Column Treatment Progress Report No. 32: A Patient Whose Acute Low Back Pain Symptoms Improved
May 16, 2023
The patient
A female patient in her 40s.
Treated in January 2023. Approximately 4 months have passed since treatment.
Symptoms and treatments to date
This patient was diagnosed with a lumbar disc herniation at the disc level indicated by the red frame (L4/5 intervertebral disc).
Pre-treatment medical history and treatments to date
The patient had experienced recurring episodes of acute low back pain (lumbago) since her twenties.
Previous episodes resolved with physical therapy and temporary immobilization.
In November 2022, she experienced symptoms lighter than before, but they failed to improve, leading her to seek treatment at our clinic.
Treatment
The Cellgel Method was performed on a total of two intervertebral disc levels: L3/4 and L4/5.
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 | 5 | 0 | 4 |
| 1 week after treatment | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 1 month after treatment | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 months after treatment | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
The following is feedback from the patient when contacted for follow-up.
1 Week Post-Treatment: Pain was significantly reduced overall.
1 Month Post-Treatment: Improving. Low back pain changed to a feeling of stiffness/discomfort. Her leg felt heavy rather than painful.
3 Months Post-Treatment: Experiences slight pain when tired or sitting for a long time. This lasts for about 1–2 days, but there is no sign of worsening.
This patient experienced the treatment effects relatively quickly. While the symptoms have not completely disappeared, the pain has eased and is mostly felt as discomfort. This residual sensation is expected to fade over time.
* Results vary among individuals. Please be aware that identical outcomes cannot be guaranteed.
* It generally takes 3 weeks to 3 months for treatment effects to appear.
Our Treatment Method
Supplementary Information on the Cellgel Method
Cost of the Cergel Method:
¥1,320,000 / 1 site (tax included)
to ¥1,760,000 / 5 sites (tax included)
Risks and Side Effects:
Temporary pain may occur after treatment.
Nerve injury is theoretically possible due to the nature of the procedure, but no such cases have been reported in our own experience or in published studies.
Extremely rare risk of allergic reaction to local anesthetic.
Symptoms may temporarily worsen for 1–2 weeks after treatment, believed to be due to decompression effects of the implant pulling on surrounding tissue.
If the disc is severely collapsed or nearly gone, treatment may not be possible.
The physician will discuss suitable treatment options with each patient depending on their 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
