Patient Story of: Kayla Harrison

My HSS Story (as told by a 2x Olympic Gold Medalist, 3x MMA World Champion, and Reigning UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion)

Years of Struggling with Chronic Neck Pain:
For over 10 years, I dealt with neck problems that just kept getting worse. I had multiple herniated discs, nerve pain, numbness in my arm and fingers, weakness, and days where the pain was almost unbearable. I learned how to fight through it, but eventually it got to the point where I couldn't ignore it anymore.

Exhausting Non-Surgical Options:
Before surgery, I tried everything I could to avoid it from physical therapy and injections to medications, stem cells, and rehabilitation. If there was a treatment out there, I tried it. Nothing gave me a lasting fix, and my condition was getting worse.

A Turning Point Before the Big Fight:
Two weeks before I was supposed to fight in the biggest fight of my career, everything changed. My symptoms got so bad that I flew to New York to see Dr. Han Jo Kim at HSS. I knew Dr. Kim was the best in the business and was hopeful he could help me. I hadn’t slept in days as a result of the nerve pain, and the weakness in my right arm left me struggling to lift a gallon of water. After evaluating me, Dr. Kim told me I needed surgery. I had it the very next day. It all happened fast, but at no point did I feel like just another patient. Dr. Kim took the time to explain exactly what was going on, what my options were, and why surgery was the right decision. Even in the middle of an emergency, he and the entire HSS team made me feel calm, cared for, and confident that I was in the best hands possible.

Surgery and Decision-Making:
In January 2026, Dr. Kim performed my neck surgery. The original plan was disc replacement surgery if possible, but once he began operating, he made the call that a fusion was the safer, better option for my long-term health. Looking back, I'm so thankful he made that decision.

The Road to Recovery:
Recovery wasn't easy. As an athlete, being forced to slow down is one of the hardest things to do. But Dr. Kim and the entire HSS team were with me every step of the way. They gave me confidence, kept me informed, and reminded me to trust the process.

Back in Action:
Today, I'm back doing what I love.I’m finally living without the pain that had become my normal for so many years. I'm training again, playing with my kids again, and well on my way back to the Octagon and taking on the biggest fight of my career on November 14, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Gratitude to Dr. Kim and HSS:
I'm incredibly grateful to Dr. Han Jo Kim and everyone at HSS. They didn't just fix my neck, they gave me the chance to keep chasing the career and life I love.