Dr Nelson is the absolute best of the best in back care. From top athletes to my mom with decades of spine issues, he is incredibly kind, knowledgeable and informative. I wouldn't trust any other back ortho. read more

I am updating my review because I did have surgery! Dr. Nelson did an amazing job and I have been pain free since I woke up from the surgery over a year ago! He has a great bedside manner, is informative and is conservative in his approach. I never felt rushed during my appointments and no question was unimportant. I would recommend him 100 times over. :) read more

This doctor has a wonderful bedside manner and is extremely patient (he consistently took the time to answer many questions that we had related to my husband's back surgery). He also did an excellent job with the surgery itself and visited my husband to discuss the post-op procedures afterward. In addition, the office staff is extremely friendly and accommodating and were able to fit us in for appointments when needed in a very timely manner. Overall, I highly recommend Dr. Nelson to anyone needing an orthopedic surgeon specializing in back injuries. read more

Every time I've seen him since July of 2023, he has been carrying and compassionate and always looks for a solution to what my symptoms and problem is. I have had 3 surgeries and although it's been hard, he has made my life easier and better. He always explains all information in detail and never pushes anything on me. He supports every decision I've made including this third surgery.I appreciate you Dr. Nelson! read more

Saw Dr Nelson for ongoing back pain. He spent a good amount of time explaining my issue. Recommended another surgeon for disk replacement, so I do appreciate that. He seems to care what's best for the patient. read more

The first word that comes to mind for Dr. Nelson is COMPASSION! I am an RN with many years of long ER shifts and abuse to my own body and spine. In the early Spring I suffered from a neck injury that sent a pre-existing condition spiraling out of control, and I had herniated my C5-C6 and C6-C7 cervical discs. Causing tremendous pain, and numbness and tingling in my left arm. After failed PT, two epidurals, and trigger point injections, I researched for the SD areas best spine specialist and Dr. Nelson's name appeared at every turn. I was mostly focused on finding a surgical solution that allowed for me to keep an active lifestyle or decrease my range of neck motion. Thankfully he is also associated with Scripps, who has been nationally recognized for their patient care. Dr.Nelson is one of the very few in San Diego that is highly specialized in the Mobi-C artificial disc replacement device for the use in more than one cervical disc replacement. When I met Dr. Nelson my wife and I were blown away by his compassion, his attention to detail, his ability to empathize, and to listen. He answered all of our questions and proposed possible solutions from livijg with what I had with medication management to having surgery. I opted for a two level Mobi-C disc replacement over the old school cervical fusion, after careful research into the pros and cons, and finding that my condition met the criteria for the implants. I had surgery last week and could not be any happier!!! All of my pre-operative pain, numbness, tingling, and loss of motion has since been resolved. Outside of some post surgical pain and sore throat, I am back on track! I cannot speak enough to Dr. Nelsons abilities to be one of the few to do multiple level disc replacements in San Diego, and his dedication to his patients shows every time I have spoken with him. Take it from an RN who has been around almost every type of doctor (good, bad, and the worst), Dr. Nelson is and would be again my first choice for any spine related injuries. read more

Dr.Nelson is an excellent spine doctor who performed my fusion and is going great so far. Excellent bedside manner and you can tell he really cares! Shout out to Summer!! Woot woot Yelp Summer is the best ever! read more

I truly feel that Dr. Mark Nelson saved my husbands life! My husband almost died last year from an infection that started out as excruciating back pain. He was in the hospital 3 different times ( 2 different hospitals) where they did CT's and MRI's . They kept insisting that he had degenerative disc disease . No one would really listen to me until we saw Dr. Nelson . He actually looked closely at the MRI and read the radiologist report. He also really looked at my husband and saw that he was truly sick! He sent us straight to the hospital ( Scripps) and was diagnosed with discitis ( an infection in the disc space). The infection had spread to his blood and heart . He had to have an aortic valve replacement . Thank God that we went to see Dr Nelson when we did. He really listens and he is very caring . Our family will never see any other orthopedic doctor again!!!! read more

I couldn't recommend Dr. Nelson highly enough. He is so knowledgeable, considerate, thorough, and personable. He understands how to establish true rapport and empower his patients to make the best choice for their personal situation. He will take the time necessary to ensure all possible options are considered in painstaking detail before a path is chosen. If you are currently struggling with severe back pain and want to have the greatest possible advocate capable of ensuring your return to a pain free and healthy lifestyle, Dr. Nelson is your man. I am so grateful to him and his terrific staff and couldn't thank them enough for taking such great care of me and my loved ones. read more

I saw Dr. Nelson for my lumbar spine after continued leg pain post Laminectomy by another surgeon. Dr. Nelson is a great listener and knows his craft. I asked if pain could be related to my hip rather then back. He listened and ordered MRI of hip even though his specialty is the spine. As it turns out I have some back issues but leg pain is related to hip tendon. He referred me to LA specialist and I will have hip surgery soon. Thank you so much Dr. Nelson for your great assessment of my back and that a spinal fusion would most likely not fix my symptoms. You are a great doctor read more

