I wish I had read these reviews before my first appointment. I would have cancelled. Over a period of a little over a year, he performed two lumbar spinal fusion surgeries (sic). At each appointment before and after the surgeries I always sat in the exam room alone for at least 45 minutes. The first fusion of L2-3, 4 and S1 didn't work at all. The second one I was promised it would help. It did not. In fact, I am in more pain now than I was before the surgeries and I think I must have suffered permanent nerve damage. Since then, I have had to have a spinal cord stimulator implanted in my back to control pain. All I have to show for my experience with Dr. Sugarman is a scar, endless nights trying to sleep on a recliner, dozens of trips to PT, and, best of all, the inability to wipe my own butt.

Submitted April 18, 2024

I had one c spine fusion in Dec. and after seeing Bernie who needs to find a job he is good at, did not see that there was a collapse and the vertabre was sitting on top of the other, by the time I got to see Sugarman, he scheduled a second surgery this time putting a small bar in place to the two vertibre so to hold them up, so in April, I went for my second surgery, which dr. sugarman wanted me to stop smoking, I did, during the second surgery, I was foggy but heard Bernie, dr sugarmans asst. yelling at me, saying I thought you quit smoking, in a fog I commented I did, but the dr told me it would get worse before better as far as my cough.I heard a female, nurse I assume comment she is right, none the less I went for my check up with bernie and I asked for sugarman since bernie missed the collapse in the first place, and I was told dr sugarman would come into the room and look at the images, well, he was too busy and could not come in, bernie said images looked good, scheduled my next appt. was seen by bernie again however, dr sugarman was able to come into the room and view the images this time, Collapse! again, and while dr sugarman showed bernie were it was collapsing bernie still could not see it. Amazing. dr sugarman wanted to schedule yet a third surgery, well I went to schedule a appt for a second opinion, and this specialist said "I can go in and fix it, but honestly three surgeries in the same place will leave you in more pain than you are in now, also I would have gone into the back of your neck instead of the front since that is where your problem is, and there is so much stuff to pass by to get there thru the front, also I would have not just fixed the problem area I would have gone one above and one below your problem for the stability" WOW, I think dr sugarmans intentions were good, but should have passed me to someone else more experienced with the neck area. Bernie should just flat out find another job maybe a short order cook or something has no business looking at ones images from a surgery since he obviously can't identify a collapse when it is staring him in the face. Now I have so many problems that have stemmed from these poor surgeries, right arm lost strength, deep aching in the shoulder, nerve pain all around my neck, shoulders, and arm, sharp stabbing pain in the right arm, and now these symptoms are going over to the left side. I have googled what I am experiencing and I will not say because I have not been seen by a new specialist to verify, but if I have myleopathy which the pain has not gone away for months now, and can become un reversible if ignored so off to the specialist to confirm. Dr Sugarman is a pleasant man, whom I feel had my best interests at heart but in reality should have passed me over to someone with more experience with the cervical spine, and Bernie, well , I said what I think of him. Hope any of this info. helps someone with cervical spine problems

Submitted Aug. 5, 2019

In 2001 Dr. Sugarman did a 4 level cervical fusion on me. Thirteen months later I was in an auto accident resulting in a cervical decompression. In both surgeries I woke up with all pain gone. My first visit was 3 hour wait however he spent one hour with me giving me knowledge and compassion. I left with complete confidence on my first visit. Dr. Sugarman has brought me and other patients in on a Sunday, to see us. It's frustrating when your in pain and waiting, but this is only because he might have just in the wee hours of the night saved a life. How can you be mad about that. I will be having lower back surgery this year and Dr. Sugarman, absolutely will be there performing. He doesn't rush a surgery he is the opposite.

Submitted July 31, 2018

My my is Frank i. I have read a lot of your blogs about dr.sugerman, in 2004 I had 4 level cervical surgery he did a great job no future pain.the reason I seen this doctor is simple . At the time I represented thousands of auto workers heard all the stories of other drs.to many horror stories for me .also wanted to mention about his punctual scores he received from other patients first he may not be on time of your opintmen simple reason reason he is a top neurosurgeon and is in many emergency situations to save stroke victims . Which are not always great out comes for waiting family's. have patients with this doctor and his team, you are in the hands.

