Normally I wouldn't waste my time with leaving a negative review but I feel obligated to inform others and maybe help prevent some other poor soul from experiencing what I went through. My first mistake was not looking at all of Dr Pearson's reviews on Yelp and Google. I saw four stars for his Santa Barbara practice and assumed that was good enough. He's a doctor, he knows what he's doing, right? Wrong.
I came to Dr Pearson as most, through a referral from my PC Doc via my HMO. He diagnosed me with a Morton's neuroma and told me surgery was the only option. After a few months, I decided to go through with the procedure. He never ordered an MRI or any imaging. The surgery went fine, but my recovery never happened. After 11 months , he finally ordered an MRI. The MRI clearly showed and described a recurring neuroma. Dr Pearson, ignored that and basically told me the pain was in my head. "Pain is pain" were his exact words. No offer to do a follow up surgery or admit he didn't do the procedure correctly. He was very elusive and dismissive in his responses to questions. After a total of 14 appointments over a 2 year period, and a failed surgery, I gave up on this guy and found another doctor.
I'm now 6 weeks post Op with Dr Haggerty at Alta Orthopedic. She found the neuroma, removed it and I'm now back to hiking and walking at about 80% and hopeful to make a full recovery.
Sorry, Dr Pearson, pain is not always pain. Sometimes pain is caused by the actual problem you diagnosed but failed to resolve.
Dr Pearson may be good enough for simple broken ankles and sprangs, but I'd stay far away If you need surgery or have a complicated issue. read more