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The PLDD Method

Percutaneous Laser Disc Decompression

back pain image

Contents
Table of Contents icon Table of Contents

  1. 1 What is the PLDD method?
  2. 2 Treatment with PLDD (Percutaneous Laser Disc Decompression)
  3. 3 Conditions and symptoms treated
  4. 4 Merits of PLDD
  5. 5 How PLDD works
  6. 6 Treatment time and side effects
  7. 7 The PLDD treatment process
  8. 8 Treatment costs
  9. 9 FAQ

What is the PLDD method?

Percutaneous Laser Disc Decompression

PLDD is a laser treatment to reduce the pressure inside the disc, which is the cause of disc herniation. PLDD has a long history in Japan and has been used since the 1980s. Many patients in Japan have received this treatment. However, PLDD only treats herniated discs, and may not be suitable for patients with collapsed and worn discs.

In our clinic, the Cellgel method or PODD (ozone therapy) method may be recommended depending on the extent of damage on the disc.

Treatment with PLDD (Percutaneous Laser Disc Decompression)

Under local anesthesia, a 1.0 mm puncture needle is inserted in the disc while using X-ray fluoroscopy equipment. A laser is then used to irradiate the lesion according to its condition.

Progress image of PLDD treatment

Conditions and Symptoms Treated

  • Conditions / Spinal Diseases

    • Lumbar Disc Herniation

For those with these concerns...

  • 1

    I've been diagnosed with lumbar disc herniation

  • 2

    I suffer from chronic pain due to disc herniation

  • 3

    I'm considering surgery for my disc hernia, but I'd like to avoid it if I can

  • 4

    Past surgery for my disc herniation did not improve my condition (recurrence)

  • 5

    I'm afraid of disc herniation surgery

  • 6

    I don't want to be hospitalized for disc herniation surgery

  • 7

    I want a treatment that's less burdensome on the body

Elderly people (over 80 years old) are also eligible for this treatment

Merits of the PLDD treatment

  • Operating room

    Leaves little to no scars

    Since no incisions are made and only a small needle is inserted, there is almost no scarring.

  • short time

    Lowered stress on the body Outpatient (day) treatment

    Treatment time is about 15 minutes, and patients are required to rest for about 30 minutes after treatment. One can return home after about 60 minutes from the start of the treatment.

  • hospital

    No need for post-treatment visits or rehabilitation

    Even for those who live far away, there is no need for post-treatment hospital visits or rehabilitation, making it easier to return to work and daily routines.

How PLDD Works

The PLDD procedure is performed under local anesthesia. A needle is inserted through the back into the area of the affected herniated disc, and a laser fiber is passed through the path of the needle, and the laser cauterizes a portion of the nucleus pulposus in the disc, creating a cavity in the nucleus pulposus and causing the disc to shrink.

The resulting effects reduces pressure on the nerves to improve pain and numbness.

PLDD method treatment image

The PLDD method is effective for mild to moderate herniated discs, especially those that have high internal pressure and have not extruded from the ligament.

The Cellgel method is the more effective treatment for the extrusion and sequestrated types of herniation.

Protruding type Escape type Free type
Herniated disc laser ablation image

The nucleus pulposus in the intervertebral disc is cauterized with a laser to create a cavity.

This shrinks the protruding disc and reduces the pressure on the nerves.

Treatment time and side effects

Treatment Time
About 15 minutes

You will need to rest for about 30 minutes after treatment and you can go home after about 60 minutes. Light movement is possible from the next day onwards, but sports and strenuous activties must be put on hold for about a month.

  • Potential Drawbacks

    A problem is that the recurrence rate is as high as that of conventional surgery. The reason for this is that PLDD does not improve disc damage in the same way the Cellgel method does.

  • Potential Side Effects

    You may experience back pain, numbness, and muscle tension in your thighs that you have not had before after undergoing the PLDD treatment. It varies from person to person, but some may experience temporary symptoms for a week to a month after the surgery, depending on their symptoms and condition.

    Although the risk is much lower than with surgical procedures, there is a risk of infection from the treated area and complications. In order to reduce these risks as much as possible, our doctors will explain the treatment in detail. Please consult with us if you have any questions or concerns prior to the treatment.

Flow The PLDD treatment process

  • Inquiry

    1. Inquiry

    Our clinic is by appointment only, so be sure to make an appointment before visiting us.

    *For those who wish to make an appointment on the day of, kindly contact us by phone.

  • MRI Image

    2. Remote MRI Diagnosis

    For us to determine the most suitable treatment prior to your visit to Japan, you can forward us a recent MRI (within 3 months) for our doctor to review and determine free of charge. If you're located nearby, you may also request for an MRI to be taken at our affiliated clinic.

  • Choose Treatment Date Image

    3. Choose Treatment Date

    If the diagnosis confirms that you're a suitable candidate for our treatments, you may proceed to make an appointment with us. Kindly keep in mind the time it may take for you to secure a visa to enter Japan. A Japanese tourist visa is sufficient.