Dr Nelson is a great surgeon He always gives his patients choices and never rushes your decision. The back surgery enabled my husband to walk again. I highly recommend read more

My first appointment with Dr. Nelson was mid January. I went to see him because I had horrible sciatica and had tried every other form of treatment. Dr. Nelson is an Orthopedic Spine Surgeon, and in my opinion, one of the best in San Diego. He listened to my history, asked important questions, evaluated me and had me into an MRI the very next morning. After the results of my MRI came back, he gave me a lot of important information on the treatments available for my herniated L5, S1 and Sciatica and made a few recommendations. I took that information, researched, spoke to friends, googled and ultimately decided to take it slow and proceed down the conservative treatment path step by step. I then booked 2 follow up meetings to talk about additional questions I had and some of the research I had done. I greatly appreciated him being available to simply discuss treatments with me and ease my nerves. This past Thursday, Dr. Nelson performed a Microdiscectomy on my herniated disc - my very first operation! Needless to say I was extremely nervous, and a little freaked out. After the surgery was complete, he reassured me it all went well, and would check back on me in the morning. I am now 4 days into my recovery, and feel almost 80% better! He really is a fabulous doctor. He has current up to date relevant treatment information, involves you in your health care decisions and I really would not trust another doctor with my spine. If you have any back problems, I HIGHLY recommend Dr. Nelson. read more

Dr. Nelson and his staff are outstanding. My sciatica ran from my back around my right knee and to my foot. It keep getting worse and all other form of treatment either didn't work or make it worse. Dr. Nelson went through my options and was very patient, understanding and not the least bit "pushy". I elected surgery as my condition was so bad I couldn't work, exercise or enjoy life. I had never been in the hospital much less had surgery so I was apprehensive. The surgery went exactly as he described and my sciatica pain is completely gone! I've regained my life and can't thank Dr. Nelson enough. I'd give him 10 stars if I could - highly recommended! read more

It has been SEVEN yrs. & I still am eternally grateful to Dr. Nelson! Everything positive I said still holds true!

A Year ago, this May, I was in the middle of Anxiety and Pain. My sleep was limited to 3 1/2 hrs each day. I would go to sleep at 10:00pm and wake at 1:30am with radiating pain to my lower back. I could not go back to sleep. I thought I could "tough" it out. 4 1/2 months later, I went to see Neurosurgeon Dr Mark Nelson. After MRI, we discovered Sacrum rubbing against Lumbar #5, disc displaced and spacing lost. Lumbar #4 pushed anterior with disc pushed to the spinal cord. For me, this caused tremendous pain. Dr Nelson emphasized the seriousness of surgery, the Major Risks and benefits. I know there are NO guarantees in life. He reviewed many alternative treatments to Major Surgery. Lot to think about. Results of surgery could be worse. I walked out of the office, then opened the door to walk back in to schedule with Summer. This pain will go on forever and the spine will not heal itself, move itself to proper alignment. Let's do it. I have always been physically active and I believe in correcting body parts that are repairable, if possible. I don't wait years and years for more damage to occur. I was 7 hours "on the table". 9 months later, the Surgery was a "Home Run". I have no pain. I can move freely. And, I can sleep 7-8 hours a night. Dr Nelson is at the Top of His Game. The process of spinal surgery has also progressed in the last 10 years. I was in Dr Nelson"s Skilled Excellent Hands, as he worked with Precision. It was not easy for him. I am VERY GRATEFUL to Dr Nelson. read more

So grateful to Dr. Nelson for his exceptional skills and professionalism. Been his patient for over a year. He listens to your questions/concerns giving honest feedback and options with detailed explanation. Explored less invasive options until they no longer were working. ACDF C5-C6 and Disk replacement C6-C7 with outstanding results (2 months post-op) read more

Dr mark Nelson is a fantastic doctor he took exceptional care of my mom and the receptionist is super friendly great place to go

I was referred to a spine surgeon after my prior orthopedic read the radiology report from my MRI. I found Dr. Nelson on Yelp and his reviews convinced me to call for an appointment. Within 2 days I was able to see Dr. Nelson. After 2 months of torture from the pain in my neck and shoulder I finally found a doctor that took the time to review the MRI with me, explain the radiology report in a language I can understand, do an exam and a consultation. Impressive. Who knew looking at your computer screen could cause so much pain in your neck when you're wearing progressive lenses? With a conservative treatment approach hopefully I won't need surgery. Dr. Nelson is my first choice for disorders of the spine. read more

I went to Dr. Nelson when I developed sciatic nerve problems. Over the course of a few years we tried various options, but the sciatica stuck around. Finally, in November, Dr. Nelson operated on my back. He did an excellent job, and I felt relief from the sciatica as soon as I stood up from my hospital bed. Now I'm back to paddle boarding and taking long walks with the dog-I feel great. Throughout the whole process Dr. Nelson did a thorough job of explaining my condition and my options for treatment. He made me feel confident that the surgery would go well, and he must have done a good job- I was out like a light when that was happening. Summer, Dr. Nelson's assistant, was helpful and friendly and even forgiving when I screwed up appointment times. If you have back problems and are even considering surgery I recommend that you see this guy.. read more

