Let me start by saying he is incredibly nice. He seemed to care about my situation therefore I trusted him never doubting him. He performed 2 back surgeries on me on November 2020. I had a herniated disk. The herniation returned so I went back to surgery. The pain I endured for 3 months is something indescribable. I would visit his office every 2 to 3 weeks complaining of pain. He would quickly dismiss my pain by being "normal". Except no pain is normal. Pain is the bodies way of telling you something is wrong. Back in January of 2021 I experienced more complications. From having a mass on my incision that exploded causing yellow fluid to come out of my back. In which he said it was normal and giving me antibiotics in case I had an infection. That same week both of my knees down to my feet were swollen, red and hot. I also had that on both of my arms down towards my hands. I went to his office again which again he dismissed. Stating if it was an infection in my joints I wouldn't be walking anymore. Well I wasn't I couldn't even stand up for him to check my incision. He sent me home telling me to continue drinking my antibiotics and ibuprofen for the pain. The pain was excruciating! I couldn't get out of bed at that point. When I would get up I would do it screaming in agony. I traumatized my neighbors as well as my family. The ambulance had to come and get me. I had to be airlifted to Standford hospital because Watsonville Hospital couldn't do anything for me. The infection was incredibly sever and rare. I had an emergency surgery that same day I was airlifted and had to be in bed for 5 days since my spine was weak. I ended up having 3 surgeries at Stanford. They saved my life. I can happily say I am PAIN FREE! I had to re learn to walk by myself without relying on a walker. The trauma I have endured is huge. This is why I'm writing this review. I read all the great reviews on him therefore I trusted him with my spine. Also because he was nice. Yet dismissing your patients pain and just seeing them for a quick couple of minutes is in my opinion incredibly unprofessional. I ask people to do their research especially when having BACK SURGERY! I don't wish this pain upon anyone. Since he was nice I trusted him. I made excuses for him. That he was the doctor he studied for this so he should know. Well turns out I should have listened to myself to my gut. I am lucky to be walking. I am lucky to be alive. I always had trust issues with doctors but now more than ever. People listen to your body TRUST YOUR BODY. Don't allow someone to tell your pain is natural when it truly isn't. NO PAIN IS NATURAL! read more

I can't speak for his surgical skill, but I can say that I was referred to him for my scoliosis that is 45 degrees. Although there was a short wait, it was so worth it in terms of bedside manner and just.... IDk, I left feeling like I had just spoken with a very competent & experienced doctor. He didn't sugar coat anything, and made me feel at least a little more hopeful about the future. I don't think I'm going to have surgery yet, but If/when I do, I'd definitely trust this doctor with my life, literally! read more

Dr Kris Okumu is outstanding! I work with patients that have back pain all day long. I have heard roughly 200+ stories from patients that have seen various surgeons, MDs, chiropractors etc. And the only consistently outstanding results have been with Dr. Okumu. I'm a healthcare provider. The only person I trust to take care of my patients in there greatest moment of need is Dr. Okumu. He has personally seen over a dozen of my patients... All of which were in terrible condition, and they all come back healthy and normal. Thank you Dr. Kris for everything you've done! read more

I had a phenomenal experience with Dr. Kris Okumu and would recommend him highly. I saw multiple back surgeons before settling on him based on a recommendation from a knowledgeable friend. He was able to help me when others were not, my back surgery was successful and I'm pain free. He was super responsive to my follow-up questions and prescription needs. His manner is patient and expert. I'll go to him first for any future orthopedic issues I may have. read more

Having dealt with Kris Okumu a few times now, I don't think this is a doctor you can count on. He doesn't seem to take his patients very seriously. My most recent appointment got postponed THREE times in a row -- and his secretary tends to not call until the last day. The third time, I didn't get the message until literally the last minute, by which time I'd already arrived at his office and wasted nearly half the day. On top of the hassle it caused at my job with the false alarms, this whimsical scheduling also cost me nearly $200 in lost wages. I also wonder about other things. The first time I saw him about my back pain, it had been nearly five months since the incident that triggered it. Yet Dr. Okumu said I'm fine, told me to just wait to recover, and sent me on my way, even though every other medical resource I'd consulted says that back pain that doesn't heal in several weeks is probably serious. Being a guy to take a specialist at his word, I ended up waiting an extra five months before seeking treatment. I'm giving three stars because he's at least a pretty pleasant guy in person. Considering all his actions (or inactions) have cost me though, maybe that's generous. read more