  • Travel Arrangements Image

    4. Travel Arrangements

    As we are an outpatient facility, you will be discharged on the same day as your treatment. Patients are asked to take care of their own visas, travel and accommodation arrangements.

  • Pre-treatment Examination Image

    5. Pre-treatment Examination

    Please bring your health insurance card, medical certificates, MRI image data, etc. to the reception desk. After the medical examination, an X-ray will be taken. This procedure should be take approximately 5 minutes. The doctor will then dedicate about 30 minutes to explain the best treatment course and to answer any concerns.

  • Treatment Image

    6. Treatment

    Patients who wish to be treated on the same day can choose to be treated in the afternoon after the examination in the morning. Treatment time varies from 15 to 45 minutes (per site) after local anesthesia is administered.

  • Discharge Image

    7. Discharge

    After the treatment, we provide a recovery room for you to rest for about an hour to 1.5 hours.

    You are free to return home after the doctor examines you.

  • Follow-up Image

    8. Follow-up

    We will contact you regularly for follow-ups after your treatment.

    If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

Price Cost of Treatment for the PLDD Method

Number of
Discs Treated		 1 disc 2 discs 3 discs 4 discs 5 discs
Treatment Cost 408,000 JPY 463,000 JPY 518,000 JPY 573,000 JPY 628,000 JPY

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*The prices listed are inclusive of tax.
*All medical and diagnostic costs, including MRI and other tests, as well as medical translation and interpretation fees, are all included in the treatment costs listed above.*If the same treatment is performed again within 3 years after the first treatment, fees will be reduced by half.
*The treatment is not covered by the Japanese health insurance, one must privately bear the entire cost of the treatment.
*Payment by credit card (Visa, MasterCard, UnionPay) is accepted for the treatment costs only.
*If you also wish to receive rehabilitation (specialized rehabilitation for back pain), payment can be made by bank transfer.
*You can receive a tax refund by filing a tax return for medical expenses.

Other Treatment Methods

  • The Cellgel Method

    An advanced low back pain treatment, beginning around 2010 and has been in use in more than 54 countries worldwide, primarily Europe. This treatment is suitable for a wide range of low back pain conditions and symptoms.

    Learn Moreeast

  • Hybrid Laser Method

    This is a minimally invasive treatment for disc herniation that combines the benefits of both laser therapy (PLDD) and ozone therapy (PODD).

    Learn Moreeast

  • PODD Method
    (Percutaneous Ozone Disc Decompression)

    Percutaneous Ozone Disc Decompression (PODD) has been performed mainly in Europe since the 1990s. It can be applied to facet joint disease, disc herniation, spinal canal stenosis, etc.

    Learn Moreeast

Our Treatment Methods versus Conventional Surgical Procedures

ILC Treatment Methods Conventional Surgery
Cellgel Hybrid Laser PODD PLDD Micro Endoscopic
Discectomy (MED) 		Spinal Stabilization
Vertebroplasty
Disc Restoration ○ × × × × ×
Post-treatment Change
in Disc Volume		 Same to increased Slight to small decrease Slight decrease Small decrease Decreased or disappeared Decreased or disappeared
Supressing of
Inflammation		 ○ ○ ○ × × ×
Duration of
Treatment		 15 to 20 mins
（per site）		 20 to 25 mins
（per site）		 10 to 15 mins
（per site）		 10 to 15 mins
（per site）		 40 to 60 mins 60 to 90 mins
Period of
Hospitalization		 N/A
(outpatient)		 N/A
(outpatient)		 N/A
(outpatient)		 N/A
(outpatient)		 About 1 week About 1 month
Japanese Health
Insurance Coverage		 × × × × ○ ○
Treatable Symptoms &
Conditions		 Most lower back related conditions and symptoms Disc herniation Most lower back related conditions and symptoms Disc herniation Disc herniation, spinal tumor etc. Spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, scoliosis, lumbar instability, disc herniation, compression fracture

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FAQ Questions About the PLDD method

Q
Is the treatment covered by the Japanese national health insurance?
A
No, it is not covered by the national insurance. If you have life insurance, you may be eligible. Please feel free to consult our staff regarding this matter.
Q
Does the PLDD laser not burn discs?
A
The laser is applied to a defined area and does not burn through the intervertebral disc.
Q
Can the PLDD method be used in conjunction with other methods like Cellgel, etc.?
A
The PLDD method works by burning the disc to reduce its volume, causing the herniated area to retract into the disc.
The Cellgel method, on the other hand, has the function of repairing the intervertebral disc, so the purpose of treatment is different. The recommended treatment depends on the diagnosis of each patient.
Q
I've undergone surgery before - am I still eligible for PLDD?
A
Treatment may be possible depending on the diagnosis. Please consult with us first.
Q
Will I need rehabilitation after treatment?
A

Walking and light stretching are recommended after treatment.

Even if the herniation can be reduced by the laser, muscle stiffness or muscle weakness may cause an inflammatory reaction and possibly recurrence. Please be sure to exercise moderately for prevention and recurrence.

We collaborate with rehabilitation facilities to provide specialized rehabilitation for back pain. Please see below for details.

*Link to specialized rehabilitation page