Joshua Marcus, MD | Neurosurgeon at Elite Brain & Spine of Connecticut - Danbury, Connecticut

Beth S

Dr. Marcus and his entire team were an absolute pleasure to work with. I had a spinal fusion a few months ago and the results were everything I had hoped for. Dr. Marcus is a super skilled surgeon and he is also extremely caring, an excellent listener and one of the nicest and most sincere doctors I have dealt with. I would highly recommend Dr. Marcus and his practice.

Tom Sullivan

Without hesitation, I would 100% recommend Dr. Marcus to anyone needing spine surgery. He probably spent more time with me than most of his patients because I had never had any major surgery and asked lots and lots of questions. He patiently explained, in detail, all I needed to understand so I could feel comfortable with the decision to operate. I cannot say enough about his caring, professional manner and his exceptional surgical skills. And his polite and helpful staff was a pleasure to work with as well.

Mark McBeth

A little over three years ago, Dr. Joshua Marcus diagnosed me with Spinal Stenosis between L4 and L5. I had been having significant symptoms for months, that ultimately led to a MRI and Dr. Marcus diagnosis. I had constant lower back pain and couldn't walk 100 yards without my right leg going completely numb. Initially Dr. Marcus didn't recommend surgery and suggested epidural injections every three months to manage the pain. The injections gave me enough relief that I could live a relatively normal life. Fast forward to October 2023. I went back to see Dr. Marcus for evaluation, a MRI and CT Scan. After his review he suggested a new procedure called TOPS. TOPS is an alternative to spinal fusion, that allows full range of motion. Dr. Marcus was the first surgeon in CT to perform the procedure, which was FDA approved in July 2023. I put all my faith in Dr. Marcus and said "let's do this". The surgery was January 10th of this year. I was walking normally without a cane in two weeks. I was in 45 minute PT sessions within three weeks. Today I can swing a golf club with no pain. I can return to fly fishing the local rivers without fear of falling. I credit Dr. Marcus with all of this. I've had multiple joint replacements over the last 10 years, so I have a lot of experience with local surgeons. I would put Dr. Marcus along with his assistants, at the top of my list. Google "TOPS spinal surgery" and see if it's right for you. Then put your trust in Dr. Joshua Marcus.

Holger Ericsson

I was trying to find the perfect words for this review to capture my feelings. Simply put I have nothing but the highest regards for Dr. Marcus and his skills and staff. He is a man of excellence professionally and personally that I can honestly say I would not be walking today if it was not for him. I was still impressed with the level of time and caring he and his staff shows. For example: After surgery in 2016 Dr. Marcus gave me is personal home number if I needed anything and even called over the weekend to check on me. I also remember speaking with 2 doctors and 2 nurses who wanted to observe the surgery I had in 2016 as he was known for his surgical techniques and skill. His staff and nurses are just as impressive being both knowledgeable and caring taking time to answer all questions. As I said in the beginning of my review I was looking for the perfect words to summarize my experiences and in summary I can say I HIGHLY recommend Dr. Marcus.

B Dyker

Long story short, I’ve had back pain for a very long time. One day I woke up and I could not even get out of bed. I had to crawl to the bathroom and I was stuck on the floor. My significant other awoke to my screams for help. Rushed to the er and was given pain killers (which I hate) and they gave me a referral to another dr that decided best course of action was cortisone injections. After multiple rounds, and multiple months of being bed bound due to severe pain, I looked around for another dr. Found Dr. Marcus to be highly reviewed and decided to give him a call. He looked over my mri and decided my only option was surgery. I was obviously very nervous and hesitant but he ensured me that he’s very confident with his abilities to cure me. I put all of my faith in him and went for it. Arrived for surgery and Dr. Marcus was very informative and it helped ease the anxiety. I was in and out of surgery in no time at all. Was pushed in on a wheelchair and walked out under my own power. Have not had any problems or residual pain. I’m at my 8th week of recovery and I’m back to my regular self. If anything my back feels much better than it has for years. I’m so thankful for Dr.Marcus and his amazing team. They truly turned my life around for the better. I’m finally able to do the things I loved as a teen again. Never thought this was possible. Nothing short of a miracle worker. If you’re in serious pain and need help, forget the other doctors that will throw narcotics at you and push you away, give Dr. Marcus a call!

Lucy Savoca

Dr. Josh Marcus has been more than caring and thorough throughout my experience. I also had cervical surgery and was shocked when I woke up that I was out of pain, no numbness and tingling. I found him and his team to be exceptional throughout my whole surgical experience!!! I cannot say enough great words about him and his team!! Finally no pain!

