Column Treatment Progress Report No.5: A Patient Whose Condition Improved with the Cellgel Method Following an Unsatisfactory Spinal Stenosis Surgery at Another Clinic
March 8, 2023
The patient
A female patient in her 70s.
Treated in 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 (L1/2, L2/3, and L3/4).
Findings of lumbar spinal canal stenosis were also observed at the disc level indicated by the yellow frame (L4/5).
The patient had been suffering from low back pain for approximately 30–40 years.
In 2017, she underwent surgery for lumbar spinal canal stenosis; however, her pain persisted postoperatively.
Around 2020, numbness began to appear in both lower limbs.
The Celgel Method was performed at four disc levels: L1/2, L2/3, 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 | 4 | 0 |
| 1 week after treatment | 6 | 4 | 6 | 3 |
| 1 month after treatment | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 3 months after treatment | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
The following is feedback from the patient when contacted for follow-up.
1 Week Post-Treatment: Still felt numbness and low back pain (temporary increase/aggravation).
1 Month Post-Treatment: Reported no pain or numbness whatsoever.
3 Months Post-Treatment: Felt a return of strength in her lower back and was able to perform sustained exercise.
Since Discogel is injected into the intervertebral disc, the disc’s volume slightly increases. Immediately after treatment (as seen at the 1-week mark), this can cause temporary pain aggravation due to traction on the surrounding neural tissues.
This is likely the explanation for the patient’s symptoms at the 1 week mark.
After approximately one month, both pain and numbness resolved, resulting in a very favorable outcome.
* 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 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
