Dr. Dorsi provided a very clear and concise explanation about what had been going on with my extruded lumbar disc over the last few months. He also gave me useful and pragmatic advice about how to continue my recovery and get back into a routine of regular exercise.

Submitted Dec. 30, 2022

From initial meeting and though the entire process of diagnosis testing feedback explanations and the surgery I had A+ care and superb results. Minor after surgery discomfort. So mild that no pain meds or muscle relaxers used. Highly recommended 😀 relief from three years of awful debilitating back pain.

Submitted July 6, 2019

Everything went great. I’m happy with how I’m doing. The surgery was in August so I’m still recovering. I’m still a little sore and have a little pain, but that’s only because my muscles are not quite back to normal. Dr. Dorsi was excellent. He was really nice. Never rude. He always made sure to answer all of my questions.
Patrick M.

Submitted Nov. 1, 2017

I am writing a review for Dr. Dorsi. I hope it helps other people like me, people scared and in severe pain. This is the short version. Over 30 yaers ago, I was rear ended. It was a struggle of constant pain and occasional inability to walk. I was referred to several specialists and was advised I needed a fusion on my back. That doctor just didn’t feel right. Two years later after lots of chiropractic care, major massage pain meds and alcohol, I found another surgeon and had an emergency ”moderate” surgery just before the scheduled date. In recent years, I was rear ended 3 times in 4 years. I was finally referred to Dr. Dorsi about my long history of back pain and thankfully he listened. He sent me for an MRI on my neck. I went to Dr. Dorsi about my back and discovered I had 2 discs in my neck that were crushing my neck. I research everything, period. Especially somebody that wants to cut my throat, you always get a second opinion. The second doctor and everything online about Dr. Dorsi was so positive. Most important for me was that he totally felt right. I could not have been more pleased with this amazing doctor. He has great bedside manner, a good sense of humor, and listened and discussed everything with me and is very nice. Like so many of his patients, I was given his cell phone number. The surgery and recovery were tough but went better than expected. Dr. Dorsi advised to wait on further back surgery and sent me to pain management. Thanks doc! With his help, I am trying all but it’s so great to know that when the time comes for me to have another surgery on my back or neck, Dr. Dorsi will be there for me.
S. Gapen

Submitted July 26, 2017

To put it simply: Dr. Dorsi gave me my life back. He is a very special person and I can trust him unconditionally. Ventura County has landed this bright, energetic and talented young surgeon who is destined to make a major mark in the field. His expertise will be long recognized.
P. Eskew

Submitted March 24, 2017

For years I had put off fusion back surgery, as I had always heard that too many patients had less than satisfactory results. My pain and nerve damage was getting to the point that I feared I would not be able to walk. At 65 years old that was quite frightening. Out of desperation, I consulted with Dr. Abou-Samra, a neurological surgeon who recommended that I see Dr. Dorsi for the type of back surgery I needed and I did. It has been a year since Dr. Dorsi performed surgery on me and I am feeling stronger and 10 years younger. I have my life back, and I’m pain free. I highly recommend Dr. Dorsi should you require fusion back surgery. Dr. Dorsi’s expertise in surgery is only surpassed by his genuine thoughtfulness and care for his patients. Dr. Dorsi is, in my opinion, a 5 star surgeon.

M.H.
Camarillo, CA

Submitted Jan. 24, 2017

Dr. Dorsi performed emergency surgery on my younger sister, she had never had a shunt revision here ALL had been in UCLA since she was a child Dr. Dorsi gave us peace of mind and performed a perfect surgery. He is very professional and nice.

