I have received compassionate and extraordinarily competent care from Dr. Hughes for over 15 years subsequent to experiencing fairly significant back pain in my early fifties. I have never found Dr. Hughes to be arrogant or anything less than professional and caring. Moreover I would reemphasize that his competency shines the brightest when I have needed him the most, or during those rare occasions when surgery has been required to restore me to health. There is no substitute for competency when your physical health and your life is in the hands of your surgeon. I have personally experienced the deep confidence that occurs upon knowing that I was in good hands when surgery (always a last resort) was necessary.
Several years ago Dr. Hughes successfully performed a microdiscectomy to alleviate excruciatingly crippling pain that rendered me incapable of managing even the most routine daily activities, and that sidelined me from the exercise that I routinely enjoyed such as volleyball, tennis and golf. I was on my feet, out of the hospital, and out of pain the day of surgery. I returned to all of my physical activities without loss of capability soon thereafter.
February of 2021 I began to experience further deterioration in my lower spine that led to significant leg, hip and back pain. Dr. Hughes patiently managed my care from February through September that included a battery of physical therapy and spinal pain management, as I was desperate to avoid surgery. It is important to add that Dr. Hughes has always taken a personalized approach to determining his path of care to restore me to health to align his medical recommendations with my lifestyle.
That said, in August of 2021 it became obvious that I would require surgery to address my increasingly painful symptoms. I was experiencing painful sleepless nights and long uneventful days due to an invasive cyst growing in my lower spinal canal. As well scans revealed I needed a laminectomy / fusion to address deterioration to my lumbar spine. Upon making the determination to have surgery Dr. Hughes met with me on three occasions wherein he overviewed the surgical process, and shared examples of other patient's outcomes subsequent to having surgeries similar to my own. Dr. Hughes did not sugarcoat the process. He thoroughly outlined the distinctions between my former microdiscectomy and the more difficult complex surgical process I was facing. That said, together we determined that surgery was the most optimal path to return me to health and the activities that I enjoyed, e.g., golf and racquet sports.
I underwent surgery Monday morning September 21. I walked (a very short distance) the day of surgery while in recovery, and increased my range each day thereafter. I was released from the hospital Wednesday September 23. Today I walk pain free, sleep pain free, and last night (October 26) I enjoyed a return to leisurely playing Pickleball with friends. Based upon my experience and progress I am ecstatic to be out of pain, and look forward to increasingly living the healthy lifestyle that I enjoy.
Finally, I want to restate something I mentioned earlier with regard to Dr. Hughes capabilities. I am not an especially easy patient. With respect to doctors I seek competency. Prior to surgery I thought through my own surgical process. I researched it online. In great detail I considered each of the risk factors, beginning with the knowledge that my body would be physically invaded and subject to the expertise brought to bear upon it by my surgeon. I have also mentioned that I very much enjoy Dr. Hughes demeanor and approach to managing my health. All that said, his demeanor is far less important to me than the trust I have in his surgical capabilities. He is an amazingly gifted surgeon. I often thank God that he is my doctor and surgeon. It is a bonus that he is both caring and compassionate, and that he takes time to consider my lifestyle in context of his approach to healing. read more