Robert A Eppley,MD

Dr. Eppley and his staff are the absolute best! This office has figured out how to provide the best customer service to their patients. Not only is he clinically excellent, but his staff offers the utmost professionalism and kindness. Planning a surgery and trying to manage applying for short term disability can be grueling and confusing. They handled everything and didn’t even charge me which is different from many other offices. They are attentive and genuine.

I am writing this review with the hope that Dr Eppley will see this review because his staff would not let me speak with Dr Eppley. I have been a patient of Dr Eppley for over 10 years. He has done several wonderful surgeries on me. The last surgery that he did was a total knee replacement a year ago. At my last visit with Dr Eppley he said that I needed to come back for a 1 year follow up appt. Well I was having some pain in that knee and I called his office to schedule that 1 year appt for him to eval that knee and see what the issue was with it. At the time that I had the surgery I had Sutter Health Insurance and I now have a PPO Athem Blue Cross plan (which I was told that it was a California Covered plan and his insurance person told me that because I have that plan I can not see Dr Eppley. Not even if I choose to pay cash. I found out since then that I have a really great plan and it is has nothing to do with the Californa Covered Plans. The real issue here is that he did a major surgery on me and had asked me to come back for a 1 year check up and his staff told me no I could not make an appt and I could not leave a message for him. Because he does not respond to messages. Really! This is a very sad state of things when a doctor that I have been seeing for so many years has decided that I am no longer his responsibility because of the insurance I have. Dr Eppley if you do see this please have the common courtesy to give me a call. Valerie Reed-​Bradley

My review is not directly based on doctor Robert Eppley, but his staff, that was probably instructed by him.
My 19 year old son was hit by a car while riding his motorcycle on a residential area March 20^th. 2015; he was taken to the ER and after a few hours released. They said he had only gotten a splintered bone on his ankle and he should be fine after 3 or 4 days. It has been about 11 days his foot is not getting any better and so I decided to check Unilocal to find a good doctor.
I called the office of doctor Robert A Eppley thinking I could get an appointment for him to see my son. The receptionist was unfriendly from the very first minute — After answering basic questions she asked if we had insurance, which we do, luckily a good one — it wasnt until I told her what type of injury and that is was caused by a motor vehicle that had hit my son’s left leg/​ankle that she said they could not see us. I asked for an explanation. all I needed was to see an orthopedist to make sure all was ok with his worsening foot — not having one, she said she was going to transfer me to whom could explain. by then my boyfriend/​partner gets the phone since I was just getting frustrated and nicely tries to get them to see my son, saying that our insurance will fully pay for it and that no car insurance/​motor claim will have anything to do with it. it then seemed like it was all going well. he hands me the phone again, to finish booking the appointment — she nicely asks for another minute… when they get to the phone again she says «Our doctors can not see your son» I again asked why?! «Because they are all booked, but I am gonna give you a number for another doctor that can help you, she said» I was so discouraged after being on the phone for over 20 minutes now. I just said ok. when I looked for the other doctor they referred me on Unilocal he had really bad reviews and so I decided to just keep looking on my own.

6 Month update since my knee surgery…
My knee has completely healed. I’m running, hiking, biking and soon to be, skiing. While Dr. Eppley tells me I’m at the top of the bell curve in terms of recovery (and has nicknamed me «speedy»), I attribute much of my amazing recovery to his surgical talents.
Again, Doc Eppley and his team are the best talent there is for knee and ACL replacement.

If you are a senior who’s just fallen and ruined her shoulder do not let this office’s name, «California Sports and Orthopaedics» deter you from using the fine practioners associated with this practice. I am a 71 year old woman who managed to create havoc in my shoulder and feel totally lucky that I managed to get an appointment with Robert Eppley. He is as skilled as anyone could possibly want and personable and kind as well. Shoulder surgery isn’t any fun but just tell yourself you’ve been in the best of hands and within a week you will discover what that means. I must admit that I had a week of discomfort (completely managed with meds) and some discouragement about the inconvenience of the sling, but pain vanished after a week and I’m more or less making peace with this contraption I have to wear. My arthroscopic puncture wounds seemed to heal overnight. I think they will hardly be visible over time.
The entire office staff was very responsive. I was able to talk to Gaye DeRusso, physician assistant, about concerns in a very timely fashion. Beth and all front office staff were as efficient as anyone would want. The surgery center in Walnut Creek also has lovely staff.
This is a top-​notch practice. You will feel immediately confident that you don’t need to look any further once you’ve made contact here.