Dr. Okumu performed a very successful hip surgery last year on my 71 years old dad. My dad was able to walk very soon. He is very patient and knows what he is doing! read more

I hesitated to see a back surgeon, because I imagined that all back surgery was risky and drastic action. I have osteoporosis and one of my very thin vertebra partially collapsed. After 4 months it started collapsing again. Dr. Okumu restored the vertebra using a new, minimally-invasive method called "kyphoplasty." Dr. Okumu has been educated at outstanding medical schools, and he has a very pleasant personality. I trusted him, the minute I met him. If another vertebra starts to collapse, I will head straight to his office. read more

Dr. Okumu was referred to me by my primary care physician. I myself am a health care provider so I am particular about who I see and I am observant about my surroundings. I also tend to rely on Yelp and at that time Dr. Okumu did not have any yelp reviews. Here is what I found during my visit. Dr. Okumu's receptionist is enthusiastic and friendly on the phone. When I arrived, I was a little confused as the beautiful reception desk was not being utilized. Instead I was welcomed into a small office where I completed the registration process. This may be a shared office situation or there may be some remodeling going on. I never asked about this. I would have to say that this part of the visit left me feeling neutral which is not bad but I was not overwhelmed. When I meet a new health care provider, I always have the intention to be open and trusting but my nature is to be a little cautious until I have had the opportunity to evaluate the person professionally and personally. Here is what I have to say about Dr. Okumu: I found Dr. Okumu to be immediately likeable. He was able to tailor his conversation with me to be at an appropriate level. He did not overwhelm me with information that I did not understand and yet he made things interesting for me by correctly judging my medical background. I got the feeling that he does this with everyone and that he does this naturally. I have chronic back pain and was seeking relief. I brought in previous MRI results on CD and a written report. Apparently he had been reviewing these as I was registering. Dr. Okumu took the time to show me the CD on his lap top and used models to thoroughly educate me on my condition and my options. His solution for me was not surgery. I am disappointed that I do not have a quick fix for my ailment but I am also grateful to have my questions answered and to feel at peace that I can now put this issue to sleep. Dr. Okumu gave me some options for management of my situation. Even though Dr. Okumu did not recommend spine surgery for me, I am happy to have met him because I now feel that I have a wonderful spine specialist should my need for surgery change in the future. read more

Dr. Okumu was referred to me by my pain management physician. I am a retired police officer, so I too am VERY particular about who I see, their background and credibility. I did do some research before my visit and was pleased and satisfied with Dr.Okumu's qualifications. During my phone calls to his office, his receptionist was very cordial and accommodating. Upon arrival to his office, it was easy to find and pleasant to enter. It has a professional atmosphere, clean and comfortable. Dr. Okumu's visit with me was excellent and for the same reasons the reviewer (Jonathan) before me stated. Dr. Okumu was much more thorough in his explanation and showed a genuine interest in my condition. This was my 'second opinion' visit and needless to say, I was extremely happy that he will be able to help me with my current issue without exaggerating too much with other minor conditions that do not need attention at this time. Dr. Okumu was professional, very knowledgeable in his field and appeared to be on top of current trends with surgical techniques. He is likeable, intelligent, and did not overwhelm me. I also like the fact that Dr. Okumu reviewed my MRI and reports while I was registering. My situation was fresh in his mind and he was able to review with me his initial findings, options and recommendations. Something the first surgeon failed to do and left me feeling "what should I do and why". I gave Dr. Okumu 5 stars because he met all my expectations with everything above. Even though I have not went through the procedure with him yet, I highly recommend him to anyone looking for a second opinion or consultation. I will update my surgery experience after that occurs. read more

I went to see Dr. Okuma once he recommended a shot, which did not work. I tried to call his office 3 times after the injection, with no calls back, spoke to office mgr left a message with her and she said he would call me back, no calls back. I went to the office twice, doors were locked. So I gave up on Dr. Okuma and went to see a different Spine specialist. read more

