Cybulski George R, MD

Do not let this surgeon operate on you. I had a cervical spine surgery in October, 2015, saw him once the next day in the hospital — and never saw him again. I met with his nurse, Diane, one time for a follow-​up visit. She just kept prescribing more pills for nerve pain, extreme pain and valium. They sent me to a «Pain management clinic» who I saw a month later and they told me I had to go back to the surgeon to have him fix what he didn’t fix. I had to have the same exact surgery RE-​DONE at Rush Hospital in Chicago with a much better surgeon, Dr. Harel Deutsch exactly 2 months to the day later. I’m 4 weeks post-​op and feel 90% better. Thank God I didn’t listen to them and went for another opinion. There are great surgeons out there — you just have to do your homework! :)

Dr. Cybulski performed an L4L5 Microdiscectomy on me over 2 years ago. Post surgery my conditioned has gone from bad to worse. Much worse. It is my fault that I didn’t look more in depth at additional options to the surgery, but I put my trust in Dr. Cybulski which is one of the worst decisions I have ever made. Prior to my surgery I was an extremely active athlete (Ironman/​Triathlons/​etc…), but post surgery that is not possible. I have been placed on disability from work which is due to the extreme chronic pain that I now have post surgery. For months I was not able to straighten my body post surgery. I was actually bent to one side. Awful!!! If you are considering Dr. Cybulski for back surgery, please do not go through with it. It really is not worth it. I recently ran into an old college friend who also had severe complications from post back surgery and found out that Dr. Cybulski was also his surgeon. If surgery is inevitable it would be wise to look into other Physicians for your surgery. I would also like to say that his post surgery follow up has basically been non-​existent unless I have contacted him (good luck with that). Post surgery I was also rushed by ambulance to Northwestern on 2 separate occasions due to extreme incapacitating pain related to my surgery. Dr. C stopped by to see me in the E.R. and had a few medical students in tow. When I started asking him questions, he got uncomfortable in front of the students and said he would return. Never saw him again. This surgery truly has been a life changing event and not one good thing has come with it. I know that I cannot turn back the clock, but I am writing this review to warn others thinking about letting Dr. Cybulski operate on them. Please, please do not let him operate!!!

I am very disappointed with the care I received from Dr. Cybulski. I, as Angela D. was seen immediately for initial consultation and scheduled for a surgery next day, with Mary Ellen (NP) scheduling all required tests on a spot. I was highly impressed, and of course I agreed to have a surgery. Dr. Cybulski told me I will be up and running and back in m pilates class in no time. He said that he guaranties I will be doing pilates in 2 months time. Today is Jan. of 2011. My surgery was in Nov of 2009. Not only that I am not able to do pilates yet, I am unable to put my socks on! I cant do any daily activities, and I am constantly in debilitating pain due to one of the rare, but possible surgery complications. Now when I desperately need them, I am unable to reach either of them for weeks on time, and when I need prescription refill, my pharmacy and I have to call several times. I am scheduling another Dr. appointment, and leaving this practice, but very disappointed in how they treated me for the past year. My guess is that they are really good at quick fixes, but once you need their consistent care, they are unable to handle it. It may be due to them squeezing in new patients — the ones that are going for the surgery very next day, but they really need to change something in their office organization. However, that will not be my problem anymore, for I am going to see another Dr. Oh, that reminds me, I need to look him up!

Dr. Cybulski performed my back surgery last year, and I could’ve not asked for a better doctor. Naturally, when you want to have a back surgery, you have one important criterion, that the doctor be good at what he does. I did my homework and asked around, and got a great referral to Dr. Cybulski. But when I went in to talk to him, I was immediately at ease, and actually enjoyed talking to him.
Even though he’s one of the best neurosurgeons around, he did not at all come off as arrogant or made me feel like I’m wasting his time, something other doctors do on regular basis.
I was super nervous about my back surgery, and he put me at ease, and explained to me all my options, and told me about what to expect in terms of recovery. He was very honest, but not in a «I don’t care about my patients’ feelings» kind of way. I also came in with a lot of questions, because I did a lot of research and had a list of questions, and he was very nice about answering all of them.
The surgery went really well, and I owe it all to this man. If you have to ever consult with a neurosurgeon, I highly recommend Dr. Cybulski.

Dr. Cybulski and Mary Beth Maher, the nurse practitioner, are wonderful; as was the entire Northwestern Medical Foundation Faculty staff. I had a ruptured disc and was in tremendous pain. My chiropractor sent me to Dr. Cybulski (who squeezed me in for a consultation on a day he usually doesn’t see appointments). Dr. Cybulski met me, looked at my MRI films and immediately scheduled my surgery for the very next morning! He sent me for preoperative testing immediately and had me in surgery within 18 hours of our consultation. How amazing. Mary Ellen Maher is the nurse practitioner who made sure all my test results were normal and that all scheduling occurred properly. She also took care of my first follow-​up visit and scheduled me for physical therapy. My surgery was a huge success. I was watering flowers in my back yard the next morning. Dr. Cybulski and Mary Ellen Maher were/​are both very down to earth, genuinely concerned for my well being and extremely kind; not to mention extremely skilled at their jobs. The pain I lived with in my hip and right leg are totally resolved and every minute I spent in the hospital and in follow-​up appointments was pleasant and positive. I recommend Dr. Cybulski, Mary Ellen Maher and NMFF very highly!