Dr. Joseph Aferzon

Absolutely love this doctor. I'm happy with all he has done for me and my back, that has taken beating after beating from years of lifting, repositioning, and securing the safety of the patients I'm responsible for. I find him honest, forthcoming, and easy to talk to.

Office staff was horrible. Never could speak to the doctor, he always had nurses return calls for him. My surgery was horrible. I woke up and couldn’t stand up. I couldn’t touch the floor, the pain was unbearable. He did a second surgery the following day to supposedly correct it. However I then spent 7 months pretty much bed ridden. Back and forth to different hospitals for many different problems caused from the surgery. Finally went to a Yale surgeon and he did the best he could to fix what had been done but unfortunately too much time passed and some things could not be corrected. Today, approximately 2 years later, I live every day in pain. However thanks to the surgeon at Yale I can stand and walk. I will forever have this pain.

Professional, easy to talk to, concerned, seems to know his stuff!

I thought he was the best. After the first 360 fusion, I read in my surgery notes, that my cerebrospinal dural was cut. He did sew it but it left me with foot drop. The most rude receptionist, on the planet. Very inept and unable to follow through on booking tests. She cannot take a message at all. Even the office online portal is ignored. (My cell phone shows the # of times, I used it) Nothing happens, no calls are returned. It is annoying and stressful and I do not think it is acceptable for a surgeons office to behave this way. It has been 11 days, and she still has not called in the bone spect test. I left the scheduling number, all wrapped up with a bow on several voice mails and their online contact form. The other woman followed through on sending information to "pain management". How can it take so long to dial the phone? They pick up in 10 seconds, as I keep calling to check, if they were contacted yet. I have run into others, who also had surgery here. The first words out of their mouths is, "doesn't he have the worst staff?" Glad to know it is not just directed at me. I have had surgeries before, and most offices (UCONN) have a full team. I literally signed the "consent form", as they were wheeling me into my second XLIF surgery, because they forgot to mail it to me. I had 2 separate lumbar fusions, 15 months apart. I am left with permanent nerve damage in my left foot and left thigh. I have required surgery on my right ankle because everyone’s too cheap to order a “foot drop brace?” Surgery is more expensive ffs. After the XLIF, and weird problems happening, I signed a release for my surgery records. He removed the plate for my scoliosis, during the XLIF surgery! He never came and said anything about it ever. It was not authorized by workers comp, nor did I consent to this. I wish he left the plate in. I now have thoracolumbar scoliosis. If he had come to me after the surgery, and explained why he had to do this, I would be fine with that. The lies are malpractice, full stop! I am so much worse off, now that the plate is gone. My S-I joint is flaring all the time. PT person said, "the scoliosis is tagging on your S-I joint". Gee, thanks. My balance is a mess so I have to use a cane. Thigh, hamstring, calf & shin pain, is relentless. The XLIF surgery, was suppose to be a fusion. The last MRI said "a partial disectomy is seen at L3-4". He used cadaver bone, but I later found out he scraped bone from MY hip. We never discussed that, because I opted for doner bone, so my hip would not hurt. It now, hurts all the time. I had awful "bee sting sensations", at 5 months post op, and it lasted for 2 months. Turns out, that is "psoas damage". I had to use Lidocaine patches for 2 months, and was limited to 1 per day. Gabapentin worked until it didn’t. Suicidal thoughts and crying forced be to wean off. Hybridol medical marijuana has been very helpful but GALLAGHER BASSETT keeps turning the reimbursements off like a light switch, because they have ODD. 1 year post op XLIF, and I have left hip flexor problems, and "left leg atrophy". I do not know why he does not order physical therapy, because it is necessary to learn the correct exercises for surgeries with hardware. He did not order a “drop foot brace, after bringing it up. I had to fight to get to Dr Kost, who then ordered PT on my behalf. (Thank you Dr Kost) :-) Started this entire experience with an open mind and a positive attitude. I am now disappointed and left with chronic pain and the worst limp and NIGHT SWEATS from the spinal cord being cut! I trusted this neurosurgeon, and he was not honest about things that matter. His staff just called (2-2018) to voice their "feelings are hurt" by this review. Funny, they have never returned a call yet.. Dr Aferzon canceled the last 3 appointments, and is constantly leaving the country. This is so unfair. I would not go down this path with him. I thought he was the best. After the first 360 fusion, I read in my surgery notes, that my cerebrospinal dural was cut. He did sew it but it left me with foot drop. … More

