Dr. James Appelbaum, MD

He was very knowledgeable and offered an accurate diagnosis.

I’m a physician patient, and I have had multiple visits with Jim. I always found him attentive, not rushed, certainly definitive in his answers but I would hope so, and quickly sorted out my past and recent problems. I think he is an excellent neurologist, diagnostically and compassionately. Dr. Patrick Hughes.

Absolutely horrible. He wouldn't listen to me, about any symptoms I was experiencing. He refused to refill my prescription, so I set up an appointment. When the appointment was set up, he called in a refill of 10 pills, that I had to pay full price for. Once in the appointment, he insisted that he hadn't seen me in over a year, but had alot of video chats with me. I told him I've NEVER had a video chat with anyone, he said it again, and I again reminded him that never happened. He finally looked at my information, and said, oh, I see you were here in June. So I wasted 1 1/2 hours off work, a hefty copy for an unnecessary 4 minute visit listening to him ramble on about imaginary video chats, and a full copay on 10 pills.

I was examined by this doctor after being referred by Workers Comp. He examined me from eight feet away and in his own words said “I’m doing my diagnosis from here and you have Dystonia”. I asked for an explanation of what Dystonia was, and was told that I would have to have an MRI to confirm his diagnosis. He said that the Dystonia had nothing to do with my shoulder injury and subsequent surgery and he proceeded to put that statement in the paperwork to Workers Comp. I asked if he was going to send me for a MRI to back up his diagnosis and he said no, I am just the middle man and my part is done, you will have to do that on your own. I was appalled and had to get a referral on my own for an MRI which completely proved his diagnosis to be incorrect. I would not recommend this doctor to anyone.

Terrible bedside manner! He was so rude and unprofessional I’m not sure why he’s a physician.

Was neurologically kindled on several occasions when Dr. Appelbaum failed to taper benzodiazepines adequacy, failed to properly give adequate dosages of benzodiazepines when I was switching psychiatrists and failed to give proper medical treatment during this time when he only gave me 1/3 the dose of what my psychiatrist left me at. This led to severe benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome. My Doctor who graduated from Duke, has told me that a neurologist should be able to taper someone off benzodiazepines safely but he failed and refused a slow taper, my doctor went on to further state this made him a bad doctor and in their viewpoint this should of not happened. They stated he should of been there to fill the scripts until I found a new psychiatrist which also failed to happen. Wow!

Dr. Appelbaum is a very poor doctor. I took my husband to him for tremors and diminishing mobility thinking it could be Parkinson's. Applebaum said it was a gait disorder and essential tremor and sent him for therapy. It didn't work but he wanted him to go again. I took him to a neurosurgeon instead and he sent him for extensive testing. He has spinal stenosis where arthritis is forming in his lower back and neck and squeezing the nerves in his spine. He now is on a walker and can barely stand up. Applebaum wasted valuable time. We don't know if surgery can be done now.

10/16/2019 Yes, I liked Dr. Appelbaum very much. He explained everything that he was doing as he was doing each procedure to my husband. Very knowledgeable and pleasant. Our first visit was very impressive. I am not one of those wives that come to every visit with their husband but he wanted me there today so I was allowed in the room with him and Dr. Appelbaum didn't make me feel uncomfortable doing so. Thank you Dr. Appelbaum, we appreciated your time. The Steger's

In response to the question does the scan show further damage? He stated, "who knows there is so much." No explanation give. Any answers wee short and tinged with sarcasm.

Bad manners.

Dr Applebaum doesnt take the time to look further into things he just goes with the fast and quick solution i have horrible headaces still and i know for a fact i am bipolar and he doesnt seem to care to much

Poor communication skills, 4 months with no diagnosis

Doesn't remember see me between visits. Never fully read the reports from other Drs didn't even notice my responses were slow.

Doesn't seem to want to look too far into the issues, tremors......