Column Treatment Case Report No. 61｜ ILC International Lumbago Clinic (Tokyo Clinic)
April 15, 2023
The case of a patient who was treated at our clinic.
The patient
A male patient in his 70s.
The patient’s medical history to date
The patient suffered from a strained back around 2000, but it healed by itself.
In 2010, he suddenly felt pain in his lower back after playing golf and visited an orthopedic surgeon. He was diagnosed with mild spinal canal stenosis and received symptomatic treatment through medication, but this did not lead to any improvement.
The pain became more severe in 2018.
Symptoms before treatment
・Pain levels before treatment
| Lower back | Lower limbs | Numbness | Buttocks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pain level | 9 | 3 | 3 | 5 |
No pain at all is rated as 0, and the maximum possible pain is rated as 10.
Main areas of pain and numbness: lower back, right hip and left buttock area.
Bending forward: no change
Bending backward: no change
Lasegue test: negative
Point of tenderness: discs 3/4 and 4/5 on the right side
Additional explanations on our clinic’s medical examination
・Daily activities
Symptoms are aggravated when turning in bed, twisting one’s body , and getting up.
Pain is aggravated most when carrying heavy objects.
The patient can walk more than 500 m without any problem.
Imaging and findings
- L4/5, 5/s – disc degeneration
- L4/5 – cracked disc
- L4/5 and 5/s – foraminal stenosis on both foramina
The above findings were also observed on the imaging.
・L4/5 – A cracked disc was observed on the imaging and may indicate the presence of disc herniation in the past.
・L5/s – Probable cause of the main symptoms of pain and numbness may be due to foraminal stenosis associated with intervertebral disc degeneration.
Based on the examination and imaging findings, etc., we proposed the above treatment.
Treatment
After consulting with the patient, the Cellgel Method was performed on L4/5 and 5/s.
This is an image of the patient’s back after the Discogel injection.
The treatment took about 20 minutes.
After resting in the recovery room, the patient was able to walk home by himself.
Our clinic’s treatment method
Additional information about the Cellgel method we have introduced in this column.
Cost of the Cellgel method: 1,320,000 yen per area (including tax) to 1,760,000 yen per 5 areas (including tax)
Risks and side effects of the Cellgel method: Transient pain may occur after treatment. Nerve damage is not a zero possibility due to the very nature of the treatment, but there have been no reports of damage so far in either report cases or publications. There is a very small possibility of allergic reactions to local anesthetics. Symptoms may temporarily worsen during the first week or two after treatment. This is believed to be due to the decompression effect of the implant, which retracts the surrounding tissues. In addition, if the disc is almost completely collapsed, treatment may be difficult. The doctor hold a consultation with you during your visit to the clinic to determine the best treatment option for your condition.
For more detailed information, please refer to the following links:
Blog page explaining the Cellgel Method in an easy-to-understand manner
The Cellgel Method on our treatment methods page
This article was written by the Administrative Director of our clinic
