Two hips, one knee. Power walked a 5K at 4.8 MPH. Outstanding Doctor Mikulak and Dr. Walker.

After doing much research, I switched insurance so that I could go to Dr Mikulak, a pioneer of minimally invasive knee replacement. I am three weeks out, progressing well, my scars only 4 inches. Dr Mikulak has been working for I believe 24 years? Very knowledgeable in his field and very good at what he does. His staff is exceptional. Very happy with my choice. My physical therapist said if she needed a knee replacement she would choose Dr Mikulak because she treats all the patients from various doctors and his patients heal the quickest. read more

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To put it simply, I'm super grateful and feel very fortunate to have found and chosen Dr Mikulak for my bilateral THR. My situation was a bit complicated, as I had no idea I had developmental dysplasia from birth. My hips were a wreck! It seemed many other surgeons really didn't understand my condition. I was living with it quite functionally for a long time, so it was hiding. I met Dr mikulak 1 year prior after my sister found him on US News and World report, and even though he was only the 3rd surgeon I interviewed, I knew upon meeting that he would be my choice, and, I'm extremely picky about who I choose for my health. He's very confident, caring, calm, and super knowledgeable about the body in relationship to sports and medicine. He listens well. He's relaxed and yet very particular. I chose him because I knew he himself had a big background in athletics and therefore knew he'd understand my background of advanced yoga, acrobat, and gymnast in youth too. He recommended me doing both at once which no one else suggested and although it seemed daunting at first, I have absolutely no regrets. Not only was it way easier than I realized, but I had very minimal pain! I relied on the ice machine which was amazing, and bit of Tylenol. I stopped the Tylenol after a week. I was shocked that after a week I came off the walker and was walking on my own. My family was too! He was confident I could handle it even when others were worried it would be too difficult to handle, and he was right. That's the definition of a great doctor, when they guide you to do something that they are sure you can handle, even if you didn't think so yourself at first! The whole office was a pleasure. His PA Mike who does the closing, was also amazing, and my scars are very small and not very noticeable! His admin assistant Michelle who is his right hand and also the connection between the patients and Dr mikulak, was outstanding!! I asked many questions in the email and she was so efficient in getting back to me and getting the answers to me. I've never met a better office admin, she helped the process go so smoothly. Hoag Hospital was a wonderful hospital to work with, and helped to make a seamless experience! I used their recommended PT in home post op, Clint, and was super happy with the sessions. All in all, the whole process was amazing, and I wouldn't change a thing. Don't wait if you need to do it, I'm so glad I did! If you choose him, You are in great hands, Mikulak surely is one of the best orthopedic surgeons in the world. read more

Great surgeon. Did my left hip and I was surfing again in 2.5 months. He has a great staff too. Can't go wrong with this guy cutting on ya.

Dr Mikulak , Michelle & Mike are the very best at what they each do Dr Mikulak knows joints , bones you will not walk away without being put back together he is absolutely The best Orthopedic Dr. He is knowledgeable and intelligent with a heart of gold. Dr Mikulak and his staff are the most organized and caring team. If you're blessed enough to somehow go to them , you will be well taken care of. If it's an orthopedic surgeon you need. Thank You Dr. Mikulak, Michelle & Mike you are awesome!!!! Myrna & Annie Kelley Cosio read more

Grateful to Dr. Mikulak, Mike and Michelle for their teamwork, and for a successful hip replacement. Highly recommend Dr. Mikulak, for he is an expert in his field. It has been a pleasure being his patient. read more

I have been in and out of Dr. Mikulak's office since 2014 and I have to say what a blessing of finding him. The fact that he is a former gymnast and keeps up on his fitness level even now (let along that his son is such an amazing athlete who was in the Rio Olympics), he absolutely understands what is important to very active athletic people. He is not "scalpel happy" like most orthopedic surgeons, and rather looks for a long term solution in order for you to continue your active lifestyle. On another note, if you are at the point of hip replacement or any other surgery, he is a very straight shooter. He will recommend the procedure not because he will make money, but because it is the best thing for you. I personally know couple of folks who had their hips replaced by him and they could not be happier with the surgery results and a quick recovery. Clearly, Dr. Mikulak is VERY good at his job. In addition, his assistant Michelle is truly his "right hand" and not only is she very knowledgeable but also friendly and caring. I do not recall the last time where you get your calls or emails returned from a busy doctor's office the same day. She even assisted with some billing issues, which am certain is not part of her job description, however, she is always happy to help. If you have any hip or knee issues, do yourself a huge favor and go see Dr. Mikulak, so you can get back to your healthy self and carry on with your active lifestyle! read more