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THE FIRST CONSULTATION EXPLAINING THE SURGICAL SPINAL PROCEDURES THAT DR. WOULD PERFORM ON ME WERE AS HE WAS SPEAKING TO ANOTHER SURGEON - I LEFT MY MEDICAL DICTIONARY AT HOME. I WAS HAVING SURGERY DUE TO EXTREME PAIN AND ABSENCE OF STRENGTH ON MY RIGHT ARM AND HAND. 7 HOURS LATER I AWAKENED WITH GREAT RESULTS ON WHY I HAD SURGERY FOR THE RIGHT HAND, BUT MY LEFT HAND WAS NOT MOVING. RETURNED FOR A 5 HOUR SURGERY AFTER BEING HOME 4 DAYS. AGAIN I AWAKENED WITH NO USE OF MY LEFT HAND. DR. AND I HAD A SERIOUS DISCUSSION ON HOW WHEN I CALLED HIM, HE WAS WHO I WISHED TO SPEAK TO. ONLY ONCE DID HE ACTUALLY CALL ME BACK. I WENT FOR A EMG TO LOCATE NERVE DAMAGE AND DR. CONWAY SAID I HAVE SEVERE NERVE DAMAGE, NOT EVEN A GUESS AS TO WHEN MY HAND WILL RETURN TO NORMALCY. THE DAMAGE IS A RESULT OF SURGERY IN THE C3-C5, C5-. I NOW HAVE TO GO MANY WEEKS FOR P.T., AND WILL BE FITTED FOR A HAND PROSTHESIS TO EXPAND MY CLUBBED HAND. ONCE YOU SIGN THE PERMISSION FOR SURGERY THE DOCTOR IS NOT RESPONSI

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Great experience with office staff and Dr Aferzon, Dr Aferzon seemed to me that he has a lot experience and very capable in his field and very professional.

Amazing doctor. I was in pain for almost 3 years. Another doctor operated on my back and told me that there was nothing wrong with my back. I went to Dr. Aferzon and within 10 minutes he told me that I needed 3 operations. I had the three operations and now I'm living pain free.

Although it took some time to set up an appointment, it is well worth the wait. Dr. Aferzon is an excellent surgeon. Precise, willing to listen to other's opinions and exact in his skills. I would never seek treatment from anyone else related to his specialty. His office staff is kind and patient, even when the patient can be a pest depending on insurance to approve a procedure. Although it took some time to set up an appointment, it is well worth the wait. Dr. Aferzon is an excellent surgeon. Precise, willing to listen to other's opinions and exact in his skills. I would never seek treatment from anyone else … More

This was the only office to book me an appointment without a referral and very quick as I was in excruciating pain from a severe herniated disc. Right from the start Dr. Aferzon was straight forward and gave me hope. It was not an easy decision to make undergoing surgery but Dr. Aferzon made the decision clear and I was confident with him. What I was not confident in was his office staff... There could be much much improvement with the staff. Phone calls weren't returned, communication was difficult. As someone who is in extreme pain, it felt like the office staff was just laughing in your face every time you call. That was a difficult challenge during the weeks leading up to surgery. Finally, surgery was smooth and I woke up feeling like I never even had a herniated disc. Here I am 3 months later and I can live a normal life again pain free. I will forever be greateful I found such an amazing surgeon like Dr. Aferzon. He truely changed my life. This was the only office to book me an appointment without a referral and very quick as I was in excruciating pain from a severe herniated disc. Right from the start Dr. Aferzon was straight forward and gave me hope. It was not an easy … More

Great surgeon, great person, with excellent bedside manner. Internationally recognized innovator and expert on minimally invasive spine surgery.

I suffered from left C7 nerve compression with left arm pain from a herniated disc.Dr.Aferzon performed a endoscopic posterior laminotomy and micro decompression surgery.My pain was gone and the surgery was a success. I'm now suffering from right C7 nerve compression with right arm pain and numbness from a disc bulge.Dr.Aferzon will be performing surgery on this also.I consulted with 4 neurosurgeons before finally choosing.Dr.Aferzon was the only mininamally invasive endoscopic surgeon.

This was the only office to book me an appointment without a referral and very quick as I was in excruciating pain from a severe herniated disc. He was straight forward and gave me hope. It was not an easy decision to make undergoing surgery but Dr. Aferzon made the decision clear and I was confident with him. What I was not confident in was his office staff.There could be much much improvement with the staff. However I am 3 months post op and living a normal life pain free thanks to him.

This is my 2nd "lumbar fusion", (XLIF) for L3-4 which also needed a plate for "scoliosis" that took over. The drop foot from my first surgery is a bit better, but 15 months in between, has caused 35% loss of left foot sensation. I have to say, the 2 artificial discs implanted @ first fusion, have really stabilized my spine! I am so grateful for this brilliant neurosurgeon. The problem with this office is the staff. Good luck getting a medication refill, a bill corrected or a call back. #inept

I have had 2 spinal surgeries with Dr. Aferzon.The first left me with drop foot & numbness in my left foot.The pain is unbearable without medication. So I would rate the first surgery as unsuccessful.The second surgery was to open up the canal for the nerve that was being pinched.That surgery seems to be successful.However, it is being overshadowed by the first surgery which has left me not only in CONSTANT pain but a dropped left foot.It was a result of my nerve being nicked accidentally. smh

Dr. Aferzon is the best neurosurgeon. He is patient and thorough. I had two spinal surgeries performed by him with much success. I would highly recommend him.

This office is totally unresponsive. They do not schedule tests as promised, do not respond to phone calls or letters.

Dr. Aferzon was extremely thorough and took the time to explain exactly what was going on. He got me back on track to living a healthy active life, pain free. Same day surgery for a minimally invasive lumbar discectomy in a surgery center, which was very comfortable and I walked out with an incision 1/2 the size of people I have seen who have received a minimally invasive discectomy from other surgeons. Plus, they had to stay overnight. I went home shortly after the procedure, pain free.