Dear Dr. Chang,

I wanted to write you a note and thank you for your excellence! Your practice runs like a well-oiled machine. Thank you for helping me! I appreciate you with my whole heart!

So very sincerely,

Dr. Michael Chang,

You are a brilliant orthopedic surgeon!!! I thank you so much for the terrific surgery you performed on me!! I felt no pain after 2 1/2 weeks after the surgery and that was only incision pain!!!

May God bless you always and keep you in His care so you can continue to make others feel like I do!

Dr. Chang,

How can I tell you how thankful I am. First, this surgery seemed so unfathomable to me. Second, that I would come out of it with all of my body parts working and my back so much straighter! Yet to you there was no doubt and such confidence. You have an amazing talent and I am so grateful and fortunate to have found you and have you as my surgeon.

And thanks to all of your team!

Blessings to you!

Dear Dr. Chang,

This note was meant to be more timely and I do apologize.

Last September 23, you performed a spinal alignment due to scoliosis. I had never experienced surgery and I was petrified! Bottom line, at this time, I reflect on these marvelous improvements:

1. Lower back pain gone

2. "Bent" back is now straight

3. BONUS – for at least a year prior to surgery I had serious bouts of indigestion. Now, it is gone!

Thanks so much for the top-notch procedure and your steady hand. You are the best and I am passing your name to family and friends.

President of your Fan Club,

Dr. Chang, Mara, Pierre, Esmerelda, entire staff,

Thank you for your excellent attention to detail and care for my health. You all make a great team and have provided the best medical services possible.

I had spinal stenosis surgery back in 2008 that lasted until this year 2015 when my back was always in extreme pain. I got by increasing my Celebrex dosage to two a day that worked but I know it was getting worse. I went in search of a new doctor since I wasn't to happy with the last place I went to. I would have a 1:00 pm appt. and if I was lucky I would get in by 2:30. I had the same experience trying to get refills on my prescriptions. I couldn't be happier when the angels of the internet sent me to Dr. Michael Chang. He looked at my MRI and told me that it looked like a jig saw puzzle with pieces missing. He ran every kind of pre-surgical testing and set up the surgery for July 28, 2015. I went to Scottsdale Healthcare on Shea at 5:30 am. He was right that I wouldn't like him after the surgery. The surgery in 2008 I was pretty much running around after 4 weeks but this one was so much more involved. My itemized bill from the hospital told me that they used 120 parts in my surgery, I have a feeling the airline security is not going to like me anymore. Well here I am 1 month plus 3 days out, I still have quite a bit of pain but working with my therapist its coming around. He thinks I will be getting rid of the walker in the next week. I see Dr. Chang on Sept. 9 which is my first visit since the surgery. I'm hoping that I can walk in without the walker. I'm hoping that I will soon be back on the floor playing with my dog and grandchildren. They told me 3 months with a lot of restrictions then they will begin to lighten, I will listen to them and follow the rules because I don't want to see pain ever come back. Thank you Dr. Chang and your wonderful staff.

I have had three previous spinal surgeries between 2007 and 2009. Each surgeon told me that their corrections were the very best and THAT there was very little hope I would walk or stand upright ever again. They were so wrong. Dr. Chang gave me those two gifts, standing and walking. He is mine and my family's hero!!!

I currently work for the Fire Department and my quality of life before my injury was very active. I hiked, biked, fished, went to the gym, golfed, and spent many days with my kids teaching softball, volleyball, and raising animals. I injured my lower back leaving me with severe nerve tension and electric pain down my left leg. I could barely stand, walk, or even sit for a long period. My life was miserable and depression started to kick in. I was consuming over the counter pain relief medications just to get through each day and remained on our couch for several months. My position of comfort was legs lifted on the arm rest of our couch and my back on the seat cushion. Ice packs and heat treatments seemed to make some of the pain go away.

During this miserable experience, I encountered 3 epidurals and probably consumed 2 prescriptions of ibuprophen without any relief. Now you can predict what changes my health was making…. YES, 20 pounds heavier from the steroid injections and not being active at all!