I was referred to Dr. Eppley for rotator cuff surgery this past year. My remarks: 1) he is a fine surgeon (he repaired my husband’s torn rotator cuff years ago, and he says it’s stronger than the other one!) whose repair on my shoulder was working fine until I re-​injured it. 2) he is great at listening to his patients and patiently explaining the procedure. 3) Gaye Russo and the entire staff at Cal Ortho run the rest of the show efficiently and pleasantly. 4) I loved being able to have my surgery at a surgery clinic, rather than a hospital — no hospital stay! My husband and I are both big fans of Dr. Eppley, and have referred many of our sailing friends to him.

Surgical procedure on shoulder caused permanent nerve damage and resulted in restricted movement and lasting pain. Was told by Eppley that the surgery would be «no problem» and would result in «complete restoration» of functions. None of this was true. His office staff was arrogant and unfriendly, especially the receptionist. Telephone questions and e-​mails were left unanswered. I would not recommend this office to ANYONE. Keep looking and find competent help elsewhere.

Last May I broke shoulder walking the dogs in Tilden Park. I was referred to Dr. Eppley because I was told the break would most likely require surgery to fix it. At first I was a bit apprehensive about having surgery (never having had it before) but the moment I walked into Dr. Eppley’s office I knew everything would be fine. When I actually met Dr. Eppley, Gaye and the staff at the office I couldn’t have been more greatful for the referral. Dr. Eppley is AMAZING. Gaye and the rest of the staff are amazing also, they are professional, attentive and nice! The healing process has taken some time but I’m almost back to 100% use of my rotar cuff again. YAY…but sadly I no longer require visits to Dr. Eppley…

I learned about Dr. Eppley through social media. I’m sure you have already seen it. In their office, there are a whole bunch of UC Berkeley sports team members’ pictures with «thank you» notes on them.
It’s not surprising because Dr. Eppley is such a caring professional that puts the patients needs above everything. I had a problem with my knee. Thanks to Dr. Eppley, everything’s great now! Such a great doctor.

Dr Eppley is a good surgeon, and he fixed my knee without any complications. That is pretty much all i can say about him…
The reason i gave him five stars is because of Gaye De Russo. She is the most amazing doctors assistant i have ever met.
Last summer i had a knee surgery with Dr. Eppley and she was the life saver. After the surgery i had a new question almost every day, and i never waited for more than an hour or two to get an answer, even on the weekends. She is endlessly kind and polite, and she makes you feel like she will do anything to make you feel better. And believe me, when you are in so much pain, you want to talk with someone like her.

Three years ago Dr. Eppley repaired my left shoulder which I had dislocated nearly two dozen times over the course of five years as a result of sports injuries and other things. The surgery was a complete success and I have full (but not too much!) range of motion and can even do chin-​ups! He is caring, but not cheesy, and is really sympathetic to Cal students who need surgery, but don’t have much money. If only all doctors could be like him. Spectacular experience.