Originally, back in, like 2008, my mom heard about this terrific orthopedic surgeon from a Physical Therapist. The PT said that all his patience have limited scarring and great results, generally recovering quickly from their surgery. My mother's had her share of knee problems (having gone through meniscus surgery with other surgeons since her 40s). In 2008 she required a full-knee replacement. After her successful surgery I tore my knees up. Dr. Mikulak has repaired both my right and left knees. He has a cautious approach and doesn't take surgery lightly. Also, he's very up-to-date on various therapy techniques. He did a microfracture on my right knee. I have tried Synvisc and Orthovisc under his care. He had also suggested I try a plasma technique, which I declined due to it's not being covered by insurance. He also sells his own line of glucosomine and fish oil supplements. My left knee was my last surgery done in November. It has been quite successful. My first knee surgery, on my right, in my opinion, was not successful -- I don't blame him for the lack of success, however, I would've liked a little more information and preparation for what I went through. He performed a microfracture. Microfracturing requires 6 weeks without being weight-bearing. He forgot to tell me that this amount of time off my legs would require at least 2 months to learn to walk again so that there would be no damage. I fell twice, got a blood clot from trying not to move too much, and did not have good physical therapy to follow. I also think I was too fat to be a successful candidate. ASK questions and push back with him. Make sure you know what you're getting into with the surgeries and the true recovery time. It can be mentally tasking. Biggest PROBLEM -- waiting . . . why I can't give him 5 stars. Expect a minimum of a 2 hour wait past your original appointment time, especially if you don't have the first appointment of the day nor the one following the lunch hour. He's worth the wait, but be prepared for it. read more

DR Mikulak is a seasoned professional and down to earth. His skill is unimpeachable and his bedside manner perfect. I would trust him with my joints and i think you should too. You wont be disappointed. As an operating room nurse of more than 14 years I highly recommend him. Valerie Maseuli RN read more

Dr Mikulak as we all know, is a Wonderful Doctor ! But I wanted to talk about the entire crew too! They work so hard all day for you! They help you receive the medicine you need, tell you how to use all the new apparatus, and make many calls! On my last visit, Dr Mikulak told me to lay my leg straight. Then He pushed it down flat. And said,when you use the knee straighter always keep it very tight. Out of everything, PT... this item helped me the most! Kelly Brewer read more

I had my second knee replacement done with Dr. Mikulak. When my neighbor told me she only took tylenol for pain after her knee was replaced by Dr. Mikulak , I was sold . In addition to this, the incision was on the inside of the knee and done with a " plastic" closure. You cant even see the incisional line. Compare this to my other knee which has a big white healed incision right down the front of my knee. Plus, the scars are visible from where the staples went. Dr Mikulak is one of few orthos who does this technique . The day after I came home from Irvine Ortho Institute I went out to breakfast on tylenol and a cane. Compare this to the first experience of severe pain and not being able to leave bed using a walker but for once daily for two weeks. Amazing!! That is all I can say!!!! read more

I have just had the most wonderful Thanksgiving celebration in 10 years thanks to Dr. Mikulak. Pain free Since he replaced my hip. Everyday I thank God for him. Today I did two Classes at the gym, went swimming in the ocean and cooked non stop For 3 hours. He is the most incredible orthopedic surgeon in the world. Thank you for my happy life. I adore you! read more

Dr. Mikulak is, quite simply. the premiere knee replacement specialist in Southern California. I can say this because it ca be verified statistically. He performs more of these surgeries than most anyone else by a significant margin. This gives him the advantage of having real outcome statistics for wide variety of patient types. So when we tells a 50 year old diabetic, Hispanic lady that she can expect a great outcome, he knows this to be true from his own statistical models and doesn't need to guess based on a generic, blind, study. I'm a 44 year old male, ex-football player, who just had my left knee totally replaced a few days ago by Dr. Mikulak. I found it fascinating that the physical therapy folks who worked with me in the couple of days i spent at Hoag Hospital recovering after surgery joked about how predictable the range of movement that a Dr. Mikulak knee would attain vs. all of the other knees they see each day from other doctors. In particular, they commented that his knee replacements almost always come out being able to straighten right away. They believed this was measurable reflection of Dr. Mikulak's talent and expertise as knee surgeon. So far, it's only been 3 days since my surgery, but i can only pass along what a positive and energizing process it has been. Another point worth mentioning is his office and staff. Dr. Mikulak runs the most timely and efficient medical office i have ever encountered. From reception all the way to billing everyone moves with a purpose and a bounce in their step and are really lovely to work with. I will revise and amend my remarks as new results reveal themselves but, right now, could not be happier with the work Dr. Mikulak has done to try to recover the athletic operation of my left knee. read more

