For several years, Kelly Knapke lived with discomfort in her neck that slowly continued to get worse. This pain eventually had an impact on everything she did, from her cooking hobby to sleeping at night.
Determined to find relief, Kelly sought care from a wide range of providers and treatments, including a massage therapist, a pain management physician, a chiropractor, accupuncture and other specialists close to her home in Richmond, Indiana. Despite her efforts, the pain always returned.
Eventually, imaging revealed bone spurs (bony growths) had formed on her neck vertebrae and had been compressing her nerves.
“I had an explanation for my pain, but I didn’t know where to go from there,” said Kelly. “I had been told by some surgeons that I could need a neck fusion, but I was not convinced that was necessary for my condition.”
She continued living with pinching, pulling and tightness that disrupted her life.
Researching a Solution
Everything changed in early 2025 when one of Kelly’s friends sent her a news program highlighting a new ultra-minimally invasive spinal surgery: endoscopic cervical decompression.
As the story explained, a surgeon makes a small incision and uses a tiny camera and specialized tools to remove the bone or disc material causing nerve pressure. For the first time, Kelly felt hopeful.
She then used her detective skills to contact the manufacturer of the equipment and learned that OrthoIndy fellowship-trained spine surgeon Dr. M. Craig McMains was the only provider in Indiana trained for this procedure.
A Clear Path Forward
Kelly scheduled her first appointment with OrthoIndy in March 2025. From the beginning, she felt reassured by the team’s clear communication and thoughtful approach to care.
Additional imaging confirmed the diagnosis and showed that the nerve compression would not improve on its own. Dr. McMains carefully explained her options, allowing Kelly to fully understand the path forward.
“Dr. McMains gave me a few different options, but it became clear that I did not want to live with this pain any longer,” said Kelly. “OrthoIndy provided that solution I was looking for.”
In June 2025, Kelly underwent the minimally invasive endoscopic cervical decompression procedure with Dr. McMains. Using a small incision, Dr. McMains was able to clearly visualize and remove the bone spurs compressing her nerves.
“Since the endoscopic procedure allows me such a great direct view of the nerves in real time, I could see the blood flow immediately return to the previously compromised area,” said Dr. McMains. “This dramatic change made me confident that she would have a good outcome.”
Recovery and a New Life
Kelly said her recovery was remarkably smooth, noting her “pain was instantly gone, and there wasn’t a need for pain medication afterward.” There were also no significant restrictions, no lingering discomfort and no visible scarring.
Today, Kelly says she is doing wonderful and that her neck feels just as it did before the pain ever began.
“From start to finish, I felt supported and cared for by OrthoIndy at every step,” said Kelly. “I appreciated the transparency, the clear explanations and genuine kindness throughout my time there.”
Now, Kelly openly shares her story, encouraging others not to accept chronic pain and to get back to the activities they love most.
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If you’ve been told you need a neck fusion or have other chronic spine pain, see Dr. McMains and the OrthoIndy spine team for help.