Submitted Jan. 18, 2017

60 year old with DDD and ongoing spine issues (cervical and lumbar) when my right arm became weak and would fall asleep I was concerned and asked my Family Dr. about it, he referred me to Dr. Dorsi. He was not quick to recommend surgery, but spelled out all my options. I tried phys. therapy and it helped. but my job requires a lot of physical activity (Farming). After a lot of thought I went ahead with the surgery. After only 4 weeks I feel better and I am back at work with light duty - Thank you Dr. Dorsi

Submitted Dec. 26, 2016

I have been troubled with nerve pain in both legs off and on for years. More recently, the pain got so bad that physical therapy and epidurals no longer helped. It was clear surgery was my only option. In talking with my doctor, a doctor friend along with a nurse in the epidural center, told me they all had heard good things about Dr Dorsi. In fact, the nurse’s husband was operated on by Dr Dorsi. So, I felt very comfortable making an appointment with him. During my first meeting, he went into details about my problem and what needed to be done to alleviate my pain. A surgery date was set for one month after my first visit. I later told him at one of my post-op appointments, that this one-month waiting was the longest in my life with the pain in my legs getting worse by the day. Dr Dorsi told me my surgery would be a big surgery. He gave me the option to break up the surgeries, but recommended I do it all at once which I did. Upon awakening in the hospital, my leg pain was gone. It was the best feeling I’ve had in years. Of course, I had several months of therapy ahead of me which I am still doing on my own with aquatherapy. Needless to say I was very impressed with Dr Dorsi. One incident after my surgery sealed my admiration for him: He visited me at the rehabilitation center to take my stitches out. When is the last time anyone had a “house call” by a physician? Anyone needing a neurosurgeon would be hard pressed to find a better one. I highly recommend Dr Dorsi. I will always be indebted to him for giving me my life back.
J. Anderson

Submitted Aug. 1, 2016

Beginning in November 2015, I had been having leg pain that was getting more intense. I made an appointment with Dr. Abou Samra who had operated on me 3 times before. After reviewing my MRI, it was determined there was a disc problem in my L4-L5 area. Dr. Abou Samra, no longer doing the type of surgery required to deal with my problem, referred me to a new doctor in his office, Dr. Michael Dorsi. Having complete trust in Dr. Abou Samra, I was totally devastated to find myself headed towards a new physician I knew nothing about. I should have realized that if he was associated with Dr. Abou Samra, I could expect nothing but the best. I made the appointment. Dr. Dorsi greeted me and my husband and he proceeded, with the MRI in front of us, to explain what my L4-L5 problem was and how he expected to surgically take care of me. His voice was most comforting as he explained a relatively new “side entry” procedure to get to the damaged discs. I was admittedly hesitant but he assured me the recovery time was less due to entry through side tissue. Somewhere in all of this, I felt myself realizing that I was in excellent hands, the medical review seemed like a “family chat around the fireside”. Dr. Dorsi assured me that the pain killers I was on would be a thing of the past. There was a brief discussion that my L5-S1 disc would probably someday down the road have cause to be surgically dealt with, but not at the same time as L4-L5. Surgery was scheduled and went exactly as predicted, smooth and the pain was gone. Each follow-up with Dr. Dorsi was like a family visit. He talked to me on my level and showed me the X-rays of the surgical area. I had a small complication one week after surgery. My appetite went away and I became dehydrated. We rushed to the ER on a Saturday night. To my extreme surprise, Dr. Dorsi suddenly appeared, coming from his home in Newbury Park to Community Memorial. He decided to admit me to deal with the dehydration and 3 days later, I was home on the road to total recovery. About 4 months later, the L5-S1 previously noted area reared its ugly head. Dr. Dorsi was very confident that this matter could be taken care of. However, I was not up to the procedure so soon and opted for pain medication. He fondly noted that he “would be there when the meds ran out”. Several weeks went by and the pain meds stopped working. True to his word, Dr. Dorsi squeezed me in to fix things before he left for his personal vacation. I do not know what he did to get me in to an OR and find the time in the 3 days before he left for vacation. All in all, I think the answer to how I was treated in both cases came from just the simple fact that he cared for a patient and that’s why, in addition to his surgical skills, I think caring for his patients is right at the top of why I can say Dr. Dorsi is my friend and my physician.
P. Eskew

Submitted June 3, 2016