Dr. Nelson gave me my life back. I had very bad pain from my hips down to my toes due to a herniated disc. After trying just about every thing it was time to have surgery to repair the problem and I could not be happier with the results. His staff is very friendly and professional. I have referred friends and family to Dr. Nelson and will pay his office a visit if any problems should ever surface again. read more

If Yelp would let me exceed 5 stars, I would have done it. Dr. Nelson is the kindest, thorough and most qualified doctor I've ever visited. If you have surgery, you won't find anyone better....anywhere. I had a bad disc that required surgery in May 2015. Prior to the surgery, I was in constant pain and had a hard time even walking. Thirteen months later, I rode my bike from Portland to Eureka, CA. Most people wouldn't make that bike ride in perfect condition. Thanks to Dr. Nelson, I rode the full 450 miles in 7 days and my back was fine. Honestly, I can't thank him enough. He gave me a normal life. read more

I went to Dr Nelson because I knew him as a friend but seeing him as a patient was the very different. I knew he was good but I did not know how good he was until I sat down with him. He took the time and effort to explain the problem and how to approach the treatment in a cautious and thoughtful manner. He was pleasant and respectful of how I felt. I have worked with many other surgeons but he was as competent as any surgeon could be. Even though I had a complication with my surgery, he was there every time I had questions. He went out of his way to see that my after care was done right. He is an amazing surgeon and I highly recommend him to anyone with spine problems. I am now back to work as a surgeon myself. Thanks Dr Nelson! read more

Well, I am back to see Dr. Nelson and I am traveling from AZ to do so. I am now having issues with my lower back (same congenital issue basically) and I knew I would only trust him to do the surgery. Take a look at my profile pic! That is me AFTER my cervical spine fusion. If was fit and healthy prior to surgery (except for the neck issue) and I was able to get right back to it! Thanks Dr. Nelson! Lifesaver!! read more

Absolutely the most WONDERFUL Surgeon with a spectacular staff! Summer (his assistant) is on the ball and gives you the best experience ever! Such wonderful bedside manner and we have a great relationship after 7 years... :) read more

The very first thing you will notice as you walk into Dr. Nelson's office is many signed pictures from high profile athletes he has helped. For any kind of back problems, I highly recommend Dr. Nelson. I switched to Dr. Nelson after 3 months of going to a different doctor due to a herniated disk in my back. Dr. Nelson accomplished more in our first visit than I had in the previous 3 months with the other Dr. MRI was ordered, gave me necessary medication, and sent me back to work (I requested to go back to work). Even though Dr. Nelson is a spinal surgeon, he never tried to convince me to get surgery. Every time I spoke with Dr. Nelson he would take his time to explain all of the options I had and made it clear surgery should be our last option when everything else has failed. I chose not go the non surgical route and it has worked well for me. However, my friend who referred me has had a few surgeries with Dr. Nelson from different injuries over the years and has been very pleased with the outcomes. I also have a friend who I referred and she could not stop thanking me enough for sending her to him. Without a doubt, Dr. Nelson is the best doctor I have ever been treated by. read more

Dr. Nelson has been treating me for lower back pain and sciatica due to an auto accident. He did not push surgery, suggested I continue conservative treatment like chiro and epidurals. Other treatments didn't help and I got worse, so we decided to move forward with surgery. After surgery, the extreme pain in my leg was gone. I am a week post surgery and Dr. Nelson is the one to trust! His bedside manner is amazing, the best Dr. I have encountered. Summer and Israel at his office are very friendly and helpful! I highly recommend Dr. Nelson! read more

I've seen Dr. Nelson for two different issues: a lower back problem and a more recent issue with my neck. I saw a number of different doctors for my lower back, and Dr. Nelson was able to diagnose the probable cause. The neck: I woke to shoulder pain last year and within a week I had shooting pain down my forearm and tingling in my hand. Dr. Nelson diagnosed the issue and instead of pushing surgery, he outlined my options and his recommendations. We pursued a non-surgical approach but that did not resolve the issue. It was my choice to proceed with surgery instead of waiting to see if the issue would clear. He performed a discectomy and fusion C6/C7 and as he predicted, when I woke from the surgery, the tingling / loss of feeling was gone. Despite the potential for loss of motion in my neck, I suffered no such loss. The surgery was 100% successful and I am fully mobile and have had no adverse side effects. Dr. Nelson is a fantastic combination of patience, great communication skills, extraordinary intellect and experience. I highly recommend him and know from personal experience he is top notch in his profession. read more

I highly recommend that you see Dr. Nelson for back pain, or any type of back problem. He demonstrates the highest level of professionalism, caring, and skill. He worked with me to resolve my intense back pain and leg spasms, and after trying a variety of less radical methods, including therapy, shots, etc., we agreed upon surgery as the best approach. Ten months after surgery I am pain free and grateful to him for his expertise and dedication to his profession. A good man and good at what he does - what else can be said? read more