Dr. Chang and his staff at SONORAN SPINE completely gave me and my family back my lifestyle. I had a microdiscectomy L4,L5 with amazing results! The procedure was unbelievable! I was walking the same day and woke up the next morning without any pain. Some soreness from my small ¾ inch incision, but other than that, I was pain free. Skeptical at first, but realized that the daily pain I was in, something had to be done. My recovery was fast and I was recently medically cleared by Dr. Chang to resume my regular lifestyle and I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it. Since the surgery I’ve enjoyed vacation with my family, fished with my father and brother, renewed my gym membership, active in my kids life, and more importantly, my wife has her loving happy husband back! PAIN FREE!!!

Thank you Dr. Chang for making this a great experience for me and my family.

Sincerely,

Dear Dr. Chang,

My wife, Anne suffered for a number of years with continuous back pain. She could not walk any distance without using walking sticks or holding on to me. On the recommendation of friends and chiropractor, we visited two surgeons. One was in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and the other one was in Phoenix, Arizona. Both had specialists that performed back surgery. One surgeon felt that Anne's condition was beyond his specialty. The other surgeon, Dr. Justin Field, very well-known in the Phoenix area, reviewed the x-rays and concluded with regrets that he could not do the surgery. He then referred us to Dr. Chang at the Sonoran Spine Center as he felt confident that Dr. Chang could do the surgery because this type of a back condition was his specialty.

On May 7, 2014, we visited with Dr. Chang. He took a number of x-rays and after examining them told us that he can do the surgery and assured us that when done, Anne will be walking straight. We were elated with the good news. He spent almost an hour discussing the surgery which impressed us as not all doctors take enough time with patients.

On January 6, 2015, Anne underwent surgery at the outstanding Scottsdale Shea Medical Center. The surgery lasted eight hours. Our son and I were given a progress report every two hours by Dr. Chang's Assistant, Mara. This was so nice and unique to be given these updates as it was nerve wracking as it was to be sitting in the waiting room for 8-10 hours but to know how she was progressing was most assuring.

The next morning after surgery on January 7, 2015 at 6:30 a.m., we found Anne sitting in the chair and ready to go for her first walk. We were amazed how straight her back was. It seemed that she grew in height as prior to the surgery she could only walk bent forward. After four days, Anne was transferred to the amazing facility of Scottsdale Rehab Hospital to undergo rehab. She ended up spending only 12 days there.

On February 16, 2015, Anne had her first visit since her surgery with Dr. Chang. She walked on her own into the Sonoran Spine office with no walker or walking sticks. Today three months since her surgery, she walks daily up to two miles, washes laundry, cooks, and cleans with no problem.

May God Bless Dr. Chang, his assistant Pierre, Mara and all of the friendly and professional staff. You have given Anne a new lease on life as every day Anne is better and better.

We have already recommended Dr. Chang to our friends in Wisconsin, Illinois, Ohio, and Arizona.

Dr. Chang, you are the Best!

To thank Dr. Chang for a successful surgery and the others involved in her care, Anne and her husband hosted a Croatian BBQ in celebration of her recovery. Eight weeks post-surgery, Anne already feels like she has her life back.  Thank you for allowing Sonoran Spine to take part in this amazing celebration!

DR. CHANG’S MEDICAL ASSISTANT, PIERRE RECEIVED A KIND NOTE FROM A PATIENT TODAY.

Pierre,

We are so very grateful for all you’ve done for me/us these last many months. I’m sure I’ve been a challenge – but you always seem to care back with the right answer as quickly as you can. You have always retained your sweet kindness, compassion and it shows in your actions.

Thanks for taking such good care of us.

Dear Dr. Chang,

Please accept from a fellow surgeon, my highest demonstration of respect and salutation.

In less than two weeks since her spine surgery, my wife, is having an amazing improvement in her exercise tolerance and a dramatic reduction in her symptoms.

She has conveyed to me that your reassuring personality is the equal to your outstanding training. Please relay our sincere gratitude to your entire staff in the clinic and at St. Joseph Hospital. I look forward to finally having the honor to meet you during her post-operative visits.

Very truly yours,

I don't know if this is the proper venue on your website to express my thanks to Dr. Chang and his staff for the excellent care and consideration I have received, and continue to receive, following my lumbar spine fusion on February 5th.

Everyone I came into contact with at Sonoran Spine in Mesa before, during and after my surgery have been wonderful people to work with.