I have been a patient of Dr. Mikulak since I was 11 years old I am now 23, my mom is a patient of his as well. We both have a bone condition making it difficult to find a doctor that can treat us properly. Dr. Mikulak has preformed multiple surgeries on my mom and I, all with far greater success than previous doctors. Checking in at Hoag hospital for my first surgery for a hip replacement with Dr. Mikulak, the receptionist could tell I was terrified. She informed me that I would be in great hands with Dr. Mikulak and that people come from all over the world just to see him. I was indeed in great hands. Dr. Mikulak is kind, compassionate, and highly skilled as an orthopedic physician. I have nothing but trust in him and his ability to treat me. His Physicians assistant, Mike Walker is also fantastic as well. Every time I come in I feel they genuinely care about me and how I am doing. If you come to California Orthopaedic Specialists expect to wait a long time to be seen, to me the wait is worth the quality of care received. read more

I just had my minimally invasive left knee replacement on Dec. 22. I can't even begin to tell you what a great surgeon he is. Not only was he great, the office staff including Mike and Michelle have been fantastic. I am the biggest baby and they have been nothing but kind and patient. Phone calls are returned right away, the office is in a great location and he performs the surgery at Hoag which is another reason to see him. The incision is small and the recovery has been much better than I had anticipated. They go out of their way to make sure you are pain free. They are completely organized and have a perfect system! Oh and he isn't bad to look at either ;) read more

This is a long over due review. I had surgery with Mikulak a few years back and He shaved my knee cap and didn't properly fix my torn meniscus. I went to physical therapy for nearly 1 year thinking it was going to get better with numerous cortisone injections and nothing helped. My knee was getting worse and he finally admitted that didn't conduct the surgery properly and he would fix it and I refused to let him touch me. The facility it self makes you wait at least 2 hours for your appt. & they always have someone else come in and see you before the doctor which can make your appt up to 3.5 hours. He is a horrible doctor and I wouldn't recommend anyone go to him. read more

I thought the best way to thank Dr. Mikulak is to give him a 5 star review! I thought about getting him a gift, gift card, or flowers? But no gift can express my heartfelt gratitude for him treating me like a human being, something that I have missed seeing in all my treating doctors for the past year! He is a caring, passionate, and knowledgeable doctor. I will update you if and when I get my knee surgery. Please have me in your prayers! read more

Dr. Mikulak and his team are amazing. I am so thanking that he was the surgeon to do my total knee replacement. I am 6 weeks post surgery and feel like I have been given my life back! The entire process was handled with such great care. I cannot say enough :) read more

Dr. Mikulak is a superb doc. He really knows his stuff, and his assistant keeps in very good contact with patients.

Dr Mikulak is the best. His less invasive procedure is cutting edge. He is super aggressive on your rehab. Also his bedside manors are the best. He truly cares about his patients. His PA Michael is wonderful and his head nurse Michelle is on top of everything. If you need a joint replacement your search should start with Stephen Mikulak. He has done both of my knees. read more

Dr. Mikulak has given me my mobility back twice now.... I am in my 40's and have had both hips replaced by Dr. Mikulak. I have sent many friends and family to him as well. Everyone of them has raved about the care they received. He is the absolute EXPERT when it comes to "Minimally Invasive" surgery. Each time my recovery was so quick and efficient no one could believe it. When the Physical Therapist first came to my house to work with me when I got home from the hospital he told me I was far to advanced for what he normally caters to. He said I was like someone 6 weeks out from surgery... The minimally invasive option is the ONLY WAY to go! Trust me... Working with Dr. Mikulak and his staff is so easy and they truly care about their patients. They have always been more than accommodating. Yes you do have to wait on occasion in the office but the best is worth waiting for! I can't say enough about the quality of care I received.... Thank you Dr. Mikulak and your staff! read more

I had pretty major knee surgery June 1. I have been impressed with dr mikulak both pre and post surgery. He communicates clearly with patients and takes the time to address any concerns or questions. You might have to wait a little bit for your appointment but it's because he is giving everyone the time they need. read more

Dr. Mikulak did my hip replacement in 2004! I can honestly say I haven't had a moment's problem since. Might be seeing him again cause I've having problems with my knee. Wouldn't think of going to anyone else! read more

