I saw Dr Su twice. First for an evaluation. He ordered a new MRI. I have a bad neck and shoulder. Lots of migraines/headaches. Nerve pain down left arm. Previously dislocated shoulder with impingement issues. Mild/moderate cervical cord compression, disc degeneration, bone spurs and bulging discs. Dr. Su said he believed I had TOS (thoracic outlet syndrome. I had been going round and round with more local Drs and each referred my pain to the other body part. The cervical orthopedic Drs said it was my shoulder, the shoulder Dr said it was my neck causing the pain. The sports injury specialist said basically I didn't have anything that should be causing the amount of pain I was reporting. I never asked for narcotics as I didn't want to take that route. Dr Su was thorough and truly listened, referring me to a TOS specialist and the diagnosis was confirmed. I am ever so grateful as I was losing faith in the medical community to help me. Now I can move forward. THANK YOU Dr. Su read more

Dr. Su is by far among the most talented clinicians and surgeons I have been treated by. Brian not only has remarkable and in my experience singular talent as a spinal surgeon, but he has a phenomenally empathic bedside manner that is reassuring and reduces anxiety. I've known many great doctors but Brian is in a class of his on with respect to his skill set and core competencies, his strong diagnostic capabilities, and his assistance in pain management leading up to and for a brief period following the procedure. He also engages continually in conducting his own primary research in order to improve not only his own message but also so that his published conclusions can help other surgeons to improve their's. He is relentlessly curious and spends significant time reviewing medical literature, ensuring that he is current on any new developments with respect to procedures, pain management, and post operative care. He is a consummate professional and it has been my privilege to be a patient of his. read more

Dr. Brain Su is truly a gift to mankind. He has been thoroughly trained at the best medical centers in the US in the latest of the latest techniques to fix spinal problems. He somehow finds time to keep up his award winning research without sacraficing his dedication to his patients. Dr. Su is unusually conservative in his approach and will not push anyone into a surgery that is not necessary and the patient is not convinced that he or she needs. He did a complicated L1/S1 procedure with a fusion on my lowest lumbar vertebra as well. It was a long and technically taxing operation. Within a day of surgery I was walking. In two days, I was able to tackle stairs successfully. The PT staff at hospital was very surprised. I left the hospital on my own two feet, no walker, no cane and went straight home. Dr. Su has stuck with me throughout my recovery and carefully checked the site of the procedure on x-ray to ensure that everything was mending as planned. I am now essential pain free in my lower back with "no restrictions". I never expected such a complete, restriction free outcome, having had prior surgery on my cervical spine which was not nearly as successful. I recommend Dr. Su without reservation. Anybody in the greater San Francisco Bay area, contemplating spinal surgery would be doing themselves a disservice if they did not consult with Dr. Su prior to undergoing a surgical procedure on their spine. Besides all of the above, he's a really nice fellow with a great bedside touch. read more

In summer of 2018 I had ruptured a disc in my lower back that caused horrible sciatica down my left leg. I was no longer able to leave my home the pain was so bad. I went in for a surgery consult with Dr. Su and decided surgery was my best option to get back out in the world living my life. I had surgery September 7, 2018 and it was the best decision I could have made. My sciatica was immediately gone when I woke up and I was up and about living my life again pretty quickly after the surgery. My recovery was essentially painless. A year later I am still feeling great and my back feels like nothing ever happened to it. I highly recommend Dr. Su and his staff for any of your spine needs as they are truly the best! read more

I just had my three month check up after back surgery and I feel terrific! Dr. Su is amazing. I suffered for over two years with back pain and numbness in my leg. I went to see Dr. Su and within 5 minutes I knew what I needed to do. I was also certain I wanted him to perform the surgery. He walked me through all of my options and answered all of my questions. He even spent time on the phone with me a week before the surgery "talking me off of the ledge." I ended up having anterior / posterior lumbar fusion surgery in August. It is now three months later, my pain is gone and my recovery is going well. I can't thank him and his wonderful staff enough. read more

Dr. Su is very professional, courteous and thorough. His staff were all friendly as well. I finally got some answers and good advice for targeted treatment of cervical spine pain that became much worse following an auto accident. My only complaint is that it took a long time to get in...but I guess that's a good sign. read more

