Torrey Pines Orthopaedic Med

This is a long overdue review. After a bicycle accident I called the office and spoke with Cindy, explained my primary home was in Oregon but has broken my elbow and needed to see someone could they help? She was spectacular getting me in. Dr Brown and his assistant actually waited for me when we were stuck in traffic. He was thorough, thoughtful and found things the emergency room missed. Checking out Cindy was so kind. Though I don't want another accident I wish I went to that office for all my healthcare. Thank you.

Terrible Dr. Thunder and assistant Ellie. My experience has been about as bad as one could imagine. In summary, this place is a meat market driven by profit for the doctor, without regard for patient care. I was referred to Dr. Richard Thunder for lower back pain. After waiting a few weeks, I had my first consultation. Five minutes later, he ordered an MRI and went on to next room.

My wife and I could believe it when we saw him yelling across the office and a patient who was late! A few weeks later on my second appointment, the MRI showed a herniated disc. Dr. Thunder quickly became a used car salesmen and insisted he would fix it and operate on my back right away. He said that I shouldn't bother with a second opinion, as nobody would care enough to get me on their schedule. Dr. Thunder walked me and my wife over to the "scheduling bullpen" and insisted with assistant "Ellie" to schedule me at the end of a long day of many surgeries.

I'm told that this simple procedure that takes about 60-90 minutes and will net the doctor $14,000. I was also told by a doctor in the emergency room, that orthopedic surgeons have been hit hard by COVID and desperate to cut. After researching herniated discs, it's clear that the herniated discs do resolve themselves on their own, however, it's how much time and pain you are willing to endure.

Back to the surgery. I nervously got my COVID test to prep for surgery. About 24 hours before surgery, my pain went away and I was able to walk 2 miles and I felt pretty darn good. I cancelled surgery and Dr. Thunder's assistant, Ellie, said no problem. Well over the next 4 weeks, my pain returned with a vengeance to unimaginable levels. I called Ellie and left a message to ask for my MRI to be sent for a second opinion.

No response. When I met with the other doctor, the MRI was not sent after a week. I called again and asked to have them send it to me. Still not sent. no response. My pain was getting worse by the day. I was desperate, so I called to schedule surgery with Dr. Thunder. I called 3 times on that Monday and 3 times on that Tuesday. No return call. I went to the emergency room for morphine on Wednesday morning.

No call back. Was Ellie on vacation? I called into a scheduler for another doctors in that bullpen and they confirmed that Ellie was working, just with other patients. She was avoiding my calls. Worse yet, I believe this was at the hand of Dr. Thunder, as retaliating on her own would cost her her job and have little upside. Ellie told that assistant to let me know that she could get me in on July 23rd.

It was April! For me, the hours mattered with the increasing waves of suffering. This was clearly retaliation. I believe it was both Thunder and Ellie. Dr. Thunder has a god complex. Just despicable considering the pain I was in. To not call back, to see my phone number on Caller ID, to not refer me to another doctor, to not release my MRI records.

The pain was so intense for so long, it broke me. Good news, I found another Doctor, who scheduled me a week out, however, I was in such bad pain, I went to the emergency room again and fortunately the doctor had a previous surgery and could operate that day. He did a great job and I am currently pain free. I highly recommend avoiding the terrible god complex shamsters at Torrey Pines Orthopedic & Sport Medicine.

After ten years of shoulder pain, endless physical therapy, medication, etc. I decided to see Dr. Shoemaker. BEST surgeon.of all time. Long ago I went to VA for an ankle injury, that took a year. Dr. Shoemarker correctly diagnosed my shoulder in the first visit, it was a torn rotator cuff a 90% tear with no chance of healing without surgery. The surgery when great, and 4 years later its still great.

Very friendly, an absolute expert on joints he is world class. I had a knee injury at work, they sent me to no less than 5 doctors and a specialist. None of them understood the problem, all of them came up with differing diagnoses, finally they said how about a shot for the pain. Frustrated, I went back to Dr. Shoemaker to take a look, he instantly figured out that a very small piece of cartilage had come off and as it worked its way out it was the source of the pain. Thus, all the therapy, and shots were useless, the pain should go away slowly in time. It did. He is the absolute best doctor.

