Mercedes Gregoire

As a child I had scoliosis, but I never had any symptoms, so it wasn’t until later in life that I was diagnosed. I was very athletic growing up and staying in shape has always been important to me. It wasn’t until I started a new workout class involving a lot of twisting that I started to have back problems. One day in class, I twisted a certain way and immediately felt a very intense pain in my lower back. At this time, I was already under the care of three doctors at HSS for various reasons. After a month of experiencing this severe pain, all three of my doctors referred me to Dr. Sama.

Dr. Sama is an amazing doctor and his entire staff is always so kind and very friendly. During my first visit, Dr. Sama did an MRI and really took his time to explain everything to me to ensure I fully understood my condition and treatment options. At first, we tried alternatives to surgery, including injections, before Dr. Sama determined that surgery was the best course of action. Altogether, I have had three successful surgeries with Dr. Sama – my most recent being a fusion.

If I could tell someone in a similar situation anything it would be to have the surgery, but understand it is a process requiring dedication. Recovering after surgery is very involved. I did physical therapy at HSS for a while and continue doing Pilates four times a week at the hospital – even during COVID-19 through Zoom using my Pilates Cadillac at home. I still continue to exercise regularly to maintain my health.

Although the road to recovery has not always been easy, I am so glad that my doctors recommended I make an appointment with Dr. Sama. Dr. Sama really is the best. Before each operation, he made sure to explain every detail to me and everyone in the office also made sure I had all the information I needed. Dr. Sama even called me personally to check in after my surgery. He is very caring and the welcoming environment of his office is very reassuring. I love exercising, being active and taking walks. Because of Dr. Sama I am able to continue to do those things!