Column Treatment Progress Report No. 4: A Patient with Severe Pain due to Disc Herniation Who Improved within 1 Month Post-Treatment
March 7, 2023
The patient
A female patient in her 40s.
Treated last September. Approximately 5 months have passed since treatment.
Symptoms and treatments to date
This patient showed findings of intervertebral disc herniation at the disc levels indicated by the red frame (L4/5 and L5/S1).
Pain was present only in the left lower limb, and even short periods of walking triggered pain.
The Celgel Method was performed at two disc levels, L4/5 and L5/S1.
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 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 week after treatment | 8 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 month after treatment | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 months after treatment | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
The following is feedback from the patient when contacted for follow-up.
At 1 week:
There was no noticeable change, and walking remained difficult.
At 1 month:
The condition was gradually improving, but back pain had not yet resolved.
At 3 months:
The patient reported significant improvement and was able to resume daily activities. Occasional pain occurred when carrying heavy items.
During consultations, we often explain to patients that it is important to be patient, as the Cellgel Method is a treatment that repairs the intervertebral disc gradually over time.
As seen in this case, meaningful improvement is often not observed within the first week, and short-term results may be limited.
* Individual results vary, but symptom improvement typically occurs within approximately 3 weeks to 3 months after treatment.
* Please note that treatment outcomes vary among individuals, and the same results cannot be guaranteed for all patients.
Our Treatment Method
Supplementary Information on the Cellgel Method
Cost of the Cellgel 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
