Dr. David Matthew Bell, MD

I have known Dr. Bell and his staff for a few years now...he has worked on my shoulder and now my knee. I wouldn't consider myself a easy case nor tough case. Though I would consider myself one who knows what my body needs in order to get back in shape. Exercise first, time to heal, maybe a first line of intervention here and there...and surgery always last. So when it came time to have a surgery A Gain. I knew it was time to schedule with Dr. Bell and the Staff made it happen..but did it have to be in the year of Covid no less? My body decided it had to be. Having been around the block a few times before with crutches, etc...I was pleasantly surprised when Dr. Bell made my options fit me more comfortably. His staff answered all my questions, as they arose. Dr. Bell called if it was needed. Great care was given all around. I cannot Express my gratitude for the care I was given . Particularly since more damage was found than expected. Which was a first for me. I have recommended Dr.… Bell to my friends and they have also been very happy.

I visited Dr. Bell because of pain in my shoulder. This pain did not come from a trauma, it appeared seemingly out of no where. Dr. Bell prescribed an MRI, which showed a minor tear in one of my rotator cuff muscles. He latched onto this minor tear and immediate recommended surgery. I asked him if there were any alternatives to surgery (since my pain was not restricting my daily or active life) and his response was short and fairly demeaning ending in, "No, this is the only option". Not being a doctor or trained professional, I decided I should get a second opinion. I went to a specialist orthopedic (also a surgeon) who gave me a 180 degree prescription to Dr. Bell's surgery stance. This second Ortho said "No surgery!" plain and simple, taking it 100% off the table. He explained to me, in extreme detail, why I have pain and pointed out that the pain wasn't even where the tear was! This doctor prescribed Physical Therapy and ice. Simple. Said do it for 6 weeks and if the pain is… still there he would be surprised! This made me very excited and even if it didn't work, it is always best to do everything you can before getting cut by a surgeon! I went and saw another specialist who was on the same page as the second Ortho I saw, "No surgery!" In fact, this specialist said, "You have a minor tear yes, but everything is still connected at your rotator cuff... What was Dr. Bell even going to do in the surgery? There is nothing to connect back up?" That scared me and is why I am writing this review. This specialist knew of Dr. Bell and said that he gets a lot of patients who say, "Dr. Bell prescribed surgery," when surgery wasn't needed at all. I am guessing Dr. Bell makes his money by cutting and not by being a good doctor. This third specialist also gave me some rib expansion (breathing) exercises to go along with the Physical Therapy. (This is because my shoulder pain is a SYMPTOM, not the actual issue in my body). I have now been with a Physical Therapist for 2 weeks, she focuses on the whole body to determine why I have shoulder pain as a SYMPTOM. This is important, my shoulder pain is a symptom due to other imbalances in my body. The exercises I have been doing are not focused on my shoulder, but on my whole body, and have already rebalanced my body allowing my shoulder to heal. I am 30 years old, I have been doing Pilates 2x a week for 8 years, I run 2x a week to stay fit, I live an active normal life, I eat healthy, I do not drink, and I do not smoke. Generally my body should be able to heal! If I had got surgery I would have been out for 6 months and then another 6 months to rehabilitate where I was cut into. And then who knows how surgery would have left my shoulder years down the road. I am not an alternative to Western medicine, in fact I believe surgery is needed for many issues and I trust Western doctors. But, the way Dr. Bell approached my pain was so concerning, down to my core, I had to get a second and third review - and am so glad I did. I am writing this review because others should know about my experience with Dr. Bell. I want to point out that Dr. Bell has a trend of recommending surgery when, surgery is not always the first option. Please always get a second opinion and please be careful when seeing Dr. Bell. It's your body not his. You will be the one living the rest of your life based on your decisions.

I have been with my husband on several occasions to Dr Bell —visits have been for both leg and shoulder pain which were resolved. Dr Bell is a #10 ! He always answers questions in layman terms and never rushes the appointments.

Have been seeing Dr David Bell for about 15 years. Had both rotator cuffs repaired (excellent job, excellent follow up) had both knees meniscus repaired. Have referred several co workers/athletes who now feel the same.

Having shoulder surgery is never fun! I couldn't have been happier with my experience at Bell Sports Medicine. Surgery went great and rehab did also. My shoulder is so much stronger, only wish my right was as strong. When the time comes I will have the right done with Dr. Bell, he is the best!

Dr Bell did a debriment on the cartilage on my knee, which was not needed and has led to me now facing a knee replacement. He did the surgery for the sake of doing surgery, having done much research (which I wish I had done prior to meeting Dr Bell) it is widely considered that this type of surgery is more detrimental to the long term condition of the knee