Herniated Disc Surgery Helps College Student Get Her Life Back

An MRI revealed the cause: a herniated disc in her lower spine. Hanbi began physical therapy, followed by two nerve block injections.  

Neither worked.  

Instead, the pain worsened — becoming constant no matter her position. “I was in pain sitting, standing, walking, even lying down,” she says. “There was no relief.”  

During a summer internship, she struggled to walk between buildings or sit through sessions. At home, she often lay on the floor because sitting was too painful.  

“I had a lot of meltdowns,” she says. “It was exhausting.”  

Beyond the physical pain, her daily life began to shrink. Classes, activities and time with friends became difficult or impossible.  

A family friend recommended the Emory Orthopaedics & Spine Center. After researching options, Hanbi scheduled an appointment with Brian Goh, MD, PhD, an orthopaedic spine surgeon specializing in minimally invasive spine surgery. 

From the first visit, she felt reassured. “He explained everything clearly and didn’t push surgery,” Hanbi says. “That made me trust him.” 

Dr. Goh outlined all treatment options — including medication, physical therapy, injections and, as a last resort, surgery. By then, Hanbi had already tried conservative treatments without success. 

“She had been dealing with this for more than two years,” Dr. Goh says. “She couldn’t sit, couldn’t go to class normally — she wasn’t living like a typical college student should.” 

At that point, surgery became the next step.

Between the bones of the spine are soft, cushion-like discs that act as shock absorbers and help the back move. These discs have a soft, jelly-like center. 

A herniated disc happens when part of a spinal disc pushes outward and presses on a nearby nerve — often causing pain that travels down the leg. 

Dr. Goh explains it simply: “It’s like jelly coming out of a jelly donut.” 

While most herniated discs improve over time, some require surgical treatment when symptoms don’t improve. 

A minimally invasive solution 

In September of 2025, Hanbi underwent endoscopic spine surgery, a minimally invasive procedure that removes the portion of the disc pressing on the nerve. Using a small camera and specialized instruments, surgeons can treat the problem through a tiny incision — minimizing disruption to surrounding tissue. Emory is the first and only academic medical center in Georgia to use this technology. 

“It’s very targeted,” Dr. Goh says. “We go in, relieve the pressure on the nerve and come out.” 

For patients, that often means: 

• Smaller incisions 
• Less tissue damage 
• Faster recovery 
• Same-day discharge  

When Hanbi woke up, she noticed the difference right away. “When I went to sleep, I was in pain,” she says. “I woke up lying in the same position I was in when I fell asleep, but there was no pain. It felt like a miracle.” 

Shortly after, she stood up and walked — something she hadn’t done without pain in over a year. “That was the first time I had walked without pain since before my freshman year,” she says. 

Dr. Goh says that kind of immediate relief is one of the unique aspects of this procedure. “When you take pressure off the nerve, patients often feel better right away,” he says. 

Hanbi went home the same day. 

Recovery and getting back to normal life 

Recovery focused on gradual movement and rebuilding strength. At first, Hanbi walked short distances around her home, slowly increasing each day. 

When she returned to physical therapy, the experience felt different. “Before surgery, it was about managing pain,” she says. “After surgery, it was about getting stronger.” 

Now, nearly six months later, Hanbi is back to many of the activities she loves — walking regularly, working out in the gym and slowly easing back into tennis. Her goal is to return to competitive tennis — but this time with a greater focus on long-term health. 

Back to the little things 

For Hanbi, the biggest change isn’t just returning to sports — it’s reclaiming everyday moments. 

“Before, it was unbearable to sit at a restaurant,” she says. “Now I can sit with my family without thinking about pain. That means everything.” 

She has also returned to classes, student organizations and social activities. “My social life is so much better,” she says. “I can actually be there now.”  

Hanbi hopes her story encourages others dealing with chronic back pain to seek help and stay hopeful. “Herniated discs are hard, because everything hurts,” she says. “But there’s always a light at the end of the tunnel.” 

Her experience also changed how she thinks about health. “It made me realize how important it is to take care of your body while you’re young,” she says.  

At Emory Healthcare, advanced techniques like endoscopic spine surgery are helping patients return to the activities they love — faster and with less disruption. 

For Hanbi, that meant getting back to being a college student, an athlete and herself again. 

“She just wanted her life back,” Dr. Goh says. “And now she has it.”