Isabell B.
Age: 38 years old
Occupation: Real Estate Agent
Diagnosis: Severe L4-5 degenerative disc disease after previous microdiscectomy
Symptoms: Burning and aching in low back and bilateral buttocks, along with weakness in left tibialis anterior.
Procedure: Left L4-5 Laser Endoscopic Fusion (via TLIF technique)
Ara B.
Jeanne J.
Age: 74 years old
Occupation: Retired teacher
Diagnosis: L4-5 grade 1 spondylolisthesis with severe stenosis and L5-S1 degenerative disc disease with moderate bilateral neuroforaminal stenosis
Symptoms: Low back pain with neurogenic claudication and right L5 radiculopathy.
Procedure: Right L4-5 MIS TLIF
Jeff S.
Age: 68 years old
Occupation: Senior Consultant
Diagnosis: L3-4, L4-5 stenosis, post laminectomies
Symptoms: Pain that radiated down the right leg.
Procedure: Right L3-4, L4-5 Laser Endoscopic Spine Surgery (LESS)
Kevin H.
Age: 29 years old
Occupation: Firefighter
Diagnosis: Left L5-S1 herniated disc
Symptoms: Persistent back pain and numbness of his thighs and legs.
Procedure: Left L5-S1 Laser Endoscopic Spine Surgery (LESS)
Dustin S.
On the day of my procedure, I was a bit nervous about the amount of pain I would have during my recovery. I had a shoulder surgery a few years prior that was extremely painful. Much to my surprise, I never felt pain at any time during my recovery. I expected to at least have pain around the incision… but nothing. In fact, I was in a considerable amount of pain walking into the surgery center and that was the last of it.
I remember waking up my wife the morning after surgery to tell her that I finally had no sciatic pain running down my leg. I hadn’t realized how much pain I had endured over the years until it was finally gone. A day after surgery, Dr. Kim texted me to see how I was doing. This was shocking to me. I have never had a doctor personally follow up with me the day after surgery and give me a direct line to contact them should I need anything.
I have and will continue to recommend Dr. Kim to anyone who suffers from back or neck pain!”
Age: 31 years old
Occupation: Business Broker
Diagnosis: Left L4-5 herniated disc
Symptoms: Low back pain that radiated down his left leg to his left ankle.
Procedure: Left L4-5 Laser Endoscopic Spine Surgery (LESS)
Sharon A.
I had stenosis so severely that several nerves in my left leg had died and I suffered from back pain and sciatica. I was also told I had two discs that were degenerated.
I traveled to San Diego from the Seattle area and went to the hospital the morning of surgery and after a few hours I was back in my hospital room a little drowsy but in no pain. The next morning, I was told I could get up, and to my amazement, I had no pain and felt better than I had in years. I didn’t even want a wheel chair to get out of the hospital.
It’s been four years now and I am active doing yoga, biking, walking and recently returned from a trip to Australia where I hiked and snorkeled in the Great Barrier Reef. I had great confidence in Dr. Kim and his skills and wonderful attitude surpassed anything I could ask for in a physician.”
Age: 75 years old
Occupation: Writer
Diagnosis: Left L3-S1 stenosis
Symptoms: Pain, numbness and weakness in her back, left buttock and left leg.
Procedure: Left L3-S1 Laser Endoscopic Spine Surgery (LESS)
Jean Paul O.
Despite those procedures, I still suffered from back pain. Eventually, that pain began to radiate down my right leg, going down my hamstring all the way to my foot. It got to the point that my quality of life was severely impacted. Even walking minimal distances became very painful.
Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore and sought help. After much research, I found Dr. Kim. Upon meeting him, I was immediately impressed by his calm, confident demeanor. He diagnosed my problem and told me that he could alleviate the pain in my leg with a minimally invasive procedure that was referred to as “keyhole” surgery. I agreed to the procedure, and Dr. Kim performed a right L4-5, L5-S1 laser endoscopic spinal surgery on me. The surgery went well, and I was able to go home that same day. Post-surgical pain was very tolerable, by far the least of all my back operations. Recovery was quick, and, in a couple of months, I was out playing golf again. Sadly, Dr. Kim’s surgery did nothing for my swing.
Post-surgery, Dr. Kim has followed my condition regularly. Should new back problems occur, I would consider no one but Dr. Kim to take care of them.
It has been approximately five years since this procedure was performed, and, to date, the pain radiating down my leg and into my foot has not returned.”
Age: 69 years old
Occupation: Retired
Diagnosis: Right L4-5, L5-S1 stenosis
Symptoms: Burning back pain that radiated from his right buttock and hamstring down to his foot.
Procedure: Right L4-5, L5-S1 Laser Endoscopic Spine Surgery (LESS)
Sam K.
Age: 29 years old
Occupation: Coordinator at an international films sales company
Diagnosis: Right L4-5, L5-S1 herniated disc
Symptoms: Low back pain that radiated down to his buttock area.
Procedure: Right L4-5, L5-S1 Laser Endoscopic Spine Surgery (LESS)
Mark S.
I now feel like a new person. I would like to share with any of Dr. Kim’s patients who are considering this procedure that I have the utmost confidence in Dr. Kim and his ability to perform this surgery and recommend to any/all of his patients to make the choice and do the surgery!
I want to thank Dr. Kim for performing the surgery and to tell him, he has CHANGED MY LIFE!”
Age: 51 years old
Occupation: Carpenter
Diagnosis: L4-L5 bulging disc and L5-S1 degenerative disc disease
Symptoms: Hip pain, bilateral heel pain, right ankle pain and toe numbness.
Procedure: Right L4-5, L5-S1 Laser Endoscopic Spine Surgery (LESS)
Estela A.
Age: 28 years old
Occupation: Merchandiser
Diagnosis: L5-S1 paracentral disc protrusion that contacted the left S1 nerve root
Symptoms: Significant pain, weakness and numbness that extended from her lower back down to her toes.
Procedure: Left L5-S1 Laser Endoscopic Spine Surgery (LESS)
Guy D.
Age: 62 years old
Occupation: Retired Building Inspector
Diagnosis: Left L2-3, L3-4 stenosis
Symptoms: Persistent low back pain and burning pain in his left thigh.
Procedure: Left L2-3, L3-4 Laser Endoscopic Spine Surgery (LESS)
David R.
Age: 74 years old
Occupation: Real Estate
Diagnosis: L3-4 spondylolisthesis and L3-4, L4-5 stenosis
Symptoms: Right buttock pain that radiated down his right leg along with weakness when going up and down stairs.
Procedure: Right L3-4, L4-5 Laser Endoscopic Spine Surgery (LESS)
Hratch V.
Age: 59 years old
Diagnosis: Right L5-S1 recurrent foraminal stenosis
Symptoms: Back pain that radiated down to his buttock, thigh and feet, which caused him to have difficulty standing and participating in any activities that involved twisting.
Procedure: Right L5-S1 Laser Endoscopic Spine Surgery (LESS)
Giles B.
Age: 70 years old
Occupation: Retired
Diagnosis: L2-3, L3-4 spondylolisthesis and stenosis
Symptoms: Lower back pain that radiated down both of his legs and worsened when he coughed or sneezed.
Procedure: Right L2-3, L3-4 laser endoscopic spine surgery (LESS)