Column Treatment Case Report No. 49｜ ILC International Lumbago Clinic (Tokyo Clinic)

February 08, 2023

The case of a patient who had been suffering from back pain for many years and had been treated with various therapies with no impovement.

The patient

A female patient in her 60s.

The patient’s medical history to date

• The patient developed a strained back when she was in her 30s.。

• In 2019, she became unable to extend her back while it was bent. She began to have occasional pain in both lower limbs.

• 2022, Symptoms occasionally aggravated.

• On a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being minimal and 10 being maximal), pain is 5 in the lower back, 10 in the lower extremities, 9 in the hips, and 3 in numbness.

• The patient can walk more than 500 meters when the pain is minimal, but has difficulty walking when the pain is severe.

• Standing up and washing one’s face are not a problem, but turning over in bed is very difficult. She also has some difficulty in sitting in a semi-crouched posture, prolonged sitting, and lifting heavy weights.

Imaging and findings

• L3/4 and 5/s indicate disc herniation.
• L4/5 indicates disc degeneration.

・L3/4 – disc herniation on the right side was observed and is a probable cause of the pain in the right lower limb, so treatment was suggested accordingly

・L4/5 – Disc degeneration and cracks of the left disc were observed, so conservative treatment was suggested accordingly.

・L5/s – Midline disc herniation was observed, and may be the probable cause of the leg pain, so treatment was suggested accordingly.

Treatment

After consulting with the patient, the Cellgel Method was performed on L3/4, 4/5 and 5/s.

This is an image of the patient’s back after the Discogel injection.

Since the patient felt pain during the injection, the injection was performed gradually with breaks in between.

Pain may occur depending on the degree of damage in the disc.

The treatment took about 30 minutes.

After resting in the recovery room, the patient was able to walk home by herself.

The patient has recently started muscle training and has regular training sessions with a trainer she knows.

At that point, she shared her training posture with me.

We must be careful about our sitting posture even to prevent back pain.

It made me think how important it is for human beings to adopt the correct posture in any situation.

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