Stephanie Daly

I was referred to Dr. Marcus by another physician after they viewed my MRI and felt a surgical consult was necessary. While I was very hesitant and nervous about having back surgery, Dr. Marcus was very patient and answered my questions with care, but very straightforwardly at my initial visit which I appreciated. With the increased severity of my pain following the visit, he called me back personally and led me to an earlier surgery date. Then he successfully got my insurance to approve the surgery after it was denied. He and all of his office staff have been incredibly helpful every step of the way through my ordeal. Thanks to Dr. Marcus' skills in the OR, I have been pain free since I woke up in the recovery room and to my surprise Dr. Marcus himself called the next day at home to check on me! His APRN, Stacie Gonzalez, is knowledgable, patient and great as well. The degree to which Dr. Marcus values his relationship with his patients is phenomenal. He is a top notch surgeon and I have been so incredibly grateful for all he has done for me.

evette munz

To fully understand the scope & sincerity of my referral I will need to share w/you a little of my orthopedic history.

In 1988, I was treated for a 60 degree thoracic/30 degree lumbar Scoliosis w/extreme thoracic rotation. Treatment at the time was implementation of a stainless steel rod at the site of thoracic curve, w/fusion (in my case) from the T2 vertebrae through & including L2. 5 ribs were resected, & I was put into a fiberglass cast from clavicle to hip bones for 6 months. Again, this was the state of the art back in 1988, performed by 1 of New York’s “go to” surgeons. After the cast came off I thought I was done w/Scoliosis.

Wrong!

Fast forward 34 years & I’m in the Danbury Hospital ER feeling as if I’m going to lose the little remaining feeling I have in my right foot. I can no longer stand erect. I am utilizing both a walker & cane. I have started to slope to the left. I’ve had 3 additional spine surgeries w/in the last 10 years because the disks & vertebrae both above & below the stainless steel rod have been compensating for all this time & had pretty much worn themselves out. I went to the ER that day because I couldn’t take the pain anymore—& I’m a person w/incredible tolerance. I was fully prepared for the ER MD to send me home as they had before. I had already been told by the surgeon who performed my 3 additional spine surgeries that there was nothing more he could do & that I would just have to deal with it.

Well, an MD came in & said I was being admitted due to intractable pain, to rule out a dangerous condition called Cauda Equina, that my blood pressure was extremely high due to pain (200’s /100’s), & that he would be calling a neurosurgeon. I agreed, thinking that perhaps the neurosurgeon the ER MD would be calling would take the time to listen & not just dismiss me.

Enter, Dr. Joshua Marcus:
He was the epitome of professional & considerate from the moment he entered my room. He was not in a rush & clearly wanted to understand not only my orthopedic history, but my thoughts regarding this. He shook my hand & made eye contact. He listened to hear, not just to respond.

Dr. Marcus is very real. I know I’m a complex patient, & he doesn’t sugar coat anything. He does, however, speak to you in a way that is not condescending. He doesn’t dictate care, & knows if something is beyond his scope. He does not push surgery unless it is clearly indicated & best practice for the patient in front of him.

The outcome of our first bedside meeting was that new imaging would occur & then a trial of epidural steroids which ultimately failed. We again reviewed options & agreed to wait a little longer just to see if there would be any improvement at all. We did, and there was none. There’d be a 5th spine surgery for me…w/Dr. Marcus.

On the day of surgery, Dr. Marcus again reviewed from the beginning what he was going to do. He also made certain the person w/me understood everything. Exactly how a provider of care should conduct themselves.
There was never any rush of my bedside follow up visits. He & his team listened to me, respecting the fact that this was my 5th spine surgery. Together, we were able to get me home to my family.

I saw Dr. Marcus for a post-operative visit yesterday. He was impressed w/my recovery thus far. I am almost 7 weeks post op & can feel my right foot again. I can drive. My L4-L5 area doesn’t feel like cement blocks are resting on them. No more walker.

Please let me sum this up for you: If you require the services of a neurosurgeon, look no further than Dr. Joshua Marcus. He & his team are exemplary as it relates to patient centered care. He recognizes that treatment includes a team approach but is unique per patiient. He does not present w/a god-like attitude—quite the contrary! I would also argue that his delivery of information & care is nothing less than stellar. Dr. Joshua Marcus is the “go to” neurosurgeon if you find yourself in need. He is for me--as a patient w/a complex spine, & as a nurse of 21 years.