I've had bilateral hip labrum reconstructions and osteoplasty with Dr. Ochiai, 2 years apart. I drove about 75-90 minutes to see him and it was well worth the drive and the tolls! My symptoms had been blamed on pulled muscle and other things for years, so by the time I got the right diagnosis, my hip was not in great shape. He explained my options thoroughly, risks/benefits of surgery, etc, and I never felt rushed. On followbut, I had biceps tendonitis, and he fit me in for a steroid injection, no problem. Both surgeries went well. My left did better, but it was done earlier, and honestly, I followed instructions better. I was able to run and do the things I wanted again. I was always able to get an appointment with him in a timely fashion. Sometimes, there may be a wait, but I would rather have a doctor who doesn't rush through your appointment than one on time. read more

I have been struggling with a torn labrum and FAI for almost four years. I tried multiple cycles of physical therapy and really, really worked hard to avoid surgery because I was frankly afraid of the recovery. I saw three separate hip surgeons, and came to Ochiai after numerous recommendations from others. I've talked to no fewer than 20 people that have had hip arthroscopy with various surgeons. I've spoken with people that have had horrific experiences with recovery and results from the same procedure that I have. I have also talked to some who urged me to have the procedure because it improved their quality of life dramatically. Here is what I will tell you: your surgeon's experience and skill matter. Choose a surgeon that specializes in the procedure you need and commit to the physical therapy. I am absolutely convinced that Ochiai has a great deal to do with what I am going to characterize as a relatively easy recovery. I would recommend him without reservation for hip arthroscopy. I'm now three weeks after surgery and here is what I will tell you: -The procedure was far easier than I anticipated in many ways, and more difficult in others. The upshot is surgery was worth it and I wish I hadn't waited. I'm frankly stunned at how reasonable my recovery was. - I was not really in pain following surgery, just discomfort for a few days. I was off narcotics within 24 hours after surgery. I believe I took two narcotic pain pills after leaving the surgical center. - The worst things to anticipate about this surgery are 1) needing to have someone to help you out for the 48 hours or so afterward, 2) understanding that you will have to commit to wearing a brace for about 6 weeks afterward and to be on crutches for approximately 1-4 weeks after, and 3) understanding PT is a commitment for months after. - I live in a house with lots and lots of stairs. They were no problem. If you have a symptomatic torn labrum or pinching from FAI then I urge you to see Ochiai. read more

Dr. Ochiai is by far the best hip doctor in Virginia. He was a terrific communicator and he thoroughly explained the situation I was facing with my hip. Dr. Ochiai did not rush to surgery and in fact prescribed more conservative measures to heal my torn labrum. Don't bother going anywhere else. read more

I am a 24 year old doctorate of physical therapy and masters of athletic training student and an ex-college athlete. I have swam and played water polo my entire life and due to my active lifestyle, I managed to acquire an FAI (femoral-acetabular impingement, basically excess bone spurs) and a hip labral tear. I was no longer able to run, swim, or play water polo; even sitting for extended periods of time was miserable, always resulting in deep groin pain. It was through my advanced rehabilitation and musculoskeletal courses in school where I first heard of Dr. Ochiai. In our profession, he is considered one of the best orthopedic surgeons, especially in regards to hip arthroscopic procedures. Obviously I was more than willing to drive the hour out to Arlington to meet with him. At first impression, he was incredibly quiet, a bit shy, but 100% professional and to the point. As a student, I was eager to chat with him and bombard him with a multitude of questions for my own self-interest...which he answered graciously and informatively. In my line of work/studies I have encountered numerous surgeons and have become accustomed to their demeanors, but Dr. Ochiai is in NO way, shape, or form rude or unprofessional. He is blunt and to the point, which in all honesty, is what people need if they are facing potential surgical procedures. (Regardless, who truly cares how a surgeon's bedside manner is, as long as they are awesome at their work? I'd rather have a jerk who is amazing at what he does versus a so-called "nice guy" who is mediocre at best...but with Dr. Ochiai, he is BOTH nice and gifted at what he does). Dr. Ochiai was always available to me, as a patient, for questions and both pre- and post-operative visits. Even on the day of my surgery (December 2012), he stopped by before and after the procedure to check on me and to chat with my parents. Throughout the entire process he was incredibly honest about potential risks and side effects of the procedure, which come with any form of surgery. However, I am now 8 months post-op and I am running, swimming, and back to my normal and active lifestyle. This is the first time in my life I have been pain-free and god forbid I need the same procedure on the other hip, I would not think twice about going to Dr. Ochiai and doing it all over again. read more

