Column Treatment Progress Report No.6: A Patient Whose Low Back, Buttock, and Lower Limb Pain Gradually Improved After Treatment
March 10, 2023
The patient
A female patient in her 70s.
Treated in September. Approximately 5 months have passed since treatment.
Symptoms and treatments to date
Imaging studies revealed intervertebral disc degeneration at the levels highlighted by the red frame
(L1/2, L3/4, L4/5, and L5/S1).
The patient had been experiencing chronic low back pain since childhood following a fall from a roof.
In the previous year, she also began to experience episodes of acute low back pain (lumbago).
After evaluation, the Celgel Method was performed at four intervertebral disc levels (L1/2, L3/4, 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-Treatment | 6 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1 week after treatment | 5 | 5 | 0 | 6 |
| 1 month after treatment | 4 | 4 | 0 | 5 |
| 3 months after treatment | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
The following is feedback from the patient when contacted for follow-up.
1 week Post-Treatment:
Since the pain was relatively minimal at first, the patient moved more than advisable, which subsequently led to an increase in pain.
1 month Post-Treatment:
The uncomfortable sensation in the right leg gradually dissipated. She was able to turn over in bed without pain.
3 Months Post-Treatment: While some pain remains, it is significantly better than before treatment. She is now able to walk up to 6,000 steps a day.
Gradual Improvement: As seen in this case, the Cellgel Method takes time to show its full effect (typically 3 weeks to 3 months). A key characteristic is the day-by-day improvement patients experience.
Receiving reports that pain has decreased and daily activities have expanded compared to the pre-treatment condition is always gratifying for our clinical team.
* Symptom improvement generally takes between 3 weeks to 3 months.
* Treatment outcomes may vary individually, and identical outcomes may not be replicated or guaranteed every time.
Our Clinic’s 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