Submitted Dec. 17, 2017

I had 4level cervical spin surgery in 2004 hard collar 1 month soft collar 5 months lots of pain do not recommend 4 levels . But I tell you this if I could clone him he be in naples fl.with me now for my lower back issues. From frank i.God bless the the sugar daddy.
the recommend 4 levels for any one

Submitted Nov. 9, 2017

He was wonderful, with a great sense of humor. He came to see me immediately after my MRI, explained everything to me, and spent lots of time with me, since I was alone in the hospital and completely on my own. I was terrified and he popped in to calm my fears. What a great guy!

Submitted July 14, 2017

Dr. Sugarman has performed 3 very successful surgeries for my stenosis in the past 5 years-- always seeking other non-invasive treatment first. Although I have had to wait a while at my appointments, it has been because he was callout or held up at the hospital. He has been very thorough and a concerned doctor. Before each surgery, I have been consulted by either his PA or himself. After each surgery, Dr. Sugarman has spoken to my waiting family about my surgery and condition. In the evening of the surgery, Dr. Sugarcane and his PA both came to my hospital room to talk to me about post surgery care and answered all my questions. All of my surgical results have been successful.

Submitted Feb. 17, 2017

I saw Dr. Sugarman in February 2015, I had to wait a very long time to be seen. The office staff is anything BUT friendly or helpful. I am on Medicaid for the first time in my life & I'm 60 years old. I paid for private insurance for 38 years. I am being treated like a second class citizen. I had such tremendous back & left leg pain I couldn't work. I went to see if anything could help. He suggested a major surgery (my 2nd, 1st not by him). I agreed. Scheduled for surgery in March. Late in March his office sent a letter cancelling my surgery, I didn't have the right Medicaid. So I had to cancel the surgery & couldn't reschedule until May. All the time I wasn't working. I was told I would be back on my feet in a month. I didn't have an a follow-up appointment from surgery for 6 weeks. His NP came in, I didn't see him, I explained all the pain I was in since surgery & asked why wasn't back on my feet, pain so bad I couldn't go up & down steps, much less go to work. I was told I wasn't given the realistic expectations & I should wait 2-3 MORE months & start PT. He wouldn't treat my pain, sent me to Pain Management. They barely gave me medication to deal with it. He washed his hands of me at 6 weeks status post surgery. It is now October, I had to return to work financially. I did see him in September & he said I wasn't ready for work, but I had no choice. I am working in retail. I am in such pain but I am there. No medication. I am not writing due to no medication, but to warn you that you will be treated differently on Medicaid no matter if desperate times put you in need. I feel like I am NEVER going to get better & be pain with out getting better & never getting better. He lied when he said he can help me & dropped me as a real patient when I didn't respond to the surgery. 1 person in the office helped me and she is the precert area. Please save yourself the pain, neglect & not getting better situation. Go somewhere else.

Submitted Oct. 5, 2015

This Dr. Is always late, you end up sitting in the waiting room for hours to see him. The staff that works for him never responds to there phone messages until days later.i had three disc in my back that needed surgery, Sugarman did two, and my life has been a constant pain ever sense. I would never recommend this guy to anyone. My opinion is to search for another Dr. And stay far away from this guy.

Submitted July 25, 2014

Operated in 96. Dr S was my 2nd opinion after being treated poorly by Dr Bose. Seemed knowledgeable and a good guy at least I could understand him. Surgery was very bad. Supposed to be 4-5 hours ~ turned into over 13. He cut my spinal cord and had to do repair. Came out of surgery with nerve damage and numbness that still plagues me today in my rt arm -- from lumbar surgery - said it was from positioning. Was to be a 3-4 day stay in hospital. Couldn't walk for over 2-1/2 weeks. Finally got home to discover MRSA virus in my spine. Another operation to open my back and debride it 3 times a day for the next 2+ months. Had me jacked up on dilaudid, morphine and antibiotics for the duration of hospital stay. Finally got out and when I had more trouble, sent me to ER where antibiotics were changed giving me full body rash 2 weeks later. Infectious disease Dr changed meds and saved my life ~ No thanks to Dr Sugarman. I later heard he claims to be a marathon surgeon. NEVER AGAIN...

Submitted May 8, 2013