Column Treatment Progress Report No.14: A Patient Pleased with the Resolution of Low Back and Lower Limb Pain
March 31, 2023
The patient
A male patient in his 60s
Treated in October. Approximately 5 months have passed since treatment.
Symptoms and treatments to date
In this patient, imaging revealed findings of intervertebral disc degeneration at the disc levels indicated by the red frames (L2/3, L3/4, L4/5, and L5/S).
In addition, a fissure consistent with a previous intervertebral disc herniation was observed at L3/4.
Pre-treatment medical history and treatments to date
Since the age of 19, the patient had experienced recurrent episodes of acute low back pain (lumbago).
These episodes usually improved with stretching exercises.
Since 2016, after work-related strain on the lower back, the patient began to experience numbness in the sole of his left foot.
More recent symptoms included a persistent heavy sensation in the lower back, as well as bilateral lower limb pain and numbness.
Treatment
The Celgel Method was performed at four intervertebral disc levels: L2/3, L3/4, L4/5, and L5/S.
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 | 7 | 7 | 1 |
| 1 week after treatment | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 1 month after treatment | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 3 months after treatment | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
The following is feedback from the patient when contacted for follow-up.
1 Week Post-Treatment: Reported lingering numbness in the toes and soles, but felt that his overall condition was already improving.
1 Month Post-Treatment: Lower limb pain had resolved. The patient reported that morning leg cramps, which had previously occurred daily, had decreased to approximately once per week, and improvement was clearly perceived.
3 Months Post-Treatment: The low back pain completely disappeared. While the level of numbness fluctuates throughout the day, it has notably decreased.
The disappearance of low back pain and lower limb pain, along with the reduction in numbness, was considered a positive outcome, and we are pleased with the patient’s progress.
The patient expressed his desire to gradually reduce the medication he had been taking for pain, showing great satisfaction with the treatment’s 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