This is a very long overdue review. I have a bad left knee, damage from years of athletics, genetics. After a run, I felt a "pop" followed by swelling and pain. A friend recommended Dr. Mikulak, based on her experience with his colleague, for her shoulder issues and their practice in general. I could not believe the wait-- and I am a nurse! I know it happens but It is true what other reviewers say about the long wait. The waiting room was so full there were no seats. After the first 1 hour of waiting on my initial visit, I walked out. I spoke with the office manager, as this was unacceptable-- there were post op patients with limbs immobilized, others in wheelchairs and to make people wait for a quick visit is terrible. Looked like a war zone. Staff didn't seem to care about the lack of space and no stated reason why the back up. I was told to come back and they would ensure I'd get seen faster the next visit. I did, reluctantly; waited about 45 mins in the waiting room and then another 30 mins in the exam room. I finally met with Dr. Mikulak who was nice but seemed preoccupied and said I had to get a MRI ( I knew as much). Didn't spend a lot of time at all on the exam--in and out in 15 mins. Went to see him after the exam, gave me the results and listed options.... In between the phone calls he had to take because he was building a house or redesigning his house, or something with his house, and had to talk to the contractor. Seriously. I expressed my frustration and wanted to more thoroughly discuss the options he had just given me. His response was that this was a routine follow-up, and I would have to come back and schedule another time to discuss his options or I could speak with his PA in more detail at the current visit. But he did say he would give me a cortisone injection, which he did. I opted to speak with the PA ...who was great! After weighing all the options, and my frustrations - I decided to give it one last try since I was already invested this far. I opted for Orthovisc injections and these were done by his PA. These are a series of three injections once a week for three weeks. Each time I waited over 45 minutes just for an injection. The PA gave the injections, and again he was great but waiting that long for a two minute injection is just ridiculous. I went back about a month following the injections for a routine check up, and after another long wait, he told me the best next step was surgery but that was all he could do. Suffice it to say this was my last visit to him. I transferred my care to Kerlan Jobe. read more

I would like to write the best and most positive review I could for Dr. Stephen Mikulak, his Physicians Assistant, Mike Walker, and his Nurse Naomi. I first heard about Dr. Mikulak from an acquaintance named George that I met through Surfing. George had both his knees replaced by Dr. Mikulak and is riding a short board again; that in itself is a miracle! As well, George raves about Dr. Mikulak. He has nothing but praise for the man's work. I first hurt my knees as a high school and college gymnast, and later on the job. In the early 70's when I injured my knees, I have been told that it was sop for surgeons to remove as much cartilage as possible for meniscus tears. As a result, after 42 years of bone on bone, my knees had become quite painful and deformed from what I have heard called 'post operative degenerative osteoarthritis. As a side note, Dr. Mikulak was a gymnast at UC Berkeley, and alternate to the 84' Olympic Gymnastics Team, if I recall correctly. He was the kind of gymnast I wish I could have been. On top of that, his son, Sam, was a member of the US Olympic Gymnastics Team in London. Upon my first meeting with Dr. Mikulak, he was informative, professional, friendly, and most importantly, on task. He is not a talker and not one to 'chat you up'. Again and most importantly, he is on task and as a surgeon, which is what I was seeing him about, is what in his profession they call a 'jeweler'. And believe me there are butchers out there! His surgical technique is phenomenal. Please keep in mind; I have had 13 or 14 surgeries, so I am no stranger to surgery, but no expert either. I had both knees replaced on June 20, 2013. Already I am walking, working out lightly at the gym, and tomorrow will ride a bicycle at the beach. My quad strength is almost where I was before surgery and I expect to be stronger than before I had the operation in less than 6 more weeks. 3 Weeks after my surgery, a friend visited me who had had one of his knees replaced two years ago. Already, after only 3 weeks, I had a greater range of motion than he had after two years. As well, he has a rather long stapled scar. My scar is much shorter, much smoother, and much less pronounced. Dr. Mikulak does not use staples, and removes the stitches after two weeks. If you've done your research, you are aware that getting an infection in the knee joint is one of the major, if not the single most major, risk of the procedure. A further benefit with Dr. Mikulak is that he performs his surgeries at Hoag Orthopedic Institute. There are only orthopedic cases there and no sick people. This drops the possibility of acquiring an infection way down; that alone is huge! Mike Walker, P.A. and Naomi, Nurse, are friendly, well informed, polite, upbeat, positive, helpful, and kind. If I were a physician, I could not think of anyone better for a P.A. and nurse than Mike and Naomi. Thanks Mike and Naomi for helping me and reducing my stress level. I am now 6 and 1/2 weeks post op and have just been released to ride a bicycle, swim, go to the beach an in the ocean, and paddle my surfboard. I was told that I can try to stand up on my surfboard, but it may take me 3 months. I can do the stand up motion on the ground from my feet, but not from my knees yet. I believe I will be successful on a long board when I try this Thursday if the surf is small. Dr. Mikulak and his team get an A+ from this patient. Thank you Dr. Mikulak, Mike, Naomi, and all those people behind the scenes with who I am not acquainted for helping me to enjoy as many of the things as I can that I love to do. read more