UPDATED REVIEW: Gave me back my life...TWICE! I am and will remain eternally thankful that I found Dr Su to help put me back together again...TWICE. Had horrific back pain as reported in my earlier review. Finally decided to do the L5/S1 fusion surgery. Was scared as hell, but it was the only option I had left. It worked perfectly and I was out of pain for about 18 months. Could walk/hike long distances again etc. Then I stupidly went to a personal trainer at a gym who claimed to be trained in working with post back surgery patients. Lesson learned: do not believe trainers. They are not doctors or even licensed therapist. Needless to say, through a series of bad stretch exercises, I successfully herniated the L4/L5 disc above and had to have a second fusion surgery in November of 2015. Luckily, Dr Su was able to put Humpty together again! NOW, here I am in June 2016, I am totally pain free. I walked 7 miles this morning. This guy is one very amazing doctor. His nurse assistant (Meghan) is also terrific. Very knowledgeable, quick to respond and can handle so many questions etc. with charm and compassion. This is true of Nurse Allison as well. Even the X-ray tech is quick and kind. I love the fact that they have xray and mri on site so you can get the imaging and have the results to the dr so quickly. BUT, just so that you know I am not a shill for the practice, here are my gripes. Top of the list: the appointment staff/front desk staff should all be replaced with people who are quick, efficient and compassionate. These people have forgotten to enter appointments and then won't bend over backwards to work you in. In person, they are charm-less. They just throw the paperwork at you...tell you to fill it out and come back when you are done. No smiles, no thank you's, no make yourself comfortable in the waiting area, no "you can get some water over there if you need it." They all should work at the DMV rather than at a doctors' office where most of the patients are in excruciating pain! Last gripe has to do with the pain med nurse Lisa. This has NOTHING to do with her herself. She is VERY nice, VERY compassionate and VERY knowledgeable. But she is like impossible to get into see. She is so booked up that you can wait a long time for an appointment. I think that is pretty unacceptable when it comes to pain management. (And, honestly, when you are in pain, your time perception is whacked anyway. Every day feels like 20!) I know that Nurse Lisa does not work everyday. I am not asking her to change her work/life schedule for me!! but I sure wish the practice had two pain nurses so that the wait would not be as long. To this same point, there is seemingly no scheduling coordination between her appointment schedule and Dr Su's schedule. So, you can wait to get an appointment to see Dr Su only to find out you need pain help from Nurse Lisa, but then the next time you can see her is in another two weeks. For my money, that is crazy. In fact, I don't know if Dr Su and Nurse Lisa are ever in on the same day! Bottom line: they need another pain management nurse to handle all the workload for Nurse Lisa and to free up more appointment spaces. To repeat: this is NOT about her. She is TERRIFIC, it is about scheduling. Bottom line: all of the professional staff are over-the-top AMAZING professionals. You could not find better people if you tried. BUT, The appointment/front desk staff needs to be replaced or seriously trained in people/patient skills. Or send them packing to go work at one of the evil-empire health insurance companies. read more

I was put in contact indecently with Dr. Su, during an attempt to secure care for a major health concern regarding a spinal surgery I had undergone. I had been misinformed and brushed aside for months from various other medical offices, but Dr. Su made sure to do everything in his power to help me. I can't tell you how refreshing that was to me. Thank you sir! I wanted to make this review as a testament to how truly grateful I feel. I am a grown man and his direct and caring attention made me break down into tears; after all I have been through, I never could have imagined a better experience. The medical field can be very complicated, but Dr. Su and his team put me at ease, and took care of me. I cannot say it enough. Thank you. read more

If you have pain and symptoms of discomfort related to your cervical spine, Dr. Su is can take good care of you. Not many surgeons I have met have good "bedside manner" or take the time to ensure you feel well informed about your condition and all the options available regarding a treatment plan. I have had two complex surgeries performed by him and perhaps will need more and won't hesitate in the least to do whatever he thinks best. Whenever I need something fixed, whether in my home or in my body, I seek to hire the best expert I can find and then let them advise me accordingly. He is an expert in his field and really a nice guy to be around so I would recommend him all day long for anyone with neck issues. His office is first class as well. read more