After spending hours at UCSD for a friend who needed an MRI on spine, I am beyond grateful for this group of doctors, their staff, their machines in house and the PT group in Del Mar and Scripps over all. You can't beat the way the office is set up to run smoothly. So there are a few personality defects and not all take Medicare. I have seen just about all of them for stenosis, cysts and partial broken hip on a Sunday morning.

I would not trade them for another group and I miss Dr Tom Laughlin, a family friend who passed in his plane accident flying to operate on a skier in Colorado. He helped found the group and he would be proud to see how it's grown.

Dr. Urband is so OFF THE HOOK AWESOME. Prior to becoming a surgeon he was an engineer, so we hit it off very, very well. He managed my expectations about pain, recovery times, and the entire process, in addition to hauling out this 3D model of my shoulder and taking the extra time to explain the nature of my complicated bone break. We decided to avoid surgery and we really, really hit it off well.

The entire experience was great and the paperwork was seamless, which had not been my experience with other organizations. NO DOUBT this is the place to go, and his associates are also well respected. His staff is very professional and easy to deal with- look no further.

I had a great experience with Dr. Brown but I cannot say the same about his scheduling assistant Cyndi who made me feel terrible when I asked if she could find out what the price of the treatment would be after checking with my insurance (injections for treating Dupuytren's contracture). These treatments are expensive and before deciding what to do, I wanted to know the price.

I even offered myself to call my insurance to find out and ask Cyndi for the procedure code which she refused to tell me. She treated me very impolitely and made me feel stupid for asking this question to the point that when I was leaving the office I turned back to tell her how impolite she was and told her I wanted to speak with her manager, Irma, who was not in the office at that time.

I followed up and called Irma who told me she will follow up and call me with the information that I was requesting. Until this day, almost two months after the visit, I am still waiting. I spoke with her Manager, Irma, how told me she would call me to follow up and never did. I called the office again today and Cyndi decided to hang up on me with no reason. Very unfortunate that an scheduling assistant will make a great Doctor's office loose patients and money this way.

My family has been patients for over 10 years. We are active and have seen Dr. Brown for my broken wrist, my son for his broken arm skateboarding, he was caring and excellent with the surgery. Dr. Shoemaker performed surgery on my other son's knee for an ACL and Meniscus repair. He is detailed oriented, great sense of humor, and spends a lot of time with the patients.

I would never consider seeing and other Orthopedic office for our care. We live in Carlsbad and have closer orthopedist that we have seen in the past, but they do not compare to this group.

Dr. Brown was fantastic from the first visit, and through surgery and follow-up. Very meticulous on the surgical repair of my broken hand, which is now functioning great! He was very concerned about my hand getting hit with luggage during a trip while in recovery, so had me in and got a quick x-ray to show that all was well. Highly recommend him if you need hand surgery.

Wow after seeing some negative reviews I had to write this. My daughter is a professional athlete and broke her fibula. Dr. Hackley took care of it and she had a perfect healing process. She is surfing in the woman's long board world championships next week in Tiwan. When I had my own knee problems Dr. Swenson performed a partial knee replacement that also went perfectly.

Later because of the great service we received I saw Dr. Thunder for back problems that I thought I had from two previous back surgeries. Dr. Thunder rather than chop me up again diagnosed my problem as a blood flow issue and referred me out to a vascular surgeon who performed a procedure to take care of poor blood flow and again I had a perfect result.

I am now seeing Dr. Brown for a carpel tunnel issue and have all the confidence in the world in this group of Doctor's. If your parts are wearing out like mine are you would be fortunate to have any of these guys take care of you.

The physician I saw was Dr HackIey. My appointment was for 2:00 I arrived at 1:50. I was taken back at 2:15 and saw the doctor at 3:25. I received a cortisone shot which went well but he never acknowledged my wait though his medical assistant did. She also acknowledged that this was not unusual To see the doctor a hour and 25 minutes after your scheduled time is really disrespectful to a patient.

He was then very flippant about what my big exercise plans might be after getting my injection. This was the second time I had seen him and i did not have to wait this length on my first visit. I believe him to be competent but, arrogant.