I had surgery with Dr. Ochiai approximately a year and a half ago. He did a repair of my hip utilizing an allograft. I have waited sometime to post this review, as I typically do when reviewing providers. Dr. Ochiai is one of the few orthopedic surgeons in this area, Northern VA, who knows and understands the particulars of patients with EDS. I was fortunate to have found the EDS diagnosis just before my hip surgery. Then to come across an orthopedic surgeon before making a mistake by going with someone who did not have experience with this PIA condition was a godsend. Dr. Ochiai deserves an award for dealing with this patient population (I've come to find not an easy group of patients) and taking the time to understand how this disease interferes with and affects the various aspects of an operation and healing from surgery. Second, while I would not say his bedside manner is the best I've ever seen, it is very good. He listens and explains very thoroughly in layman's terms. After seeing him multiple times for surgery, follow up and then again after issues arose, I never once felt rushed or not heard. Finally, while it is disappointing and of absolutely NO FAULT of Dr. Ochiai, my hip repair did not take, or it did not last. It is very hard to know which given the confounding factors present with EDS. When I went back due to increasing pain and limitation I really wanted him to perform another repair; we had already tried other non-surgical measures in the interim. I thought he had done a great job the first time and wanted to preserve my natural hip. Unlike some other surgeons may have done, he was not interested in taking me back to the surgical suite just to have another procedure under his belt. He carefully considered my case, talked it over with me extensively and then decided it best to refer me to a colleague for the discussion of hip replacement. Initially I was not in favor or this course of action, but after some time, and reflection as well as an excellent consultation with his colleague I am reconsidering. All in all, I have been very, very pleased with Nirschl Orthopedics and Dr Ochiai. As a provider myself, (I keep this to myself at first so I am able to evaluate things as a regular patient), I am a discerning patient who expects a lot. This group has met and exceeded my expectations. I very highly recommend them! read more

If you have straightforward case and extra money to pay for a medical procedure (over and above what your insurance pays him) - Dr Ochiai is an OK choice. Over a year since my labrum repair, the tear is still present - a failed surgical procedure. This is due to an auto-immune disorder which caused excessive inflammation and interfered with healing. When I had issues healing from my surgery, Dr Ochiai insisted it was normal - it was the ups and downs of recovery. It took a doctor who approached my symptoms, MRI and other evidence in a holistic, diagnostic manner - not a surgeon who could do wrong - that I am finally on track to managing my condition. read more

(I posted this review on the Nirschl Center's listing, but it belongs here as well.) Dr. Ochiai repaired my shoulder better than I could have imagined. A little over a year and a half ago, I dislocated my shoulder during exercise which caused extensive damage including torn cartilage, torn rotator cuff, broken bone, etc. I went to doctor Ochiai because I had recently been to him for an injury to my lumbar, as well as issues with my knees. Without an MRI or an X-Ray, he was able to diagnose the full extent of the injury except the bone damage. He ordered and MRI (without contrast) and let me know I would most likely need surgery. He mentioned that he was going to spare me the contrast MRI, and if I would have known exactly what he was sparing me from at the time, I would have shown a lot more gratitude. When the results of the MRI confirmed everything he had told me, and revealed the bone issue, he gave me my options. I never once felt pressured to choose surgery, and he was extremely clear about the long term benefits and risks were, and he was very thorough in explaining the intricacies of the shoulder to me. I can't express how patient he was. My surgery went extremely well. My experience with the Surgical Center he used was better than any hospital. Dr. Ochiai and the staff at the center made me very comfortable. The procedure was done with only two incisions which are now so small and clean that they can only be seen if I point them out to someone. Post surgical visits with Dr. Ochiai were excellent. He worked me in on short notice during several emergency issues I had (re-injury). At one point I had to have that contrast MRI he avoided earlier, and wow! That was the most painful thing I've ever experienced in my life! I'm glad I only had to go through that once. I went to the Nirschl Physical Therapy center where unfortunately I was paired with two horrible physical therapists. By a stroke of luck, one of them was out on a day that I was assigned to her and I was temporarily given to Jill (who is no longer there). Jill was outstanding, and my request to be transferred to her was granted. There was a lot of pain, but she knew what she was doing and really motivated my recovery. If I could find her and review her I would. I quit physical therapy when Jill left, and resumed all the exercises at home. Though Jill and the techs that worked there were awesome, the other staff leave much to be desired in terms of professionalism, attitude, and in some cases competence in their skill. I currently have full range of motion in my shoulder. I could not be more pleased with my recovery. My only regret is that I never really thanked him for what he did to fix me. I would highly recommend Dr. Ochiai for shoulder repair (oh and knees, hips and lumbar)! read more

His receptionist is awful. Terrible terrible way to treat patients, nonetheless patients in pain! I can't say much about Dr. Ochiai himself because I never got to see him due to his receptionist. For my first appointment I arrived on time instead of a few mins early due to rain and traffic, and therefore would not let me fill out forms or see the doc. I asked if I could fill them out quickly while I wait, since doctors always take ages to come see you. No sympathy at all. Straight rudeness. It wouldn't have been half as bad if she had been nice. No desire to return now. read more

