he said he couldn't do anything for me. What he was really trying to say I found out later was my knee arthritis hadn't advanced enough (bone on bone) to have surgery. Although many people are having knee surgery before bone on bone occurs and he could have given me a more in-depth explanation and a set of alternatives. I was completely unimpressed. read more

Two years ago and change I realized I had to do something about my knees. After a lifetime of running long distance from the Mile and cross country back in the day and later the Dipsea, 10ks and a few marathons I was now gimping along on foot. Still able to do my road bike for distance, walking around the block was the problem. That's when I went to see Dr. Brad Zwahlen. His energy and enthusiasm for his work, his knowledge of the field, his eagerness to explain what he was going to do and how made me know I was in the presence of an Original. He moved around the room like a man possessed with an ancient calling. He would have been a medicine man in a pre-technological age, a shaman with arcane knowledge and healing powers. As it was, his surgery began a transformation in my life. He did my left knee first. Although bowlegged when I went in, he told me he was going to straighten out my left leg too, and he did. Something of a miracle, the operation was a total success but the recovery was daunting so I tried to get away with strengthening the right knee with floor exercises and long bike rides. I did my personal Bridge to Bridge run on my 79th birthday, North Berkeley up the Bay Bridge to Treasure Island, back home and on to the Richmond Bridge and then back. 40 some miles, 3 1/2 hours riding fast as I could. But walking on that right knee was still bone on bone. So I gave in and went back to Brad. I couldn't call him Dr. Zwahlen any more. He seemed like a friend although I hardly knew him. I'm writing this two months into recovery on my new right knee. I now have two straight legs that match and am finally bipedal again. What a relief. Throughout all of this I have been guided through the business of pre-op appointments and insurance by his terrific Surgery Coordinator, Brenda Davis. Together they are a modern day sorcerer and apprentice performing medical magic with humor, intensity and an atavistic common touch. read more

I want to thank Dr. Zwahlen for the great work he did on my meniscectomy in late February. Since it was the first surgery in more than 20 years, my greatest concern was the billing. I had heard horror stories about doctors, anesthesiologists, facilities, and services that were uncovered by insurance plans. I am happy to report that there were no surprises! Everyone was in network, all charges were explained to me, and I received various services (an ice machine, physical therapy, medications) that were ordered and provided at very reasonable costs. Let me tell you, these services were extremely useful. I know many patients who haven't received these referrals, and I, who am a skeptic by nature, can tell you with absolute certainty that these "extras" played a huge role in my postoperative satisfaction. My point in sharing this is that, while I am sorry to hear that other patients struggled with the office staff, I can attest that they are highly competent at the things that are important to me as a patient. Dr. Zwahlen himself is extraordinarily patient in explaining what you have, what you need, and what to expect. He is very explicit and descriptive in explaining what he wants you to do before and after the surgery. I was impressed with the efficiency of the entire proceedings and I would highly recommend him. read more

Dr Zwahlen operated on my knee a 3 years ago. I was miserable, it kept swelling up on me with the most minimal of activity. After the surgery I got the ice machine and crutches to go home with. Within 48 hours I hardly needed the crutches and went off of all pain medication. He's caring, competent and confident, I felt as if I was in good hands (literally and figuratively) and I was right. My knee has been great ever since and I owe it to his great skill. If my other knee goes, I'll be sure to call on him again. read more

My experience with Dr. Brad Zwahlen was so far above extraordinary. He is an excellent physician and good communicator. He was clear about realistic expectations. He carefully listened to my questions, answering my specific query rather than handing out some pat answer. He was concerned with my particular list of needs and cared to make sure I was receiving the best care from all the professionals with whom I interacted in the hospital. He was always available. And I am healing at an astounding clip. Thank you, Dr. Zwahlen! read more

My primary physician referred me to him after I suffered a freak accident resulting in multiple fractures of my humerus and a dislocated shoulder. He took a lot of time explaining my injury and what he thought we should do. He was a caring, compassionate, sincere, and knowledgeable physician. He was the first physician who understood what I did as a former educator. After returning for a follow-up, he prescribed PT for me. Returning 3 mos. later for another follow-up after some intensive therapy, he released me from his care. I recently returned to seek his advice in providing more options in the rehabilitation of my shoulder. He appeared interested and concerned in my issues and tested my range of motion. He further explained how my shoulder worked and what were my options to further address my issues. He came up with a viable plan. I've had orthopedists throughout my life and he gets highest marks in how he treats and deals with patients and their issues with his gentle bedside manner. I would highly recommend him. read more