The professionalism and courtesy with which everyone from the front office through to Dr. Chang, have been first class.

I would like to especially thank Pierre, Dr. Chang's Medical Assistant, who has been, and continues to be, extremely responsive to my various post-surgical inquiries and requests.

I will without a doubt recommend Sonoran Spine to any of my friends or family who may need spinal surgery in the future.

Thanks again to all of your staff.

I wanted to send this in pertaining to some of your staff that were involved in my scheduling, assistance, and Dr. Chang that performed the surgery on my lower back.

Now that I'm back to normal, and have returned to work, I first wanted to thank Lori Lobell, for her support, always returning my calls, usually before the end of that day, and for rescheduling me for surgery after I suffered a blood clot which kind of postponed my first surgery for 3 months. She was awesome to deal with, as busy as she always sounded, she deserves a big shout, Thank you Lori !!

Next the Doctors assistant, Pierre, great guy to have to deal with, dealing with him, I felt he was generally concerned for my well-being, Thank you Pierre.

Not to leave the main man last, but Dr. Chang, a true professional at his craft, from my first consultation, to finally the BIG day for me, and then he stopped by the morning after prior to my discharge to check on me, I thought was just incredible, and very thoughtful of him to do that.

Thank you Dr. Chang !!

I look forward to my year end appointment with the Doctor.

I want to thank Dr. Michael Chang and his P.A Mara Immediato. Dr. Chang did a Lumbar spine fusion and laminectomy revision on me August 7th. I was suffering debilitating chronic pain for 8 years. I had been in pain management for over 5 years. I had been to 5 surgeons and they all said not to do the fusion surgery as it wouldn't help me. The pain management I was with did every procedure they could do to try relieve my pain, all failed.

I'm so grateful to Dr. Chang for believing that the fusion would help me, he even told me he was 80% sure he could get me to 50% pain relief, and he was right! I feel so much better! I'm 6 weeks post op and I feel better than I have in 8 years. Thank you Dr. Chang and Mara for changing my life for the better! I highly recommend Sonoran Spine!

I’m not generally one to write a review for anything, but I wanted to say how amazing the staff of Sonoran Spine has been. I had surgery by Dr. Chang in the middle of April 2019 for a complex revision of scoliosis surgery I had had as a teenager in New Jersey. He and his staff (Mara, Pierre, and Ryan) made this such an easy experience. While recovery from surgery is painful as expected, I’ve never felt this good in my life. I am only 4 weeks out from surgery, and I am virtually pain free. This surgery has already scientifically improved my quality of life. Prior to surgery, I could barely function due to back pain. Now, I feel like a new person. Thank you so much to Dr. Chang, and to everyone at Sonoran Spine.

Dear Dr. Chang,

I want you to know how grateful I am for you during my recent back surgery, Your long hours, years of schooling, gifted hands all contribute to a better quality of life for me. Thank you.

I am just so appreciative of what you did for me I can now go forward pain-free.

Oh, what a gift you have given me. Thank you.

APRIL 02, 2020

Dear Dr. Chang,

It has been 6 months now since my surgery. I continue to work at my physical therapy 3x week. Hardly a day goes by that I do not think of you and my surgery. I am so very grateful for you. Thank you for your dedication and work. Doing better and getting fitter. I can even bend over…old lady but stronger and free of severe pain.

Sincerely,

With June being #ScoliosisAwareness month, I think this is fitting. It's all thanks to Dr. Chang, Jan Revella, and Pierre! You guys are amazing!

Wonderful and caring doctor. Explained to me what my upcoming surgery entailed. Very satisfied with his professional mannerism.

Dr. Chang is incredibly knowledgeable in his field of expertise. My orthopedic surgeon referred me to Dr. Chang due to the complexity of my condition. Dr. Chang came in the room and explained everything to my husband and I with confidence, compassion and in a way we can understand. I cannot give him enough stars. His office staff deserve five stars as well. From the front desk to radiology to the nurse. I love Sonoran Spine!!!

[Dr. Chang] Spends appropriate amount of time with patient, explains things easily, wasn’t bothered by my short list of questions, very knowledgeable in the not so common form of kyphosis and scoliosis we are dealing with.