I can't recommend Dr. Okumu highly enough. I have my life back. His knowledge, ability to talk in layman's terms, demonstrated surgical skill, and genuine and meticulous care for the unique aspects of my situation - all led me to sincerely ask "Why did I suffer so long!" I had experienced back pain for over 15 years, but the intensity of the pain was increasingly becoming debilitating - to the point of interfering with my R&D at NASA. I was constantly fighting pain and that was all I was doing. Cold compresses, message, and hydrotherapy aided by over-the-counter pain killers only slightly took the edge off the agony. Cortizone shots directly into my back provided relief for maybe 1-2 months if I was lucky. I had two separate series of multiple shots over 1.5 years, but the pain always returned. I was walking slowly with a massively curved spine - just like my 90-year-old mother - and simply couldn't escape the pain. My primary care physician finally referred me to Dr. Okumu to get handle on what was going on. I really did not want to consider surgery and was frankly afraid of what to me seemed like a highly (grizzly) invasive and long-recovery period "back surgery". But I really needed to understand what was so severely impacting my body and sought some kind of relief or at least management of the pain. In my first meeting, Dr. Okumu reviewed with me my MRI and x-ray series, helping me to understand what the images were showing about my back. I could see the three collapsed vertebrae, but what I couldn't see, he explained in terms that I could understand: the multiple causes for my pain, including extreme spinal senosis. He explained - again in language that I could understand - the various steps possible in addressing the physical changes in my back. Perhaps our most persuasive discussion was about a much less invasive surgery than the more severe "split up the back" surgery that would not only provide immediate relief but would allow for a faster recovery. We discussed not just the surgery but the lifestyle changes and physical therapy that would get me - and keep me - walking again without pain. Dr. Okumu's laproscopic technique required only three one-inch incisions and three days in the hospital. I understand that the surgery arena at El Camino Hospital was built for his surgical requirements. Ultimately, Dr. Okumu's knowledge, ability to easily communicate with me, and his seemingly inexhaustible patience with my questions, really helped me to trust him and the procedure and to decide on the triple lumbar reconstruction surgery with the simultaneous removal of bone spikes that were the cause of my spinal stenosis pain. When I awoke from the surgery, while expecting surgical pain, I immediately cried because the much more severe, overwhelming chronic back pain had vanished. On the day of the surgery, I fully supported myself and stood next to my bed; the next day, moved around my room with the walker; and the next day, was walking the hospital floor perimeter. I was walking unassisted by the end of the second week of my recuperation at home and returned to work after one month. Today, nearly three years later, I am pain free and feel at least 15 years younger. I should note that since my back surgery, my left hip failed on me and Dr. Okumu also successful replaced my hip, allowing me to remain active and pain-free. read more

I would highly recommend this surgeon. Like the other two, I found him to be extremely competent and knowledgeable, and also very good at explaining my condition. I had been to over 40 doctors and none of them could figure out what was going on with me. Dr. okumo took the time to review my MRI rather than just looking at the (as I now know incorrect) report and discovered that I have a herniated disc. He referred me to an excellent pain care group, drs Welsh and Ortiz. If I need surgery, I will likely return. like the others, I also found Delores, his assistant, extremely helpful. I was in terrible pain and could barely tolerate waiting for the doctor. She was very kind and understanding and even gave my husband some moral support, as he was overwhelmed with worry. read more

I strongly recommend Dr. Okumu. I have had years of debilitating lumbar spine problems. My MRI's indicate I have severe degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, arthritis, three healed disc herniations, plus I have an artificial right hip. I have had severe lower back pain which comes and goes. On the advice of a friend who highly recommended him, I decided to see Dr. Okumu for a consultation after seeing two SF orthopedic surgeons--one told me I had a "ratty back" but little else--who seemed uninterested in my back problems after I said I was leery of having surgery. After reviewing my medical records and my MRI reports, Dr. Okumu explained clearly all the issues that were happening to my lower back, unlike the other surgeons, and discussed the options for me and the possible outcomes if I did have surgery, which would include a very long recovery period. He did not recommend surgery at that time, but emphasized the importance of a moderate exercise program to reduce the pain and to stay flexible and fit and referred me to a physical therapist for treatment. I have found that I do have much reduced pain now when I stick to a moderate walking program and do stretching and strengthening exercises on a regular basis. When I do feel I need surgery, I will return to him. What I appreciated about Dr. Okumu was that he was willing to spend time with me explaining my back issues in language that I could understand. I was impressed with his thorough medical knowledge and his caring attitude--he was personable, engaged and sincere, qualities I have found wanting with the other rather abrupt surgeons I have seen. His office was easy to find and parking was not a problem. His medical assistant was also very helpful and knowledgeable. read more