Thierno Sow

I had a lower back and neck injury that resulted in left upper shoulder pain. My left arm was extremely weak and sometimes I couldn’t even lift it. I was in pain for a year and a half and misdiagnosed by a few other doctors before my surgery with Dr. Hughes.

When I first met Dr. Hughes, he didn’t want to rush into surgery. He was the first doctor to request an MRI, which was surprising but made me confident that he knew what he was doing. We tried physical therapy, medication and acupuncture before determining surgery was the best course of action. Once we decided surgery was the best option, he took the time to explain exactly what he was going to do in surgery so I had a clear understanding of what to expect. I really applaud Dr. Hughes because he is one of the few doctors I have ever had confidence in. I was completely reassured going into surgery.

Recovery was challenging but after about three months I started to feel better and the pain was starting to subside. Before surgery I couldn’t work out, lift weights or play basketball. Even carrying a case of water in from the store was a challenge.

If I could tell others one thing about Dr. Hughes it’s that you shouldn’t be afraid to ask him questions and talk to him. He doesn’t rush you and makes sure you know what to expect. This eased my nerves and made me confident that he knew what he was doing. He also puts the final decision in your hands – he only gives his advice but wasn’t pushy at all, which I appreciated very much.