Dr. Brian Su is a fantastic and innovative surgeon. I'm glad I found him. As a tall, avid runner, I stepped into his office with a borderline L5-S1 disc issue about two years ago that was nagging me throughout my life and was aggravated by heavy lifting. I tried just about everything - I mean everything! - outside of surgery to remedy my issue. Dr. Su made it clear what surgery could do for me, and the possible risks every step of the way. I had A/PLIF surgery in 2014 and subsequent hardware removal in 2015, which was rare for spinal fusion cases. Despite the intense pain management I had to go through for the past year or so, his team was patient and compassionate, and responded quickly to my requests. This superb staff (Kate, Lisa, and others) were able to navigate the toughest parts of our modern regulatory medical environment with grace, humor, and efficiency. Today, only four months out from my hardware removal, I am now returning to a running routine, slowly and gradually, with an emphasis on strength and flexibility work. Honestly, I never thought I would be able to become this active without pain again given the challenges of back surgery. I am immensely grateful to this staff (and the many others I encountered along the way) who listened to my story and acted when I needed it the most. read more

Dr Su is a caring doctor and did an amazing job fixing my dads spinal stenosis . It was a very complicated and difficult surgery..

I was beyond impressed with the care received from Dr. Brian Su. In past years I had been going to San Francisco to seek help with my back.. No reason to cross the bridge when we are so fortunate to have a doctor in our midst who possesses an outstanding educational background and in depth training at the finest hospitals in the country/ Dr.Su is very friendly and puts his patients at ease. I feel that his judgement is spot on and I feel extremely confident to be in his care. read more

It was so fortunate that I found Dr Brian Su of California Orthopedics & Spine, a distinguished spine surgeon of great expertise and experience. During office visits with him prior to my surgery, he listened intently, went over MRI and x-ray results with me in detail, and took time to discuss options. He is one of those rare doctors who engage completely with the patient with a caring attitude that is cloaked in intelligence and knowledge. My surgery was very successful, starting with the care and help I received from his office staff to the wonderful staff and team at the new Marin Specialty Surgery Center that he helped design. The Center is a state-of-the art, beautifully designed venue that offers patient privacy and the comfort of knowing that the top technical surgical equipment, tools, devices and instruments are available. I highly recommend Dr Su, and may you have the fortune of being a "guest" at his very special surgery center. read more

After reading the four positive reviews of Dr. Su, I anticipated a positive visit, but I left quite disappointed. I had many questions about my spine and activities I could participate in when I came in for my appointment after being told by my orthopedist that I had a severely distorted spine, but Dr. Su was reassuring that for my age, my spine was not in bad shape. Besides this reassurance, there was little other information that Dr. Su provided. He did a cursory physical exam, recommended PT, a cortisone injection and further x-rays, but he never stayed around to answer any of my questions or concerns, nor did he do much with my history. Dr. Su is well educated and has published a great deal, but his handling of my personal situation was quite disappointing. Ralph Berets read more

Dr. Su has successfully treated my spine issues for three years with three surgeries to my neck and lower back. I was reliant on pain killers for relief before I met Dr. Su. and 13 weeks after my last surgery I am off all pain medicine. I am fused from C3-T1 and from L4-S1 and I am pain free for the most part. The skill and expertise of Dr. Su is unsurpassed! I have recommended him to everyone in my family all over the country because it is worth the trip for his services. This man genuinely cares and makes every effort to help you. If you choose Dr. Su's services you can relax, it's going to be ok! read more

