Zachary’s Story

Zachary’s Story

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After years of managing pain from a herniated disc, Zachary Ludwigsen found relief through an ultra-minimally invasive endoscopic spine procedure. Now pain-free, he’s back to work and daily life with no restrictions, grateful for the quick recovery and a new perspective on the surgeries he supports from the lab.

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From Supporting Surgeries to Becoming a Patient

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As a Lab Operations Technician II at Arthrex, Zachary Ludwigsen has spent years behind the scenes in the spine lab, supporting hundreds of surgical cases.

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“I work in Spine lab operations for Research and Development,” Zachary said. “I maintain the equipment and set up stations for product managers and faculty surgeons.”

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It was work he knew well—but he never expected to experience it from the patient side.

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After herniating his L4-L5 disc in 2021, Zachary was told he might need a spinal fusion. Wanting to avoid a major procedure, he managed the pain with conservative treatments, including physical therapy and steroid injections.

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When Pain Became Unmanageable

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For a time, those treatments helped him stay active. But in spring 2025, his symptoms worsened suddenly.

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“I was getting out of the car when I felt something shift. The pain took my breath away,” Zachary said.

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An additional epidural injection didn’t bring relief, and shortly after, he was hospitalized due to severe pain at the injection site.

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That’s when colleagues in Medical Education recommended he see Edison Valle, MD (Naples, FL), a neurosurgeon specializing in minimally invasive spine surgery, someone Zachary already knew well from the lab.

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“It was a full-circle moment for me to become his patient,” he said.

Relief Through Endoscopic Spine Surgery

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Dr. Valle recommended an ultra-minimally invasive interlaminar endoscopic discectomy to treat the herniated disc.

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For Zachary, both the experience and the results were immediate.

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He underwent surgery early one morning and was back home by noon the same day, with pain reduced by about 90 percent.

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"I spent the rest of the day with my daughter and family,” he said.

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Because his role involves lifting heavy equipment, he took two weeks off to recover. By the time he returned to work, he was pain-free.

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Back to Work and Life Without Limitations

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Today, Zachary has returned to his normal routine without restrictions.

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“I have no limitations, and my body feels so much better than it has in years,” he said. “I’m amazed at how quickly I recovered.”

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For someone who has spent years supporting spine procedures, the experience has given him a new appreciation for the impact they can have.

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“I would absolutely encourage others to consider endoscopic surgery for back pain,” he said.

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Physician is a paid consultant of Arthrex, Inc.

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