Column Progress of Treatment No.173: A Patient With Recurring Back Pain for More Than 10 Years Whose Condition Improved
June 27, 2025
The patient
A male patient in his 40s
Patient treated in February 2024. About 12 months have passed since the treatment.
Symptoms and treatments to date
The patient had disc degeneration in the areas indicated by the red frame (L3/4, 4/5).
Pre-treatment medical history and treatments to date
Since 2004, the patient has suffered from several herniated discs but has decided not to undergo surgery or any other treatment since his symptoms subsided after about 2 weeks each time.
In December 2013, he began to experience severe pain in his lower back and lower limbs. Currently, the pain has is a little better.
The patient came to our clinic to improve the symptoms.
Post-treatment progress
The following is a chart in which the patient rated each area of pain on a scale of 0 to 10.
The patient rated the pain as 0 when there is no pain at all, and 10 when it is the greatest pain possible.
| Lower back | Lower limbs | Numbness | Buttocks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Before treatment | 2 | 4 | 0 | 3 |
| 1 week after treatment | 3 | 4 | 0 | 3 |
| 1 month after treatment | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| 3 months after treatment | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 6 months after treatment | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
The following is feedback from the patient when contacted for follow-up.
After the first week, the pain in the lower back temporarily aggravated a little. Now it has eased a bit and now there is only a feeling of heaviness.
After one month, the pain had eased, but the overall feeling of heaviness remained.
After 3 months, no pain, but the same feeling of discomfort and heaviness as in the first month. The patient resumed his golf practice, but he had no symptoms both on the day of the practice or the day after.
After 6 months, he felt discomfort in his lower back, but his condition has now improved to the point where he is able to enjoy playing golf twice a week.
The patient’s main symptoms are considered to have been caused by disc degeneration.
Since the cracks were located on disc L4/5, it is assumed that the recurring back pain originated from there.
One year has passed since the treatment, and the patient is still enjoying his daily golf game free of any symptoms.
* 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