I saw another reviewer here who said Dr Su changed his life. It sounds dramatic, but that's exactly what he did for me as well. For several years, I suffered with significant pain, numbness and tingling in my neck, back and arm from two damaged spinal discs, a compressed spinal cord and a bone spur. Initially, I was seeing a spine doctor in San Francisco who was unsure and inconsistent in his suggestions for treatment. What was especially frustrating for me personally is that I love to run and my issues were having a dramatic impact on my ability to enjoy one of my favorite activities. While I was in significant pain, the SF doctor was unable to see me. I basically gave up and decided to live with my pain. However, my wife called around to see who might be available. She was able to get my an appointment with Dr Su. It was one of those random moments that changed my entire life. Within minutes of seeing my X-Rays, Dr Su was able to clearly identify my problems and suggest a course of treatment. His initial suggestion was an epidural. He explained to me that my problem was significant and could and likely would require surgery at some point. But he wanted to try other treatments first. That was great news for me because I have a phobia of surgery and will avoid it at all lengths. The epidural was performed and for a year I was mostly pain and numbness free. However, shorty after, I had another significant attack of pain. This time it happened when I was on vacation in Hawaii and it practically ruined what should have been a great experience. Because of the new rules on pain killers, I was unable to have Dr Su's office provide a prescription (that's a GOOD thing, ultimately). When I came back from vacation, I knew it was time to take more a more dramatic step. I told Dr Su I was ready for surgery. He took me through all of the processes and risks of a two-level anterior cervical fusion. For anyone considering this surgery, others will also take you through the risks! Everyone I spoke to had a horror story of several surgeries and complications. I spoke to Dr Su about all of these and he calmly and clearly took me through the risks and probabilities. Based on his demeanor, confidence and, frankly, the reviews here, I made the decision to proceed. I had my surgery on January 19th, 2017. When Dr Su came to visit me in my room later that day (he was also in the recovery room, although I have little memory of that visit) he tested my arm and hand strength. The improvement was already dramatic. Typically after these tests, I would feel lingering pain and tingling. This time, I felt a fantastic nothing! I felt stronger. The three months in the neck brace is definitely a drag...but that was nowhere near the hardest part of my recovery. Dr Su is the only surgeon I have ever heard of who provides his personal mobile number as well as his email. I never called him but I emailed him a few times asking (okay, begging) if I could start running sooner, even on stationary equipment. He always declined to approve it, because he's a great doctor who knew what was best for me while I didn't. I went stir crazy for sure. However, I ran the San Francisco Half Marathon in July and ran the Tiburon Half in October (and got my second fastest time ever). I live a pain-free life now! I don't have fear that I will have another flare up. Driving isn't an agony. I am as active as I want to be...and, in fact, more active than I was before my surgery. Dr Su gave me the lifestyle I could only dream of having before the surgery. His entire demeanor the entire time was just perfect. He was even wonderful with my wife just before I went into surgery. In fact, my biggest regret now is that I don't have any reason to see him anymore. I'm going to miss our talks. Spinal surgery is scary and makes anyone nervous. There are risks and it should be carefully considered. But if that's the route you end up needing, Dr Su is the only person you should be talking to in the Bay Area. I've already referring a couple of my friends and family to Dr Su and will continue to do so. I have given Dr Su my permission to provide my name as a reference should you be considering this or any other surgery with him. Please feel free to reach out; I am happy to discuss! You will be in VERY good hands. -Merrick read more

Words can't even describe how much we appreciate Dr. Su. We have Kaiser insurance. My husband has had a major back issue that has rendered him unable to work since December. After numerous appointments with Kaiser their back doctor recommended a Tens device, glucosamine and turmeric. After repeatedly trying to get him more help and letting them know none of their advice was helping we were at a loss as to what to do. We contacted Dr. Su's office. They got us an appointment the next day. After one appointment they came up with a plan. We then unfortunately ended up at Kaiser's ER when he fell and was unable to get up. Dr. Su spoke to their ER doctor and directed them to the best course of action. Long story short we were feeling desperate and Dr. Su really took the time to help us. We really felt heard and taken care of for the first time in months. His whole office staff is wonderful. The gratitude we feel can't be put into words. Thank you Dr. Su and staff! We would be lost without you. read more

After years of suffering from lower back pain and sciatica I started seeing Dr. Su in early 2016. Unlike other surgeons, who were ready to perform surgery immediately, he methodically used an exhaustive array of nonsurgical approaches to determine the source of the pain. After exhausting the nonsurgical alternatives, I underwent interior lumbar interbody fusion for L5 S1 in August 2016. One year later, I no longer have back pain and am able to resume my normal activities. Dr. Su is an extremely talented surgeon and a kind and considerate person. I would recommend him to anyone that has back pain. He is honest and does not over promise. He manages expectations while delivering results. read more

After waking up one day with a numb left leg and a subsequent diagnosis of sizable herniated discs I went to see FOUR doctors. Each one told me I had to go into surgery as soon as possible. I could wait maybe 10 days - two weeks. Dr. Su came highly recommended from a trusted friend and was the ONLY doctor who suggested any other course of treatment and told me surgery wasn't necessary. The old adage of "Surgeons like to operate" doesn't apply to Dr. Su. Eight weeks later, no surgery, I was in no pain, walking just fine (easily able to go on 2+ hr hikes), and had almost complete strength back in the leg. The pain flared back up about two weeks before my wedding and Dr. Su was quick to get on the phone with me, make recommendations and was incredibly attentive and assured me that I would be able to walk down the aisle! He was right. It's now been about a year and I'm as good as new and didn't have to suffer through back surgery. THANK YOU!!! read more

