Cub's Story
After a career spent competing against some of the world's toughest fighters, UFC Hall of Famer Cub Swanson faced a challenge he couldn't simply push through. Chronic back pain had followed him throughout his career and eventually reached a point where it threatened both his future in the sport and the life he wanted outside of it. Following an ultra-minimally invasive endoscopic spine procedure, Cub found significant pain relief and returned to the activities he loves—both inside and outside the gym.
For more than two decades, Cub built a career on resilience, but chronic back pain became the toughest opponent he had ever faced.
A Career Defined by Toughness
In professional mixed martial arts, injuries are often part of the job. Over more than two decades of competition, Cub endured broken hands, a broken jaw, shattered facial bones, torn ligaments, broken ribs, and countless other setbacks. Yet despite everything his body had been through, one condition consistently gave him the most trouble: his back pain.
"I've had a bad back my whole career," Cub said. "I've known for years that if there was an injury that was going to take me out of the sport, it was my back."
Over time, the pain became increasingly difficult to manage. Cub was diagnosed with sciatica and a cyst pressing on a nerve in his spine. He also developed arthritis in his back, making even everyday activities difficult. Temporary treatments provided relief for a short period, but the pain eventually returned.
"The pain was so bad, I couldn't sleep at night," he said.
As his symptoms worsened, Cub began weighing a decision he wasn't ready to make.
"It was heavy on my mind," he said. "I have a wife and three young kids to think about and that changes your perspective."
Find a Doctor Near You
An Alternative to Early Retirement
When Cub met Sohrab Gollogly, MD (Monterey, CA), he was searching for a solution that could address the source of his pain without keeping him sidelined for an extended period. Dr. Gollogly recommended an ultra-minimally invasive endoscopic spine procedure designed to decompress the affected nerve, remove the cyst, and address the underlying cause of the problem.
Using an endoscope approximately the width of a pencil tip, Dr. Gollogly was able to perform the procedure through a small incision while minimizing disruption to surrounding tissues.
"This endoscopic approach helps us avoid making large incisions, which minimizes damage to muscles and bone around the spine, leading to a faster recovery and fewer surgical complications,1-3" Dr. Gollogly said.
Although initially skeptical, Cub decided the potential benefits outweighed the risks.
The results were immediate.
Not only was he on his feet shortly after surgery, but he was also able to begin progressing back toward the active lifestyle that had always defined him.
Finishing Strong and Looking Ahead
Today, Cub says his pain is 98% gone. Within weeks of the procedure, he was easing back into training, and by eight weeks, he had returned to running at full speed. He was able to compete again before ultimately closing the final chapter of his fighting career.
For Cub, the procedure wasn't simply about extending his career. It allowed him to make decisions based on what was right for him and his family rather than being driven by chronic pain.
"And after the surgery, I got to choose when to retire, rather than being forced into a decision by my pain," he said.
Today, he has no restrictions on his activities and continues to stay active while spending time with his family. Looking back, Cub says finding relief gave him something every athlete hopes for: the opportunity to leave the sport on his own terms.
"I am extremely grateful to have found Dr. Gollogly," Cub said. "I'm so proud to have had such a great last fight."
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This real patient was compensated for the time they took to share their experience. Physician is a paid consultant of Arthrex, Inc.
References
- Polikandriotis JA, Hudak EM, Perry MW. Minimally invasive surgery through endoscopic laminotomy and foraminotomy for the treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis. J Orthop. 2013;10(1):13-16. doi:10.1016/j.jor.2013.01.006
- Ruetten S, Komp M, Merk H, Godolias G. Use of newly developed instruments and endoscopes: full-endoscopic resection of lumbar disc herniations via the interlaminar and lateral transforaminal approach. J Neurosurg Spine. 2007;6(6):521-530. doi:10.3171/spi.2007.6.6.2
- Ahn Y, Oh HK, Kim H, Lee SH, Lee HN. Percutaneous endoscopic lumbar foraminotomy: an advanced surgical technique and clinical outcomes. Neurosurgery. 2014;75(2):124-133. doi:10.1227/NEU.0000000000000361
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