Monday, I fell off a bus, but thanks to the superpower of my cushy-​tush, no harm done.
Wednesday, I managed to fall onto the bus and even the bus driver winced. Not cute. Both days I was in my shiny, special arm-​sling and if I can’t keep it in my head that I’m in post-​surgery mode, I may end up with my a** in a sling. Gots to slow down, but it’s just not natural for me.
Enough about me. On to Dr. Eppley and his super-​fly crew.
Four months into great physical therapy progress (shoulder mobility issue), improvement kind of just stalled. A referral and MRI later, I was set for surgery with Dr. Eppley. Dr. E was very personable, thoroughly explaining the range of possibilities, low pressure on the surgery route. All roads pointed to eventual surgery and I decided it was looking like time to take the ‘stitch in time’ to save me the proverbial nine.
Everybody on his (veeery diverse) staff was at least kind, but even better there was this air of ‘we like what we do and it’s all gonna be cool’ that just cold-​cocked any anxiety I had about the procedure. Which was really good because, ultimately, what I would experience in the pain department surely needed that balance of the ‘competent, caring Epply-​nation’.
Fools, rotator-​cuff stuff is just no joke!
Fortunately I was dealing with a small tear and a little impingement so while I didn’t get off easy, it could have been worse. All of this I understood thanks to online education, handouts and ‘any further questions, class’ type stuff that comes with the Eppley-​style treatment.
I also did research on my own, but the Eppley-​zone covered everything else I could find online and chatting up the medical folk in my life.
I also got this super-​sick ass (as in cool) DVD of the surgery «Fantastic Voyage» style where they’d inserted this tiny camera into the joint along with wee instruments to slip, snip, clip, shave and stitch stuff back to near good as new.
Everything was so abstract looking, (or maybe it was the drugs) it was like watching marbles rolling around and spaceships, their after-​burners and laser guns aglow. Hmmm… clearly that was the drugs.
Anyway, Dr. E actually ‘narrated’, talking directly to me voice-​over style;
Gloria, you’ll see here there’s just a little tear which I’m going to stitch up…” etc.
Cooooooooool!!!
To be honest, at first I was horrified at the very *thought* of just photos, let alone a DVD (you get all of this and more…) of me getting sliced and diced, but it was actually so well done… although my brother did quietly excuse himself when we watched on the ‘puter once I got home.
Would I do this again if I knew what was recovery would be like? (tabulates falling on and off busses, sleeping sitting up and various other indignities endured…)
Well…if someone would work a miracle in exchange for my first born… close call, but I’d do the surgery.

I had my left ACL reconstructed by Dr. Eppley in March, it is now September and my left knee is more stable than my right. I have nothing but good things to say about Dr. Eppley, his team, and the set up they have at the surgery center.
Dr. Eppley has a wonderful bedside manner, he takes time to explain things and answer questions fully. He explained exactly what he knew was wrong by looking at the MRI, and also what else could be wrong given his experience with ACL injuries (i.e. meniscus damage etc.). He didn’t pressure me into getting the surgery, he explained that it is elective and I didn’t have to have it if I didn’t want to. I felt very comfortable going into surgery knowing that whatever was wrong he would do what he could to clean it up and fix it.
The staff at his practice are pleasant and professional. They gave me a huge packet of material about what to expect post-​surgery so I read up on that and it made me feel better to know the typical complaints. After surgery I had a question that wasn’t answered in the packet (my knee felt like it was burning up on the skin– apparently this is a normal reaction) so I called the help number and Gaye called back before the end of the day. I also ended up needing an extra prescription of pain killer and she took care of that right away.
The surgery center was excellent, it was so much better than having to go into hospital. The staff there were really nice and talked me through everything before I went into the operating theatre so I wasn’t scared or nervous. They were also very kind to my partner who waited patiently to take me home.
Above everything else I think that Dr. Eppley and his staff realize that although the decision to have surgery and the surgery itself are day-​to-​day tasks for them, it is (hopefully) a once in a life-​time experience for the patient and they treat it as if it is very important.
I would definitely recommend Dr. Eppley to anyone needing knee surgery.
Take note that at every appointment I had Dr. Eppley was running late, so make sure to bring work/​a book/​something to do with you and to block out twice as much time as you think it will take. The excellent service and results are well worth the waiting time!