I am coming up on my 2nd anniversary since I have had L4-L5 spinal fusion surgery and I am now 67 years old. For the year before my surgery Dr. Su encouraged and supported me to explore ALL other avenues for treatment, using surgery as the LAST resort. I previously was a very active outdoor person, hiking Half Dome 6 times, daily hikes and mountain biking, swimmer and skier. For several years before the surgery I was having more and more pain and by the time I found Dr. Su my life had changed drastically. By the time I had the surgery I knew it was what I personally needed, as I tried every other way to avoid the surgery, which included acupuncture, chiropractic care, physical therapy, massage, pain and anti-inflammatory meds, medical cannabis, visualization, and cortisone injections. The surgery recovery was a CHALLENGE, but his surgical expertise and my commitment to follow the physical therapy recommended has made me a 100% PAIN FREE individual. My back problems, that go back for decades, are finally non existent. Dr. Su without a doubt turned my life around and I feel confident I have another 20 - 30 years of outdoor activity ahead of me. read more

I met with Dr Su in early July and he determined I needed 3-Level Cervical Fusion C4-C7. Dr. Su is hands down the best, most caring doctor ever. Dr. Su spent time going over my diagnosis, explaining his recommended treatment, explained the alternative and outcome for both. I decided that based on my active lifestyle and having 2 young children, surgery was the best option for me. I had my surgery within 5 weeks of my first appointment and the surgery went smoothly. I had a longer than usual stay in the hospital and Dr Su was there daily to check on me. His follow up and the attention he gives to his patients post-surgery is unmatched in my experience. I am coming up on 4 months post-surgery and have excellent range of motion and all of the pain that I had in my shoulder was gone immediately upon waking from surgery. My recovery has been a little more challenging than most patients and Dr. Su has been amazing every step of the way. How many surgeons can you send a text message on any day and he responds. He is so caring with his patients and his staff is wonderful. I don't know any other surgeon who provides his/her patients with both his personal phone number as well as his personal email address. For anyone with spine issues, Dr. Su is the best. A highly recommend him. read more

I like Dr. Su, I think he actually listens and I have faith in him as a surgeon which is important since I opted for spinal surgery. Smart guy, I feel fortunate to have found him. read more

My eternal thanks to Dr. Su for his thoughtful, caring, skilled treatment! When I went to him for back pain, he requested imaging that revealed a pars fracture, and a disc and nerve that were squashed. He said surgery was a possibility at some point but was not an emergency. I saw him over the course of several years before the ongoing pain led me to tell him I was ready for surgery. He performed a spinal fusion at L2/3 that has basically eliminated my pain. I am now three months post surgery and in physical therapy to regain my core strength. Dr. Su always gives me plenty of time in the office to ask as many questions as I want. He explains things thoroughly and clearly. I get calls back from his assistant and surgical coordinator. After surgery, I got great help from the nurses to look after the wounds/scars. I always feel well looked after by everyone in the office. Thank you, Dr. Su, you've changed the way I live my life day to day! read more

Dr. Su and his team single handedly changed my life. He performed an L4 L5 micro discectomy 6 months ago and the results have been AMAZING. For 4-5 years I have had a herniated disc pinching a nerve that sent a constant sharp pain down my left leg, most noticeable in the back of my left knee. I saw several doctors and even had unsuccessful knee surgery. When I was introduced to Dr. Su and saw/heard his explanation of my MRI and why I am having pain, I had no hesitation to ask for the surgery... It was so clear what was causing the pain. (Something no one else could put their finger on). Immediately after recovering from the surgery I could feel a difference in the pain level behind my knee. He said he could bring my pain level from a 9-10 (on a scale of 10) down to around a 2, and has exceeded his expectations as I have virtually no pain in my knee 6 months later. His bedside manners are impeccable, he is straight-forward and honest, and his procedure was a 100% success. I would recommend him to anyone. read more

My name is Norm Simons. I consulted with Dr. Brian Su in summer 2010 re lower back pain resulting in loss of function in my lower left leg. As an older athlete I was concerned with being able to function at a high level as I aged. I was 57 at the time. After a thorough exam, Dr. Su meticulously advised me how he could GUARANTEE he could resolve at least 90% of my pain. He did better, not only resolving 100% of my pain, but resolving 20 years of regular chiropractic care. Its now been 7 years since the major back surgery, and I am very active, including regular x-c sking, weight lifting, kayaking and cycling, hiking and climbing. Although I had a rapid recovery (Dr. Su thought it was related to my conditioning and flexibility), I can now sit flat on the floor, legs spread wide, and I can not only lean forward and touch my forehead to each knee, I can now touch my forehead to the floor. All of this is a result of Dr Su's expert care. I would STRONGLY encourage anyone with back issues to contact Dr. Su. You will be very happy that you did. read more

