Column Treatment Progress Report No.12: A Patient Whose Lower Limb Pain and Numbness Have Resolved Despite Residual Lumbar Discomfort
March 27, 2023
The patient
A male patient in his 60s
Treated in October. Approximately 5 months have passed since treatment.
Symptoms and treatments to date
Imaging findings revealed lumbar spinal canal stenosis at the intervertebral disc levels indicated by the red frame (L2/3, L3/4, and L4/5).
At the age of 19, the patient was hospitalized due to an intervertebral disc herniation, after which he continued to experience intermittent episodes of low back pain.
He was later diagnosed with lumbar spinal stenosis at a nearby medical facility, where surgery was recommended. However, he opted for conservative management, including nerve block injections and oral medications.
Pain extended from the left buttock to the foot, while the right side was affected only intermittently.
The Cellgel Method was performed on three intervertebral discs: 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 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 |
| 1 week after treatment | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 1 month after treatment | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 months after treatment | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The following is feedback from the patient when contacted for follow-up.
1 Week Post-Treatment: Reported numbness in the toes and pain in the buttocks.
1 Month Post-Treatment: Described a “heavy” sensation in the lower back, but noted that all other symptoms had improved.
3 Months Post-Treatment: The pain level in the lower back remained unchanged, but the frequency of the pain decreased.
All other pain and numbness in the limbs and buttocks had completely disappeared.
We are very pleased that the pain and numbness extending from the buttocks to the lower limbs have resolved. Regarding the lingering “heaviness” in the lower back, we have mailed the patient a customized stretching guide created by our physical therapists. We will continue to monitor his progress as he performs these exercises at home.
* 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