update — june 25, 2010
running first half marathon in Oct — «scar tissue» isn’t that bad!
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update — surgery: march 28, 2008
to date: april 20, 2009
running 5 – 7 miles 1−2x a week. no cyst. slight tenderness. 100% happy! thank you! thank you!!!
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I read all five reviews of Dr. Eppley and his staff, and although my problem was slight and did not receive (not did it require) the attention of his entire staff, I have little reason to doubt that when the situation calls for it, his staff will work seamlessly together to help.
I’ve had pain in my right knee for more than 2 years, starting a few months before January 2006. At the time I was a daily runner – 3.5 — 5 miles a day, then stairs immediately after. My primary doctor thought it was tendinitis, to which I started aspirin 1x-​2x daily (pre/​post run). My stomach started to hurt shortly after, which made me quit the aspirin. In physical therapy for my back alignment issues, the physical therapist suggested I get the knee re-​checked, as it was definitely NOT tendinitis.
Ends up I had a politeal cyst. I was referred to an orthopedic surgeon. Enter Surgeon 1, who did x-​rays, an MRI, and aspiration in May of 2007. That’s right – that would be almost 1 year and 4 months of hurting and this is what Surgeon 1 suggested: aspirate (they poke you with needles to draw out the cyst fluid). If the cyst returns, live with the it and reduce activities to a tolerable level. meaning, cut out running. start walking. I’m sure I’m exaggerating, but i started envisioning walkers and canes for long walks. he said surgery was a bad option because it would lead to scarring, limited ROM in healing, etc. My feelings of pain were invalidated, and I made the decision to live with my cyst. which, despite not running for 2 months, and then resuming only 2 miles runs twice a week, flared up again, returning in its glory to be bigger, harder, and just as painful. that, coupled with FRUSTRATION at having little options and no control of my body.
I’m aware I did not tear a ligament or meniscus, dislocate or crack any bones. It was a cyst, a «large multioccular (many compartments) cyst», likened to a tumor. and it was changing everything from the way I stood to my lifestyle choices (running was my stress relief). at the suggestion of my coworker, I turned to Dr. Robert Eppley.
I’m honestly of the belief that a cyst is relatively minor in the eyes of a surgeon and Surgeon 1 did not want to waste time operating when I could easily sit on my butt and stop moving. Dr. Eppley performed right knee arthroscopy about a week ago (to see if they could find a cause for the cyst and also treat it), and although it will be a bit before I know for certain if the pesky large lump is gone for good, I am for once in a long, long time feeling HOPEFUL about recovery and resuming some of the activities I love. So that’s what I’m writing about – not the amazing staff, the great surgery center which felt a little like a b&b, being guided through scheduling and insurance (which was all wonderful) – but about the hope Dr. Eppley and especially his PA, Gaye, gave me. I’m not an easy patient, mainly because I’ve had awful experiences with MDs and dentists, but Gaye is calm and reassuring. I’ve had lots of anxieties and fears leading up to surgery, and today, as I’ve felt since surgery, I feel really positive. I still have a bit of anxiety, but at least now I know I’m in good hands, who won’t turn me down because my problems are «insignificant».

Dr. Eppley and Gay DeRusseo, PA are amazing. Not only is Dr. Eppley an amazing surgeon, but he is also very caring and blunt. Gay DeRusseo, PA, is an amazing listener with great advice and care. Together they are an unbeatable team!
After dealing with an unstable shoulder for 2 years, Dr. Eppley perfomed a capular repair on my shoulder. It’s only been 4 months and I am back to full use and better! I can surf, play softball, yoga, bike (all stuff that caused problems before).
I had a little problem after surgery with not getting my range of motion back and Dr. Eppley and Gay quickly acted. They recommended that I switch Physical Therapists, get a cortizone shot, regular massage and had me stretch 5xs a day (my pt only had me doing limited stretching twice a day). Within a month, I went from being at risk for problems to an excellent shoulder. They were awesome and now 4 months post-​surgery I have no pain and my activity level keeps going up!

