Column Treatment Progress No.175: A Patient whose pain in the lower back and numbness in the lower limbs disappeared

July 7, 2025

The patient

A male patient in his 70s

Treated in February 2024. More than 12 months have passed since the treatment.

Symptoms and treatments to date

The patient exhibited disc herniation in the area indicated by the red frame (L3/4, 4/5).

Pre-treatment medical history and treatments to date

In his twenties, the patient began to experience strained backs. After that, he has had several recurrences.

In 2021, he suffered a compression fracture on disc L1. He began to have constant back pain after that.

In January 2024, his symptoms aggravated. He visited a local orthopedic surgeon and was diagnosed with spinal canal stenosis. He received block injections and other treatments, but the symptoms did not improve.

He came to our clinic for symptom improvement.

Post-treatment progress

The table below shows the results of the patient’s own evaluation of the pain in each body site on a scale of 0 to 10.

No pain at all is rated as 0 and 10 as the maximum possible pain.

	Lower back	Lower limbs	Numbness	Buttocks
Before treatment	5	9	7	3
1 week after treatment	4	7	6	2
1 month after treatment	2	7	6	1
3 months after treatment	1	0	0	0
6 months after treatment	0	0	0	0

The following is feedback from the patient when contacted for follow-up.

After one week, the patient experienced numbness symptoms in the right lower limb while lying on his back. The patient felt heavy and fatigued while walking, but the symptoms would improve when bending forward.

After one month, the patient had numbness symptoms but only in the right lower limb when walking.

After 3 months, the pain in the lower back was replaced by a feeling of heaviness. The numbness symptoms disappeared.

After 6 months, there was no more pain or numbness in the lower back and lower limbs in daily life. However, when fatigue builds up, the patient feels some heaviness.

This patient’s main symptoms were most likely caused by disc herniation.

The symptoms experienced from 2024 onward were thought to be due to nerve compression, likely caused by spinal canal stenosis. Consequently, in this case, the Cellgel Method was able to improve the symptoms.

As for the symptoms caused by the compression fracture of 2021, there is some possibility that symptoms may reappear in the future due to the influence of the bone.

* It takes approximately 3 weeks to 3 months to see the full effects of the treatment.

* Effects in the treatment may vary according to individual differences. Please be aware that there is a possibility that the exact same effects may not be replicated every time.

Our clinic’s treatment method

Here is some additional information about the Cellgel method that we have presented here.

Cost of the Cellgel method: 1,320,000 yen per site (including tax) to 1,760,000 yen for 5 sites (including tax)

Cost for this patient’s case: Cellgel performed in 2 areas = 1,430,000 yen (including tax)

Risks and side effects of the Cellgel method: Transient pain may occur after treatment. Due to the very nature of the treatment, the possibility of nerve damage is not zero, but so far there have been no reports of damage in either reported cases or publications. There is a very small possibility of allergic reactions to the local anesthetic. 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 pulls in the surrounding tissues. Also, if the disc is almost completely worn out, it may not be possible to treat it. The doctor will consult with you during your visit to determine the best treatment option for your condition.

For more detailed information, please refer to the following links:

Column page explaining the Cellgel method in an easy-to-understand manner

Page of the Cellgel procedure at our clinic

This article was written by the administrative Director of our clinic