Dr. Edward Benzel

Dr Benzel gave me my life back. He was fantastic, he is knowledgeable and has great bedside manners. I would recommend anyone to him. I see all these other negative reviews and shake my head. I believe that he was just too conservative for your liking and you were disappointed when he didn’t want to do surgery. Dr. Benzel is a very conservative surgeon which I like, he won’t operate on ya just because you want him too. He will ONLY operate when there is a medically good reason too.

He didn't want to take the complicated case at the Cleveland Clinic. The End .

I had an MRI that a Cleveland Clinic Neurosurgeon said required surgery on my lower back to correct the problem. I tried PT first, and pain management treatments to avoid surgery if possible. After those failed to help I went to Dr Benzel and they took us back into the room and a resident talked to me about my issues. I had the MRI disc and they said Dr Benzel would review it and be in to see me. We waited 90 minutes (we opened the room door after 50 minutes) and my wife walked down the hall and saw Benzel talking to other doctors in a lounge. After another 20 minutes he came into the room without saying anything about the wait, and said my condition didn't require surgery. I said a Cleveland Clinic doctor said it did, and he replied it didn't meet the "Dr Benzel" requirements. I was so mad and frustrated as we waited 3 months to get this appointment. What a waste of time. I could barely walk my back hurt so bad. I went to another neurosurgeon who did a myelogram and found the results… were much worse than the 2 year old MRI showed. He did the surgery and I was walking pain free about 6 months later. Dr Benzel is an egomaniac. I believe he used to be a great doctor, but now is just a grumpy old man. I wouldn't recommend seeing him to anyone. There are many talented, caring doctors out there. Benzel isn't one of them.

I brought my mother to him after hearing good things. He saved her from becoming a quadriplegic. She is still miserable but much better off than she could have been. Moreover, he really seemed to care and did everything in his power to help her recover as much as possible.

Made up his mind about my diagnosis before even talking to me. Narrow minded about treatment options. Diagnosis turned out to be wrong. Traveled 6 hours to see him. It was a total waste of time.

Has to be the rudest Dr I've ever seen. He didn't even dx me himself rather his pa did and he came in the room for a few moments only to agree with his PA not to talk to me at all. Very rude and has since been proven wrong by two other Drs

Very compassionate and professional.

I had been diagnosed with a spinal meningioma located at T2. Dr. Benzel was the ONLY neurosurgeon that would even attempt to help me. I was paralyzed for a short time due to the size of the tumor which had my spinal cord almost completely compressed. The surgery was a complete success and I thank God everyday for this talented and compassionate doctor! He, and his entourage of 4 fellow doctors, came into see me 3 times each day after my surgery! I would still be paralyzed (at best) if it were not for this doctor. Thank you Dr. Benzel for restoring my mobility and saving my life!

I've been suffering with severe neck pain, headaches, and over all illness for several years. I was told about Cleveland Clinic and that their reputation was excellent. I decided to make an appointment to go there and see him about my pain. I drove almost 3 hrs, waited for the appointment almost 2 hrs and then once seeing him, he told me, " I'm perplexed on why you're here?' He then proceeded to be short, rude and down right obnoxious to me for no reason at all. I told him I am on short term disability and he stated "you should not be on any disability at all!" Well, I was on short term disability with my employer due to the daily illness and couldn't do my job. I filed a complaint with the clinic and nothing was done......this doctor received almost $1000 for this 15 minute visit and they still want to charge me $14.47!!!! He did nothing for me as far as any tests or diagnoses of any kind. Told me I need physical therapy, never wrote correspondence for my therapist and they… need that so they know what therapy I need!!! After all of that, I went to another surgeon, had an MRI. Results: I had a Cervicalgia, cervical facet degenration/hypertrophy , cervical degenerative disc disease, cervical spondylolisthesis, cervical osteophyte and cervical formainal stenosis. I had laser surgery and now healing great. This doctor is NO good, is rude, ignorant, only there for the $$$$ and I advise stay away!!! Cleveland Clinic is not what they claim to be in order to have lousy doctors like Dr Edward Benzel!

Dr. Benzel performed surgery on my spine, it was emergency surgery and he was recommended by another doctor who said if she needed spine surgery, he is the one she would go to. I am confident that he performed an excellent job with my surgery. However, follow-up appointments have been less impressive. I have waited as much as four hours for him to spend less than 15 minutes with me. I have never waited less than an hour. His staff is curt and I feel like I am a bother. When he comes in the room, I feel like he is annoyed and I am a bother. He does not spend time to find out if I have any concerns.