Dr. Zwhalen, I am sure, is a competent and possibly excellent surgeon. however, for the 2nd time, I am canceling my surgery with him because his assistant is filled with attitude; she is rude and arrogant. If you ever read this review, please keep in mind that your job is not to protect the doctor but to provide service to your patients who are often in great pain and in need of a bedside manner. If you read through all these reviews, there is a significant number that were turned off by the staff. read more

He by far the best Orthopedic Dr in East Bay. Total knee replacement and follow ups were a snap

What a great Doctor! I am a 50 year old woman who slipped and fell in soap and water on my kitchen floor from a dishwasher leak. I dislocated my hip and my leg was facing a very odd direction. Pain can't even describe what I felt. After being rushed to Alta Bates in an ambulance, they were unable to fix my hip and called Dr. Zwahlen who took me to surgery right away and was able to fix my hip. He is a great Doctor, very nice and caring, has a great bedside manner and I just can't say enough about him. His staff is equally as nice. Thank you Dr. Zwahlen. read more

Dr. Zwahlen performed a micro fracture surgery on my knee while i was a college athlete. He saved my senior year with the successful surgery allowing me to play once again. 2 years after surgery, i'm still doing much better than i would have without. He is an excellent doctor who always makes sure your comfortable and knowledgeable about the procedure before it happens. I would highly recommend him, as well as the whole office who is also very helpful. read more

I recently had my ACL reconstructed, menisectomy and meniscus repair. Dr Zwaheln is a skilled surgeon with a terrific bedside manner. Unlike the first doctor I saw, he explained my injury to me in great detail and set correct expectations for my recovery. He also went out of his way to accomodate my schedule when planning a surgery date. I highly recommend Dr. Zwahlen! read more

Didn't make an appointment because of the obnoxious and condescending person on the phone. He may be a great doctor, but I don't need attitude from the staff. read more

Dr. Zwahlen surgically repaired my torn meniscus in January 2017 and I recommend him highly--as does everyone I know that has had knee or shoulder surgery performed by him. He is an excellent surgeon and a caring MD who took lots of time explaining the surgery and recovery period to me and my husband. I always had lots of questions for him and never felt the least bit rushed! I had the same experience with the entire staff at Cal Sports & Orthopaedic. Had to call frequently and Brenda--Dr. Zwahlen's assistant--was very responsive and always found a way to fit me in--including scheduling my surgery earlier than had been originally discussed. I was also very pleased with the speed with which they filed my state disability paperwork. Definitely 5 stars for everyone there!! read more

A "5" rating for Dr. Brad Zwhalen is the easiest decision I've made this year! Dr. Zwahlen has now fixed both of my knees and he's a magician. Exceptionally caring, considerate and of the highest integrity, Dr. Zwahlen also possesses the well-regarded skills of an accomplished surgeon. He has also operated on six of my friends and each of them has the same report. You will get the straight scoop, skilled hands and a caring physician in Dr. Zwahlen. Six stars. read more

Dr. Zwahlen is fantastic! He did the second meniscus repair on my husband. The first surgery actually just made it worse. With Dr. Zwahlen, everything from start to finish was exemplary. We were so pleasantly surprised by how on time, efficient, accommodating and super friendly he and his staff were. He is very kind, compassionate and skilled and all that you would hope to find in a surgeon. read more

Dr. Zwahlen operated on my left hip May 13, 2013. I cannot recommend him strongly enough. He was compassionate,kind and talented . He explained everything,took as much time as I needed to be reassured and checked on me post surgery. Our goal was to get me walking for my daughter's wedding June 23, 2013.. Thanks to him, I will need--or not--only a cane. The pain before was excruciating. Now a muscle ache after three weeks is the most I deal with. His assistant at the office, Brenda, could not have been kinder or more efficient. This group is great. And I highly recommend them. Oh, and age? I am 68. read more

Simply the best doctor you could ever have. He truly cares about his patients and makes you feel relaxed. The world's best doctor!!!