Brian Su, MD - Norm Simons 65. After laminectomy by Dr. Brian Su on 12/3/2010. He guaranteed he could get rid of the pain. He did! I do everything! 7/30/18 - Orthopedists Near Me - Larkspur, California

Dr. Brian Su is one of the best doctors on the planet, inspiring me to write my first yelp review. I have had many doctors over the years. Dr. Su is not only technically brilliant and academically/professionally at the top of his field but exceptionally communicative, caring, responsive. Spine surgery is an upsetting prospect. In Dr. Su's care I felt confident that I was getting precise, state-of-the-art treatment. He didn't promise that my excruciating pain from cervical spine nerve compression and disc herniation (too many years sitting at a desk) would completely resolve, but said the odds were excellent that the pain would substantially lessen. In fact, a few weeks post-surgery I was 100% cured. Whenever I've had a question he told me I could text or email; I did so and got a response within minutes. I feel so lucky and grateful and cannot recommend him and his staff highly enough. read more

I am writing to update my previous review. Dr. Su performed cervical surgery on me last February. The surgery went smoothly. I was only in the hospital overnight. Can you believe there were flowers from Dr. Su in my room when I returned!! He followed my recovery closely as I had lost a lot of movement in my left arm. He was ALWAYS almost immediately available by text or cell. He is so committed to his patients wellbeing. I started physical therapy right away and now have complete range of motion. I just had my one year check back and everything is fine. I can't say enough about Dr. Su's skills as a surgeon and his concern for his patients. Marin county is so lucky to have him. I only worry that he might be lured away to a more exciting place. I recommend him whenever I hear of someone with back problems. read more

Dr. Su and his assistant were beyond amazing! I went to the appointment with my mother coming from Napa and my Aunt and her made the trek from Guerneville. We were there for a second opinion on wether surgery made sense to help my mothers chronic back pain. His assistant (wish I remembered her name) was amazingly compassionate while still being fast and efficient. When Dr. Su came in the room he introduced himself to all but first focused on my mother "the patient". I had been with her to past appointments some okay and some that made me horrified about the state of medicine. I work in medicine and almost daily I think damn all the systems are all so broken! We did not leave this appointment feeling this way. He advised against surgery gave other options that we will follow up on and was very thorough and shared why he thought no surgery and other modalities were truly the best course of action. Hallalejah medicine isn't always broken! Called home and heard from my father that she was already more motivated and doing her home physical therapy. Thank you for your good work! read more

I have never written a medical review before, but its time. After 2 years of pain and being told by Kaiser it was arthritis and all they could do is pain medication, I'm no longer with Kaiser. I saw Dr. Brian Su who did surgery on my brothers back last year. Right from the start I felt so much better knowing I was at the right place. He started with his own X Ray then an MRI. I will never forget him showing me a large bone spur at C3 on the right side of my neck. Dr. Su did a few more tests before pushing surgery. He came to the conclusion he could make me 80 percent better. He did the surgery 6 weeks ago at Sonoma Valley Hospital were I live. I'm already 80 percent better, and will only get better with time. I just wish I went to see him sooner. I cant thank Dr.Su enough for the care I received from him, by far the best doctor I have ever seen for a spine problems. Kate and Lila his office staff are very professional pleasant and caring, taking care of all your details. I look forward to my daily life coming back to normal feeling better, playing ball with my grandson,riding my bike, playing golf and long walks. I would not hesitate to recommend Dr.Su and his staff at Mt. Tam Orthopedics to anyone that has a spine problem. Thank you Dr. Su !!! and Staff read more

