No one was able to give April any answers as to why she was suffering from excruciating pain. Fortunately, she met Dr. Weiner, who provided her with both answers and relief.
Friday, February 4 started off like any other weekday for April Dingle. The singer and licensed child care provider opened her in-home daycare, greeting each child upon arrival with warmth and a smile. She served the children breakfast and then, as usual, began cleaning up so they could move on to the day’s first activity. Suddenly, out of nowhere, an excruciating pain struck Dingle’s chest and shoulders. “I was on the floor and was read
she recalled. “I sat there for a little
bit trying to just make sure that I
didn't twist the wrong way, and
the pain just kept coming.”
Emergency room doctors quickly
ruled out a heart attack. But as
the days and weeks went on, the
pain persisted.
“The pain was consistently at a
level of a 10,” she said. “Some
days I rated it above 10. It
completely stopped me from
doing almost anything in life;
work, taking care of myself,
taking care of my children and
extended family members that I
provide care for.”
The “cavalry” has arrived After visiting several doctors and unsuccessfully trying to treat her pain with medication, Dingle was referred to David Weiner, MD, orthopedic spine surgeon at MedStar Orthopaedic Institute in Brandywine. “I saw somebody who was very, very uncomfortable and could not function,” Dr. Weiner recalled of their first meeting. “She had a cervical disc herniation that resulted in a pinched nerve in her neck.” He told Dingle, “You’re in so much pain.”
“I lost it when he said it,
because I knew that meant
he was willing to help me,”
Dingle said. “My husband
and I were just grateful
with the verbal response
that he gave.”
Recognizing Dingle’s pain
could not be controlled
with medication, Dr.
Weiner recommended
surgery. Within 72 hours,
the mom of two was in the
operating room at
MedStar Southern
Maryland Hospital Center.
“When Dr. Weiner came in,
I felt that the cavalry had
come,” Dingle said. “I told
him I was ready. I had no
worries. I wasn't anxious. I
was looking forward to it.”
Return to normal
Dr. Weiner performed an
anterior cervical
discectomy and fusion,
removing Dingle’s
damaged disc and
relieving the pressure on
her spine.
Immediately after surgery,
Dingle’s pain was gone.
She completed physical
therapy at MedStar Health:
Physical Therapy at
Brandywine to boost her
recovery. Six weeks later,
she returned to work and
is eager to return to the
recording studio. Just before
her injury, Dingle released “Love
Is You,” her first-ever single. The
song is about appreciating the
people in your life – people like
her husband, children and
Dr. Weiner.
“I almost feel like I’m indebted
to Dr. Weiner,” she said. “I’m so grateful, so grateful. God has
gotten me through it, and it’s
amazing.”
Dingle also has a message for
others experiencing chronic
pain.
“Be an advocate for yourself,”
she said. “And don’t feel like you
have to deal with it alone. Trust
your provider or your surgeon’s
skill and craft.
Learn more about our spine specialists by visiting MedStarHealth.org/NeckandSpine.
Expert spine care
Your neck and spine are responsible for controlling every movement you make, so a spinal injury or disease could significantly alter your day-to-day life—not to mention cause serious pain and discomfort.
MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center’s team of orthopedic doctors are experts in providing the most modern and innovative, and least invasive, spinal procedures to restore your function and get you back to doing the things you love.
Our spine surgeons are:
- Experts in the latest emerging techniques for neck and spine care, including alternatives to open surgery in some cases
- Specially trained in spinal orthopedic surgery
- Able to connect patients to a sophisticated pain management and rehabilitation program designed for the best possible outcomes
- Trained in the least invasive surgical options, including minimally invasive spinal surgery
To schedule an appointment
with Dr. Weiner, please call
301-856-1682.