International Lumbago Clinic

International Lumbago Clinic Tokyo

Now accepting patients both in Japan and overseas

The Cellgel Method, an outpatient treatment
to repair aged intervertebral discs
for disc herniation (lower back and neck),
spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis,
numbness in the lower back,
neck, hands, legs and more

5 Minute Walk from JR Shin-Osaka Station Osaka Clinic Opening April 1, 2024

【News】

10.03.2024

Check the first one here
02.20.2023

International Lumbago Clinic Tokyo Treatment Features

The Cellgel Method
to repair aged intervertebral discs

We at ILC International Lumbago Clinic offer various treatments for back pain. As a result of our experience, knowledge, and evaluation of its effectiveness, we are convinced that the Cellgel method is the only treatment that can repair intervertebral discs.
*We can prove that the disc can be repaired by CT and X-rays after treatment.
An Alternative to Invasive Surgery

We are able to perform treatments on elderly patients who have had given up on surgery, or on patients with various complications.
For Ineffective Surgeries,
or Post-surgery Recurrence

We can also treat patients who had surgery in the past but saw no improvement, or those who had a recurrence of the symptoms several years after their surgery.
Low-risk,
outpatient treatment

We do not use scalpels in our clinic. The treatment we provide uses only a thin needle, and there is typically no need for any follow-up visits.

Learn moreeast

The Cellgel Method Advantages and Disadvantages

What causes back problems in the first place?

QDoes repairing an aging disc eliminate pain?: AAs the intervertebral disc ages, it cracks and the components that cause inflammation leak out from inside the disc.
This is said to be one of the reasons for pain, so repairing the disc will eliminate the pain.

■Advantages of Cellgel

With a treatment time of about 20 to 30 minutes, it is possible to repair the aged intervertebral discs in the lower back and neck and remove the inflammation derived from the discs. Once the intervertebral disc is repaired with the Cellgel method, it remains permanently as an implant inside the intervertebral disc, and there are no reports of recurrence or loss of the implant at present. In addition, by stabilizing the intervertebral disc by repairing the intervertebral disc itself, it is possible to prevent recurrence even if other surgical operations are performed. For intervertebral disc herniation, it also has the effect of returning protruding intervertebral disc herniation (lower back and neck) to its original position.
* There are various intervertebral disc repair treatments, but with the “Cellgel method”, after treatment, it is possible to check whether the intervertebral disc has been repaired by CT or X-ray.

Costs, Risks and side effects of the Cellgel method

●Cost of the Cellgel method: 1,320,000 JPY / 1 disc (Tax included) ~ 1,760,000 JPY / 5 discs (Tax included)
●Risks and side effects of the Cellgel method: Transient pain may occur after treatment. Due to the characteristics of the treatment, the possibility of nerve damage is not zero percent, but there are no reports of damage in our own cases or in the literature. There is a very small chance of an allergic reaction to local anesthetics. Symptoms may temporarily worsen for 1-2 weeks after treatment. The reason is thought to be that the surrounding tissue is pulled by the decompression effect of the implant. In addition, treatment may not be possible if the intervertebral disc has been crushed and has almost disappeared. During your consultation with the doctor, you will be able to discuss the options for treatment that are appropriate for your condition.

■Disadvantages of Cellgel

・Unlike conventional surgery for diseases like spinal canal stenosis or spondylolisthesis, the bone is not shaved and fused with bolts, nor are any ligaments removed, so surgical intervention may be necessary if the pain and numbness remain the same as before, even after the Cellgel treatment.

Certification — *Medical institutions are required to have certifications like this one to perform the "Cellgel method".

*ILC International Lumbago Clinic is continuously working with doctors specializing in the Cellgel method, improving treatment techniques daily.

More about the
Cellgel Method east

Our Philosophy

"We aim to achieve 100% effectiveness in low-risk back pain treatment
so that our patients can receive treatments with comfort, a peace of mind and confidence."

Pain and numbness caused by back and neck pain often include a variety of factors, and a thorough diagnosis is necessary to narrow down the root cause. Apart from analyzing the MRI scan, it's also crucial to acquire a firm grasp of the patient's symptoms and their daily activities. For this reason, we will take 30 minutes during outpatient consultations to discuss treatment methods, prevention, and improvement to ensure the patient's trust and comfort. We also focus on providing excellent post-treatment follow-up services, as recurrence of the condition may occur if the patient does not follow up properly after the treatment.

Doctors

Dr. Tadaaki Minowa
Administrative Director

ILC Tokyo

Dr. Aki Kono

ILC Tokyo

Dr. Yuko Maruyama
Clinic Director

ILC Osaka

Spinal Diseases & Symptoms

Click on the image or description of each disease or symptom for more detailed information (causes, symptoms, treatments, cost, etc.)

