Dimitriy G Kondrashov, MD

Dr Kondrashov did an SI joint fusion with three pins for me in November 2012, I felt better the moment I woke up after surgery. I trust him completely and could not recommend him more highly, I am so grateful for the help and healing he provided me with.

Dr Kondrashov is amazing. He is very patient explaining the issue over and over to the patient and the members of the family :) The results of my father surgery are really amazing — the leg pain was gone the same hour he woke up after the anesthesia. Dr. Kondreshov has very good and soft ‘bedside manners’ and he really accommodates the patient needs. He makes sure that the patient gets right care. He visited my father both days he was in the hospital. We are really lucky that Dr. Kondrashov was my father orthopedic surgeon.
I also want to mention Dr. Kondrashov’s assistant Lana, who was very professional and fast, she set up all the appointments for my father within a week and he was ready to go.
Thank you.

I have never written a review of any of my doctors, but feel compelled to do so in the case of Dr. Kondrashov. What brought me to Dr. Kondrashov were two failed steroid epidurals after a bad fall and a herniation at the L5-​S1 level. Back surgery was a prospect that I dreaded, but decided to see Dr. Kondrashov and to get his opinion. During my visit, I found Dr. Kondrashov both professional and personable. He spent more than an hour with me, examining my condition, answering my questions, and calming my surgery-​related fears. The day of surgery, the doctor spoke with me before the procedure, which was very reassuring. Dr. Kondrashov also spoke with me right after surgery, making sure that I was well. Not only was I well, I was feeling 100% pain free right after surgery and was released the same day. The night of surgery, I was walking my dog and feeling better than I had in months. I could not say enough amazing things about Dr. Kondrashov and highly recommend him to anyone with spine-​related concerns.

Dr Kondrashov is, without doubt, the best doctor I have ever experienced. He is an amazing surgeon — found out what was making my back hurt after several other doctor were clueless and had just issued me pain pills. I was in surgery immediately and the pain was gone ! Both his staff and himself are the kindest ever and really make you feel that they care about you and your welfare. No rushing and they always have time to devote to you. I feel so lucky to have found him.

What can I say about Dr Kondrashov that would do him and his team any true justice.
Dr Kristen Alderisio is AMAZING, as is her assistant Mark. Kristen always made me feel like my questions were the most important and that I was always her number one patient.
Lana Dr Kondrashov’s assistant was such a pleasure and always attentive. The office is busy so don’t be surprised if it takes her a day to get back to you but she does and with all of your issues and needs at the foremost of her list of things to do with you.
Dr Kondrashov himself is a very attentive and compassionate healer. I had 2 SI Joint fusions using the iFuse system (he is one of the only ones that does it in the Bay Area! and the best imho). It is an arthroscopic surgery and he did an amazing job on both sides. I scar very easy and I hardly have a scar on either side. I was in the hospital and he visited me both nights I was there Just to make sure I was doing ok and that my pain meds were enough. WE had to space them out between 8 months and it was like a miracle, the second was even easier than the first, probably due to all the PT and getting in the water and exercising, you must do this! As soon as he releases you to do it DO IT!
I have been to plenty of back Dr’s in my life and I can tell you he is of a different breed. He makes you feel at ease instantly with his beautiful blue eyes and easygoing manner.
I really can’t say enough good things about the Saint Mary’s team and Dr Kondrashov’s team as well.
I went from not being able to walk more than a few steps with extreme pain to walking and swimming and hiking and having a life again.
Thank you to Dr Kondrashov and his whole team for giving me my life back!

I have never wrote a review of anything before, but felt that I had to write one for Dr. Kondrashov.
Dr. Kondrashov is an amazing surgeon and person. Lana, his assistant is amazing and Peter the scheduler is also great!
I came to Dr. Kondrashov to get a second opinion on a fusion surgery at L5-​S1. I needed to be hospitalized and had the fusion surgery 2 days later. Dr. Kondrashov is very intelligent and experienced and did an outstanding job on my fusion. I went from not being able to walk to being on the road to recovery and being able to function. My first spine surgeon was terrible. Dr. Kondrashov literally saved my life.
If you are going to have any type of spine surgery see Dr. Kondrashov first! Do not let anyone mess with your spine without talking to Dr. Kondrashov first.

Dr Kondrashov did a 2 level ACDF (fusion, with autologous bone graft) at C5−6 and C6−7, and removed ‘fish-​hook’ bone spurs for me in early September 2012. I had put the operation off for over 3 & ½ years out of fear and was in constant pain and exhausted. I tried every non-​surgical approach possible before accepting the inevitable.
A little over 2 months post-​surgically, I feel like myself again for the first time in almost 4 years. From the first time I met Dr Kondrashov in March 2009, I knew that if (when) I had the surgery, he would be the only doctor I would trust to do it. At that time (³⁄₀₉), we had thought only a single level procedure was needed, the C6−7 herniation revealed itself on pre-​surgical repeat MRI/​XRays.
In addition to being a genius in his field, Dr Kondrashov is exceedingly kind and always takes the time to answer all questions, and has amazing ‘bedside manner’, especially for an orthopedic surgeon. Lana (his assistant) is phenomenal as well, very caring and helpful.
Unfortunately, due to degenerative disc disease, I may need more work done in the (hopefully distant) future and will (of course) have Dr Kondrashov do any procedures I might need. For the time being, I am overjoyed to be out of pain and regretful that I wasted so much time prior to surgery. The recovery was so smooth and went far better than anyone expected. I give him all credit for this.
Having literally put my life and health in Dr Kondrashov’s hands, I cannot recommend him highly enough.