I don’t really have or take the time to go online to write reviews, in fact this is my first review and quite possibly my last. The reason I’m making the time to write this one is because of the importance of this man and what he does.
The irony of it all is that I am considered a Master Trainer and rehabilitative specialist, this is a fancy term for a personal trainer with a whole lot of experience. In general my work has a tendency to gravitate towards those people with special needs, like knee, shoulder, and lower back in particular. However, over the years I have had the priviledge and honor of working with all manner of clients ranging from those with chronic aches and pains to other types like quadruple by-​pass surgery. You name it, I have seen it.
This reason this is a great irony is because I, myself, have suffered from a shoulder injury that I was unable to fully rehabilitate for six long years. The wide range of modalities that I researched and utilized in attempts to heal my shoulder is too vast to list here and quite frankly exhausting to even think about. I even talked to a couple of surgeons, one of which completely missed the lebral tear on my MRI.
In the meantime, I continued to lose muscle tone and strength and even started to have chronic fatigue symptoms as I worked endless hours using every physical therapy technique that I could research and apply on my own. In the end, although I still looked fit and in shape, I couldn’t even open my car door with my left hand for fear of popping my shoulder and enduring hours of painful inflammation afterwards. All told, I logged 100’s of hours of different types of modalities with a wide variety of practitioners, lost 20lbs of muscle, and put on 10lbs of fat. Incredibly frustrating.
For those of you who do not know, sometimes an orthopedic injury can actually become systemic, which means that it affects your entire body. One ACL tear, one rotator cuff tear, one slipped disc in your L4, L3, or L2 and your over all functionality can be decreased by 50% or greater.
I finally found Dr. Robert Eppley and everything changed. I felt confident from the minute I met him. I’m a big believer that your health practitioner should, themselves, be in good physical condition. He is. My logic is: How can you fully know the human body if your not in touch with your own? I enjoyed my fist meeting with him and knew that I was in the presence of a Master. Not only was he incredibly knowledgeable, but I could tell that he really cared.
My next appointment was pre-​op with his Physicians Assistant Gaye De Russo who is also incredibly knowledgeable. I immediately had a good feeling about her as well. She had a lot to do with the overall procedure itself as she made a key observation in our pre-​op meeting. I often times had pain in my AC joint, but did not have pain that day. The AC joint is basically peripheral to the main source of my problem in the rotator cuff. So, even though I had occasional pain there, I didn’t pay that much attention to it. However, because of Gaye’s observation, at the time of surgery I told Dr. Eppley about it just before the procedure began (as she suggested), and he probed the area immediately noticing some potential scar tissue. Thus, the procedure was lengthened to clean out the AC joint as well and my shoulder will be even stronger as a result.
The entire procedure was easy and almost completely painless. I had never been anesthetized before so did not know what to expect. The entire staff worked very well as a team and never missed a beat. From beginning to end they made it seem almost effortless. When I came to there was someone right there to guide me through the process. Top notch all the way through.
I am now only two weeks out from surgery and already feel my shoulder healing. Because of the incredible work done by Dr. Eppley and Gaye De Russo I am anticipating 150% recovering, meaning my left arm and shoulder will be even stronger than before the original injury. I feel that they did their part, now it’s time to do mine and I am willing to do the work.
Christopher A. Pinckley, cpt

I recently dislocated my shoulder playing with our cat. How I wish that was a euphemism for something far more interesting… but sadly… I was really playing with the cat fell on my elbow and dislocated my shoulder far enough to tear my rotator cuff.
After a trip to the emergency room and seeing a great and responsive doctor there (Dr Meredith), I was happily on Dilaudid and referred to Dr Eppley’s office.
Dr Eppley and his P.A. Gaye De Russo, were excellent. Smart, caring, informative and they listened.
I was surprised that I was given the option after the MRI to not have surgery and to see if I can work through my long history of shoulder injuries with PT.
This experience with my insurance compnay and working with great health care people the entire way has made what could have been the worst experience of my life more of a anecdotal blip.
As an aside, Dr Eppley has more than a passing resemblence to British Actor Bill Nighy.
And it may have been my dilaudid induced haze, but I now have a crush on his PA Gaye, who has an incredibly bright and cheery lifeforce…

It is very apparent that Dr. Eppley cares about his patients. He listens thoughtfully and he offers clear explanations. His surgical work is exceptional. His credentials, peer reviews and awards are impressive.
I came to know his entire staff as I had my shoulder worked on in ’04 and they are all top people.