Dr. Mikulak did knee replacement on my 2 1/2 years ago. He did such a good job and it literally gave me back my life which now includes exercise again. I'm an R.N. and very picky about who I see and I expect the best care as I am an informed consumer. Well I got the best care in the hospital, no surgical complications and meticulous post op care. The only thing that bothers me is the wait time in the office. read more

Let me start off with the foundation of this review being that I've been in private practice for over 33 years. I feel like I may have a pretty good idea of how a Doctor should conduct himself I've never experienced such an AWKWARD UNPROFESSIONAL ATTITUDE from Mikulak When you are investing thousands of dollars in a surgery and the "Doctor" first words out of his mouth "I can't do this for FREE" it reminds me of these RICH SPOILED ATHLETE who state "I can't feed my family on 20 million dollars" the audacity of his staff pulling me to the side reminiscent of a "drug deal" that one would see on tv telling me the doctor will speak with me for FIFTY DOLLARS CASH was so INAPPROPRIATE!!! We were offered a PRE SURGICAL CONSULT to address questions that we deemed important such as rehabilitation, functionality and if ACL reconstruction is necessary what and where will tendons be removed from the body kind of important you would think CONSULTS are part of the "Bells and Whistles" to get you as a customer they are NEVER A CHARGED VISIT Quite frankly after peeling the layers one can see that this office is primarily concerned about how much they can bill your insurance The question is this could have been handled much better if the proverbial "Left hand Right hand" actually communicated prior to the visit This guy misses in all categories Maybe he slept thru class during the HIPPOCRATIC OATH!!! read more

Dr. Mikulak performed a complete knee replacement for me less than 2 weeks ago and my recover, while far from over, is going very well. His staff is professional, the surgical facilities at Hoag Orthopedic are first rate and Dr. Mikulak is an excellent surgeon. Dr. Mikulak came highly recommended to me and I couldn't agree more. I can understand why he is such high demand. read more

Dr Mikulak and his staff are by far top notch. I had my knee replaced 2 years ago and had such great relief and recovery from the get go. My regular ortho dr refused to do my knee surgery because it wasn't optimal circumstances. But my quality of life and pain were increasing daily. I found Dr Mikulak and when I saw him, he said there was no reason to wait. I have referred several people to him and they have also had great results. read more

It has been 2 years since my full hip replacement performed by Dr. Mikulak and a review is way overdue. I had been an athlete all my life, played football in high school, triathlete for 15 years, skier and more. My quality of life had diminished dramatically when my right hip went arthritic and bone on bone. Dr. Mikulak reviewed the x-rays and suggested the full hip replacement. One of my major concerns was not be able to live an active life style after the surgery but he assured me I would be fine. The surgery went amazingly well, in fact it was only about an hour long. Hoag Surgery Center in Irvine was incredible, amazing care and compassion for their patients. I was driving in 1-1/2 weeks, rehab for about 2 months. There was never any pain with the surgery beyond the incision which was controlled by Advil. Dr. Mikulak's goal is to take active people and give them the opportunity not only to be functional again but to be able to have a fresh start - I now can do anything I choose in the form of exercise. If I want to run, I can, I cycle, hike and ski. Thank you to Dr. Mikulak for putting me back into a state of pure joy and completely pain free! read more

Where to begin? I was a 52 year old police officer that was facing a career ending knee injury when my physical therapist told me about Dr Mikulak. I was not happy with my current doctor so I paid him a visit. I liked his athletic background and his understanding of my need for a recovery that would allow me to continue my career in a full capacity and continue a rigorous workout routine. Mikulak performed a total knee replacement the results of which have been remarkable. I left the hospital with a walker and dumped it for a cane as soon as I walked in my front door. By the next day I ditched the cane and was walking unassisted. I was vigorous with my physical therapy and within 2 months had over a 120 degree range of motion. I was running within 3 months and worked my way up to 6 mile runs. Today I maintain 130 degree range of motion. I run, squat, perform 24" box jumps, burpees, and more, all as a part of my workout routine and have all but forgotten about my knee replacement. I found Dr. Mikulak, Mike (his PA) and his staff to be very professional. One added note, The only pain medication that I took was over the counter Advil. The Norco pain medication prescribed to me remains unopened. My other knee will soon be in need of replacement and you can bet Mikulak is going to do it. Any questions feel free to email me at vwbt@pacbell.net read more