Lumbar Disc Herniation

Disc herniation is a condition in which the cartilage tissue called the intervertebral disc, which act as cushion between the vertebrae, becomes deformed and part of the disc protrudes or bulges. The main symptoms are pain in the lower back, buttocks, and numbness in the legs. At our clinic, we treat the disc with the Cellgel method to repair it, and prevent recurrence with specialized rehabilitation.

More details...
Cervical Disc Herniation

A cervical disc herniation is a disease in which the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc that connects the seven cervical vertebrae protrudes and causes inflammation or pressure on nerves. The main symptoms include pain in the neck and shoulders, stiff shoulders, numbness and swelling in the hands, and dullness in the arms. At our hospital, we mainly use an advanced medical technology called the CellGel method to treat symptoms with the aim of improving symptoms and preventing recurrence.

More details...
Spinal Stenosis

Spinal stenosis is a condition where the spinal nerve is compressed by the narrowing of the passage (vertebral canal) inside the spine, due to disc herniation and/or other factors. The main symptoms are numbness and shooting pain in the legs, as well as pain in the lower back and buttocks when an inflammation occurs. At our clinic, we treat the disc with the Cellgel method to repair it, and prevent recurrence with specialized rehabilitation.

More details...
Lumbar Spondylolisthesis

Spondylolisthesis is a condition where the spine is displaced from its usual position due to a fracture, degeneration of the disc, or deterioration of the joints. The main symptoms are numbness, shooting pain in the legs, and pain in the lower back and buttocks when an inflammation occurs. It is also characterized by some relief when the patient bends forward. Our clinic treats the causes of disc degeneration with the Cellgel method, and prevent recurrence with specialized rehabilitation for lower back pain.

More details...

Full list of spinal conditionseast

Consultation

All treatments at our clinic can be completed within a single day.
Please feel free to call us during consultation hours or via our contact form.

*Note that MRIs are taken at an affiliated clinic nearby, so the procedure may have to take place on a separate day if necessary.

1. Inquiry

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

Contact us on Whatsapp or by our contact form on this page.
2. Remote MRI Diagnosis

For Tokyo Clinic:
An MRI scan will be performed at a clinic affiliated with our clinic before your appointment at our clinic. Please send the MRI CD-ROM data to us via email prior to your visit. Also, if you have MRI images taken at another hospital, please let us know when you contact us.

For Osaka Clinic:
The MRI scan will be performed at our clinic on the day of your appointment.
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.
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.
5. Pre-Treatment Examination

For Tokyo Clinic:
Please have your health insurance card, various medical certificates, image data, etc. ready when you come to the reception desk. After the check-in,, we will take X-ray images. After the X-ray, the doctor will spend approximately 30 minutes thoroughly examining the patient, and will consider and recommend the most suitable treatment plan for each patient.

At the Osaka Clinic:
After the MRI/X-ray examination, the doctor will spend approximately 30 minutes thoroughly examining the patient, and will consider and propose the most appropriate treatment plan for each patient.
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.
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.
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.

Since many of our patients come from far away,
we are happy to give free consultations to see which treatment is best for you

We'll diagnose your MRI images for free！

Free Diagnosic Imagingeast

Opening Hours

By Reservation Only	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun	Hol
Tokyo 9:00–17:00	●	●	●	×	●	●	×	×
Osaka 9:00–17:00	●	●	×	●	●	●	×	×

Treatment Case Studies & Blog

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Press Release

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Access Getting to the Tokyo Clinic

Clinic Name: International Lumbago Clinic Tokyo

Address: W Building, Konan 1-8-15, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 108-0075

Access Guide for Tokyoeast

From JR Shin-Osaka Station to the Osaka Clinic

Both the Central and North ticket gates exit to the Central Passage, so you can exit from either one.
This is the central ticket gate. After exiting the ticket gate, walk towards the "Konan Exit 港南口" (on your right), as shown on the top of the photo.
This is the view upon exiting the Central Gate and heading towards the Konan Exit. Please go straight through the Central Passage.
Continue straight down the Central Passage and you will see Shinkansen ticket gates on either side. Please continue straight ahead.
When you see this sign at the Konan Exit, turn left.
You will be able to see the Sony headquarters and the W Building, where we are located. Walk in the direction of the arrow.
As you walk down the passageway, you will see stairs to the ground level on your left. There's also an elevator.
Take the stairs or the elevator to get down to the ground floor.
When you get to the ground floor, follow the direction of the arrow (toward the Kokuyo Building).
Cross the intersection and walk about 30 meters until you see the entrance to the W Building on your left.
This is the entrance to the W Building.
Turn left here.
This is the path leading to our clinic. You can see the Sony headquarters building in front and the W Building diagonally ahead on the right.
You have arrived at the entrance of our clinic.
Please take care when making your way here.