Zachary’s Story
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.
From Supporting Surgeries to Becoming a Patient
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.
“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.”
It was work he knew well—but he never expected to experience it from the patient side.
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.
Find a Doctor Near You
When Pain Became Unmanageable
For a time, those treatments helped him stay active. But in spring 2025, his symptoms worsened suddenly.
“I was getting out of the car when I felt something shift. The pain took my breath away,” Zachary said.
An additional epidural injection didn’t bring relief, and shortly after, he was hospitalized due to severe pain at the injection site.
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.
“It was a full-circle moment for me to become his patient,” he said.
Relief Through Endoscopic Spine Surgery
Dr. Valle recommended an ultra-minimally invasive interlaminar endoscopic discectomy to treat the herniated disc.
For Zachary, both the experience and the results were immediate.
He underwent surgery early one morning and was back home by noon the same day, with pain reduced by about 90 percent.
"I spent the rest of the day with my daughter and family,” he said.
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.
Back to Work and Life Without Limitations
Today, Zachary has returned to his normal routine without restrictions.
“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.”
For someone who has spent years supporting spine procedures, the experience has given him a new appreciation for the impact they can have.
“I would absolutely encourage others to consider endoscopic surgery for back pain,” he said.
Physician is a paid consultant of Arthrex, Inc.
© 2024 Arthrex, Inc. All rights reserved.
v2.2.1