I just saw Steve Kerr on TV, coach of the Warriors, who has had really bad back problems even after having surgery saying, never have back surgery. All I can say is he should have gone to Dr Su hands down. After consulting with Dr Su for the past 3-4 years by going to physical therapy, shots, exercise, etc., at his suggestion, my back was not improving and as the only last resort and careful evaluation by Dr Su, surgery was the only solution. Dr Su avoids performing back surgery at all costs but after his professional evaluation of X-rays and MRI's these past few years, and the confidence I gained of Dr Su, I had back surgery by Dr Su on April 15, 2017. I can honestly testify that I am a completely different person than I was prior to my surgery. I am successfully getting better and better every day, I cannot thank Dr Su enough for giving me back my quality of life again. I haven't taken a pill for pain in weeks compared to taking something every day for years. I can get up and move around without pain, the difference is night and day and I owe it all to Dr Su's professional attitude and perfectionistic work he performed on me. I highly recommend, if you do have a very bad back as I did, make an appt and consult with Dr Su. I promise you it will be your first step towards healing. Thank you Dr Su for a happier, painfree life again. read more

If you are fortunate enough to have Dr. SU as your doctor, RELAX, you are in the best possible care. I can't say enough positive things about Dr SU and his remarkable staff. I am a healthcare professional and it is a rarity in this day of volume medicine to find a doctor especially a highly skilled surgical specialist who takes so much time and shows so much empathy and care for his patients. He is not only a wonderful doctor but truly a very special individual and you feel that the moment you meet him. I have been suffering with neck pain, stiffness, numbness and spasm on and off since 2006. It got to the point in mid 2014 where nothing was helping not even quarterly cervical injections. I was referred to Dr SU who reviewed my MRI and painstakingly showed me the problem discs and the reasons why I was experiencing symptoms. He then reviewed my options and was very straight forward with what I could expect. He told me that if I elected to have the cervical fusion I would need a surgical consult. He informed me that if I call his front desk the wait time for that is typically 6-8 weeks and then he handed me his business card with his email and personal cell number and said " if you have that problem call or email me and I will take care of it" I decided to have the surgery several days later and called the office for an appointment. Just as I was warned the receptionist said they had an opening in 6 weeks. I emailed Dr SU at 5PM that Monday evening and I was in his office at 3:30PM the next day. I was shocked . Truly incredible I was scheduled for surgery about 4 weeks later and to my surprise the anesthesiologist called the night prior to surgery to review my allergies and answer any questions. The surgery went very well and I noticed a remarkable reduction in numbness immediately following the surgery. The evening of the surgery I developed an EXTREMELY RARE complication of this type of surgery. Blood clots had developed around my esophagus and surgical site. I started to have extreme difficulty in swallowing and breathing. A very skilled and observant nurse recognized the symptoms, called Dr SU and he was literally there in less than 10 minutes. He immediately took me into surgery and saved my life. I am now 6 weeks post surgery and doing well. Any questions or concerns i've had have been quickly addressed through phone or email. The doctors staff is just as compassionate and dedicated to the patients as he is. Care at MT Tam Orthopedics sets the very highest standard of what patient care should be. read more

I met Dr. Hsu several times prior to deciding to go with a microdiscectomy. I have been having pretty extreme nerve pain down my left leg. I had about three weeks of being up all night in excruciating pain and medications were dulling it but helping. I must say, I was more than pleased with the results of the surgery. My pain was basically gone, and the recovery from the surgery was nowhere near as painful as the nerve pain prior to the surgery. Dr. Su was personable and professional. He is thoughtful and cautious in his recommendations for surgery. I found him to be thoughtful in helping me come to the best decision which was to have the surgery, but I never felt any pressure to do so. So then, after the surgery, about a year later I get a $60,000 medical bill from Marin general. Marin general told me that I was responsible for the payment. I called them at least six times and call Dr. Sue's office several times also trying to resolve this issue.. Dr. Hsu personally got involved in the situation and helped me resolve it. After getting sent to collections by Marin general, Dr. Su's office help to determine that Marin general had made the error, and eventually Marin General closed the bill and got me off collections. This was an extraordinarily stressful experience and totally unacceptable from Marin General. Dr. Su, however, clearly showed that he personally cares about his clients, By personally helping me resolve this issue, and I am super appreciative of that. Marin General's billing department on the other hand, I would give them a -1000 as a rating on yelp. My advice is to be super careful you have anything done at Marin General. read more

Dr. Su has restored the quality of my life in three weeks after after eight years of begging MD's to find the source of my degenerating problems. I can't even recant the nightmares I can only say the Dr Su is a true credit to the healing profession, an amazing talent and intellect, you must see this man if you are going to have a procedure done on your spine. Thank you Dr. Su what a blessing you are to this world, I can't imagine the number of lives you will have and have improved because of your genuine healing talent and intellect. read more