Dr. Kondrashov is a good listener and probably a good surgeon based on the other reviews. I will not argue with that. I saw him for chronic right-​side pain as referred by my physician. He ordered a chest CT scan explaining that the amount of radiation will be close to what I would get from a trans-​Atlantic flight. I did take the CT scan because, conveniently, the machine at St Mary’s was not busy this day and I did not have time to do my research. The actual amount of radiation is equivalent of what the crew of trans-​Atlantic flight gets in a year. I got it in 10 minutes. St Mary’s collected 2K+ for the scan from the insurance. If a nerve impingement was found, Dr. Kondrashov would have injected me with steroid which in turn would have provided some temporary relief. My pain was not that bad to go through all the trouble. This should have been explained as well as the true amount of radiation I would get. The office also took two x-​rays just to talk to me. Imaging is a cash cow. Be careful.

Dr. Kondrashov preformed my most recent surgery. I have a dorsal column stimulator implant that I use to treat chronic pain due to extensive bilateral ulnar nerve damage and CRPS. I consulted with Dr. Kondrashov, when my implanted rechargeable battery for my DCS, stopped working and needed replacement. Lana, in the front office was outstanding. She went out of her way to insure my surgery was scheduled right away and that all my medical history was in order to proceed with surgery. My initial consult with Dr. Kondrashov well exceeded my expectations, He was on time, personable, made eye contact and really took time to understand my extensive medical history. He put me at ease and explained in depth, all aspects of the surgery I would need. The day of surgery, he came early to meet me and go over my treatment plan. He was kind, confident and he reassured me, I was in good hands. His bedside manner is outstanding. My surgery was on time and everything went according to plan. He came to see me in recovery and was both informative and kind. I have had over a dozen surgeries in my lifetime. Dr. Kondrashov was outstanding. The personal and professional care he provided me was outstanding. I would highly recommend him.

Dr. Kondrashov is wonderful. He is very nice and approachable, yet it does not reduce my confidence in him in the least bit. He in knowledgeable and confident, with a sense of humor and a very humane approach. He and his wonderful assistant Natalia squeezed me in before my vacation (I really needed to see him!) and did not make me feel like he was rushing in the least bit, though I know that he had other patients waiting for him. He administered a supposedly very painful shot effortlessly and most importantly PAINLESSLY, and offered me to email him if necessary while I’m gone, even though I know he will be traveling as well. I am thrilled to have found such a capable, young, gentle, and kind doctor, and while I hope I get better soon, I already feel better knowing that I have Dr. Kondrashov on my side.

I was waiting to write this review till I had decided that enough time had passed to be sure that there were no post-​surgical complications. Looking at the 5 stars above, you can see that now, exactly 4 months post neck surgery, the answer is positive.
A brief history:
5÷18÷07: While doing push-​up, husband feels painful *POP* in shoulder/​neck area, bull-​headedly continues through push-​ups
5÷18÷07−7÷2÷07: Husband spends ~$ 1500 on alternative therapies, attempting to alleviate the now round-​the-​clock pain he is experiencing
7/​2/​07-​ish: Husband sees Dr. Kondroshov, who sends hubbs for MRI, diagnoses herniated disc between C5-​C6
7÷20÷07: Husband gets cortizone shot in the hopes that the problem will be alleviated. Relief lasts for about 4 days. (sweet, teasing roids!)
8÷13÷07: Husband gets neck surgery (scary thoughts of possible paralysis rule our minds) to cut away the herniated material
12÷10÷07: Husband is recovered, doing exercises again (carefully now), & pain free. Summer of pain is over.
Dr. Kondrashov is extremely capable, and excellent at explaining procedures. (My favorite was the day after surgery, when he visited us in the hospital to check on the recovery. To explain what he had seen when he was performing the surgery, he drew a helpful diagram right onto the bed-​sheet!) Furthermore, this doctor did not seem to be a surgery-​pusher, preferring instead, to recommend less invasive procedures first, and then using surgery as the last resort. He is young, intelligent, totally approachable, and quite the dapper dresser! I hope that I never have to see him again in the medical context, because that would mean something was medically wrong with me or a loved one. However, if I did have to see him in his office again, at least I would be fully confident that I was in exceedingly capable hands.

I did it again. I had a period in my life of wanton sluttery, alcoholism and excessive karaōke and what do I get for it? Another broken bone.
For real, the exact same thing happened to me 4 years ago, where I had 6 months of stupidity until a night of too many gin and tonics (like 10 or something) landed me waking up in a Kaiser OR with a screw in my 5^th metatarsal (that’s part of your foot for you plebes) talking to the techs and the RNs about how I was soooo drunk as they all laughed at me.
Things are a little different now; I remember every detail of my fall and I get to plan my surgery instead of being talked into it by the world’s most socially awkward surgical resident at Kaiser. Instead, I get to have young Dr. Kondrashov perform the barbaric act of fixing my fracture by putting a METAL PLATE into my ankle and then screws on the other side. So it’ll look something like this: (
)
3 stars because I waited fucking forever to be seen but once the actual visit got started, I found the doc and his assistant Peter to be both pleasant and (gasp) they had actual senses of humor, which is rare in doctors, especially surgeons. Peter even made a snarky comment while putting me in my fabulous boot (
) (yes, girls, you can borrow it when I’m done!) and we all know: snark is pretty much the easiest way into my heart.
More stars added post surgery (edit — done). If he leaves some surgical instrutment inside me and I get a flesh eating infection and die, then naturally, the stars will be reduced. Yes, I’ll be Unilocaling from the grave. It wouldn’t be very Elite of me to stop using the site just because I died, right?