Lorraine’s Journey to Pain Relief: An ACDF Surgery Success Story
Commons helped Lorraine turn pain into relief and uncertainty into hope.
Meet Lorraine, struggling with shoulder pain and numbness until ACDF surgery finally gave her relief.
When Lorraine started experiencing nagging shoulder pain, she didn’t think much of it. But, as time went on, her symptoms intensified—she began having shooting pain down her arms and numbness in her hands. As her condition worsened, she became increasingly worried about her health and started to fear the worst.
Living in constant uncertainty, Lorraine found herself stressed and frustrated as the pain began to limit her daily activities, including exercise. Realizing she needed professional help, she turned to Commons Clinic for answers.
Her Diagnosis: Severe Spinal Cord Compression
At Commons Clinic, Lorraine underwent a thorough clinical exam and MRI, which revealed the root of her pain: severe spinal cord compression in her neck. The increased pressure on her spinal cord and nerves in her neck was causing her shoulder pain, the shooting pain in her arm, the numbness in her hand, her upper body weakness, and even some balance issues while walking. Finally, she had clarity about her condition, but the next step was crucial—what to do about it?
During her initial visit to Commons Clinic, she saw spine surgeon Dr. Amandeep Bhalla, who took the time to thoroughly review her diagnosis and all possible treatment options. Together, they decided that neck surgery was the best path forward.
About Dr. Amandeep Bhalla: Expert in Spinal Surgery
Dr. Bhalla is a board-certified spinal surgeon who specializes in treating neck and back disorders, injuries, and diseases. His clinical interests include degenerative, traumatic, and sports-related conditions of the neck and back, including tumors involving the spinal column. He focuses on motion-preserving procedures and minimally invasive techniques and is dedicated to helping patients restore their health and quality of life.
Her Treatment Plan: Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF)
Lorraine was soon scheduled for neck surgery at Commons Clinic’s state-of-the-art surgery center—Marina Orthopedic Surgery Institute. Her procedure: Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF). Dr. Bhalla explained that the procedure aimed to reduce the compression of her spinal cord, alleviate pain, and significantly improve her numbness and weakness.
What is ACDF Surgery?
“ACDF” surgery stands for Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion— it is an effective treatment for conditions like spinal stenosis, cervical disc herniation and spinal cord compression. The surgery uses a front-facing (or anterior) approach and involves making a small 1-2 inch incision at the front of the neck to remove part of the damaged disc and fuse two spinal bones. The goal? To decompress the affected area, bringing relief and restoring function.
ACDF is a common procedure, with more than 132,000 Americans having this surgery each year to treat neck pain, radiating arm pain, and numbness or weakness of the arms and hands.1
You may be a candidate for ACDF surgery if you have:
1. Neck pain with radiating arm pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness of the arms and/or hands
2. Worsening symptoms
3. Failed conservative treatments like physical therapy
Recovery timeline after ACDF surgery
After ACDF neck surgery, you can expect to have lifting, bending, and twisting restrictions for the first 6 weeks. You can typically return to normal, everyday activities three to six months after surgery, depending on your individual healing process.
Learn more about ACDF recovery and detailed information about the procedure in our complete ACDF article.
Her Result: Almost Immediate Relief
After undergoing ACDF surgery, Lorraine felt almost immediate relief—over 90% of her pain was gone. Over time, her strength improved, and the shooting pain down her arms subsided. Most importantly, the constant worry about her condition disappeared, relieving the mental burden she’d been carrying for far too long and replacing it with hope.
Why Choose Commons Clinic?
For Lorraine, finding a surgeon she could trust was essential. Dr. Amandeep Bhalla’s expertise and compassionate approach to care made a significant difference in her journey to recovery. Dr. Bhalla is not only highly rated, but she found him to be welcoming, friendly, and invested in her care—all qualities that helped her feel confident and comfortable. Here’s what Lorraine had to say about her experience with Commons Clinic:
- “It’s a small office, they follow up with you, and they know who you are.”
- “Dr. Bhalla was available, always friendly and open to any questions and concerns I had.”
At Commons Clinic, we offer specialized treatments led by world-class physicians to give you freedom from back, joint, and muscle pain. Lorraine’s story is a testament to the personalized care and expertise we offer, transforming pain into relief and uncertainty into a hopeful tomorrow.
Rewrite Your Story With Help From Commons.
- (2024, February 18). ACDF (Anterior Cervical Discectomy & Fusion) Surgery. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/procedures/acdf-surgery ↩︎
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