Dr. Su MD is a caring, brilliant surgeon. If you have spine problems, this is the Doctor you should see. After about 1 year of going to another Orthopedic practice (big mistake on my part), and exhausting all other non surgical options, I went to see Dr. Su. I had Bilateral Spinal Stenosis on all 5 lumbar vertebrae, and an unstable L5 vertebrae which meant a fusion of L5 to L4. I had severe pain in the back of both legs from my gluts down through my calves every time I stood up or walked even one step. By this time I had 2 choices: 1) live with pain for the rest of my life or 2) have surgery. I met with Dr. Su. He went over my MRI in great detail, explained he would remove the vertebrae bones that were touching the nerves on both sides of my 5 Lumber Vertebrae (10 places), and fuse L5 to L4. He told me the operation would take 3 hours, and that is exactly what it took. I was so impressed with his knowledge and his confidence in his operating techniques, I scheduled the surgery for 4 weeks from that first visit. The operation was a complete success. Believe it or not, the morning after the operation the PT tech came into my room, had me stand up for the first time and ALL the pain was gone. It was like Dr Su performed a miracle on me. The pain I had for one year was completely gone. Need I say more. Tom I read more

Dr. Su and his team at the Mt. Tam Spine Center are phenomenal! I had back problems from basketball and he diagnosed them quickly and pinpointed my pain and recommended a specific physical therapy for me. I am happy to say I had a quick recovery all from Dr. Su's knowledge and thoroughness during my appointment with him. I recommend him to friends because he is the best there is! Keep it up Dr. Su, thanks for the help! read more

I can't believe It has been over one year since my last review.Every word I said about Dr. Su is right on. Plus better!!! Dr. Su is the kindest, caring and brilliant Dr. I have ever had!!! His staff is outstanding Lisa Elvin N.P. had changed my life with putting me on a pain management plan that has worked for me until I knew it was time for my neck fusion surgery, next week.I am writing this today because I had neck pain that was excruciating. I made the mistake going to Marin General Emergency room. ( it was Monday, President weekend, Dr. Offices were closed).I have been there a few times in the past 25 years. I have my Achilles sliced six years ago and they were amazing!!!Today the Dr. Assistant was the rudest Dr. I have ever come In contact with. ( I wrote a review on yelp today under Marin General Emergency )with a score of 1 it should of been below zero!!!!(that's another story). I didn't want to call Dr. Su on a holiday but I was desperate after my experience with Dr. Dry cornflake. I called Dr. Su on his day off from the emergency room he answered right away and took care of my issues. I also want to acknowledge Kate Dr. Su's research assistant. She is truly alway there to help you in her kind, caring and knowledgable way. When people our in pain they can act pretty crazy( yes me)!!! Everyone in that office always make me feel better when I leave!!!! A little bit of civility goes a long way!!! read more

this physician, along with the staff were very unhelpful, difficult to schedule and arrogant to deal with right out of the gate, so I opted to not go forward with them and see another doc (a Neurosurgeon with more experience and better results also specializing in neck/backs in the city). this combined with finding out a friend whom is not a yelp user has had no measurable improvement from a cervical (upper neck) procedure Su did a few months ago for them, they still have most of the symptoms they did pre-surgery. although the office local is convenient for Marin residents, I would highly recommend finding a more experienced Physician (preferably a Neurosurgeon) in dealing with the complex and very technical spine related procedures, and most of these docs are SF based. read more

I met with 3 of the best spine surgeons in the bay area before choosing Dr Su to have my spine surgery. Dr Su was by far the best. He took his time to connect with me and I felt his care and empathy. That goes a long way to making me feel comfortable having surgery and having it with him. He patiently explained what he thought was causing my pain and encouraged me to do other tests - a nerve conduction study and a pelvic MRI - to rule out all other possible other causes of pain before considering having surgery. I appreciated his conservative approach. He tried to do everything else possible before considering surgery. In the end, I'm choosing to have the surgery. I haven't had surgery yet, it's still a few months away, but after 9 months of meetings with Dr. Su and lots of deliberation, I can say that I trust him and have confidence that he'll do an excellent job. I thought the entire Mt Tam Orthopedics staff has been great. Kate, Dr Su's nurse has been wonderfully helpful moving this process along with insurance and scheduling. read more