I am 11 weeks post-op for hip labral tear repair, bone reshaping and capsular plication and could not be happier with the results. I spent many months in physical therapy trying to avoid surgery. When I finally bit the bullet and met with Dr. Ochiai, he saw the impingment on my Xrays immediately (that two prior general orthos had missed entirely) and explained why my labrum was torn and why my mobility was suffering. He gave me several non-surgical options in addition to the operation. I opted to get a cortisone injection into the hip as an assurance that my issues were in fact from the hip and not my back. The injection was very smooth and within a few days nearly all of my pain was gone. After the shot wore off, I called immediately to schedule surgery. The surgery was performed at Mass Ave surgical center and was a surprisingly stress-free experience despite it being a rather major surgery. Each of my follow-up appointments went smoothly as well. I never had an issue making an appointment and even better, only once did I actually sit down in the waiting room for more than 30 seconds. I was usually seen right away. Like a good patient, I had done my research on surgeons prior to making the appointment. There were some dubious reviews about Dr. Ochiai's bedside manner. My husband came with me on my first appointment and both of us were impressed with his professional manner. He clearly knows his stuff, never rushed us or was condescending. While he may not be the most effusive doc, I am seeing him for his surgical skills, not therapy. Even so, he was always friendly and pleasant. The office staff at Nirschl was likewise very friendly and professional. I get the sense that Dr. Ochiai and his team run a tight ship, but as a patient with little time to waste, I appreciate that. One more thing I feel bears mentioning - for some reason my insurance company initially denied pre-authorization for parts of my surgery that are stated to be covered. When I called the insurance company to see what was going on, they noted that Dr. Ochiai's office had already called and scheduled a peer to peer review to get the procedure authorized. I was very impressed that they were so on top of things. It was an error on the insurance company's fault, but very stressful until it got resolved. I really appreciated that Dr. Ochiai's office was on top of things right away. I have a slight impingment on my other hip that is not currently symptomatic. If it ever gets that way, I will not hesitate to get on Dr. Ochiai's schedule right away. My operated hip is functioning at 100% already and both my physical therapist and personal trainer have been amazed at how quickly I've recovered from the surgery. read more

Dr Ochiai did superb work on my son's shoulder. He repaired the labrum and the rotator cuff. His office was professional and Dr Ochiai had excellent rapport with me and my son. He explained the process, procedure and the recovery time and when to expect him back to playing again. He did such an excellent job that my son recovered quicker than the normal recovery time. I would recommend Dr Ochiai to any athlete needing surgery. read more

Dr. Ochiai is fantastic. He is professional, polite, and competent. I thought I needed knee surgery but that's not what he recommended. I was able to leave his office pain free. Definitely knows what he is doing. read more

Went to see Dr. Ochiai for a dislocated knee cap. He did not spend much time analyzing my knee and recommended I try physical therapy for a month based off of my x-rays. 2 months later my knee was still not healing up so I went back in for another visit. He then decided to do an MRI. Based off of the MRI he wanted to do a lateral release surgery on my knee to try to correct the malalignment of my kneecap. After doing some research and seeing another surgeon, I came to realize that this operation is just not utilized anymore these days, because it simply doesn't work. Rather then recommend I see a knee expert, he jumped to the conclusion that I should get this surgery, and went ahead and prescribed me pain killers before I even scheduled an appointment for the surgery. Luckily I did not go through with this operation with Dr. Ochiai. After seeing an actual knee expert, Dr. Klimkiewicz, I came to find out I have a hole in my cartilage, and I need to have a Carticel implant done. Had I gone through with the operation from Dr. Ochiai, I would have been left in worse condition then I started and still would not have had the problem dealt with. I highly recommend you stay away from him if you are looking for knee surgery. Dr. K is the man! read more

Dr. Ochiai has seen me for several sports related injuries over the years. If I could give him a 10, I would. Dr. Ochiai is a brilliant surgeon and even a better person, he is "Team Cliffy". If you don't want to know the truth, don't ask the question. If you want a doctor who truly cares about his patient's best interest, you can't go wrong with Dr. Ochiai. A special thank you to the staff at Nirschl Orthopaedic Center!!! Christina and the gang like Italian Store Pizza/Subs and Bakeshop cupcakes :) read more

Dr. Ochiai is a gem! He was my second opinion for surgery of my hip. What a refreshing difference! The first doctor gave me 10 mins. and told me I was too old for surgery and at 55 I was better off with steroid injections. I could barely walk. Dr. Ochiai spent 45 mins. with my husband and me explaining my condition and all the options available including surgery. I opted for surgery. 6 weeks later, I was not only walking great but pain free and swimming again. Amazing! Dr. Ochiai is a kind and sympathetic doctor who will listen to your concerns and your athletic lifestyle along with your job requirements and discuss the right treatment for you. The first doctor did not care if I swam again or not but Dr. Ochiai cared to find a treatment that encompassed my work and recreational lifestyle. 5 stars. read more