Column Treatment Progress Report No.196: A Patient Who Had Recurrent Acute Low Back Pain Over Many Years
January 31, 2026
The patient
A male patient in his 70s
Treated in April 2024. Approximately 12 months have passed since treatment.
Symptoms and treatments to date
This patient had disc degeneration in the areas indicated by the red frame (L4/5).
Pre-treatment medical history and treatments to date
The patient had experienced acute episodes of low back pain approximately three times over the past 10 years.
Each episode was managed conservatively with pain medication.
The patient visited our clinic seeking to improve her symptoms.
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 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 week after treatment | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 month after treatment | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 months after treatment | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 months after treatment | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The following is feedback from the patient when contacted for follow-up.
1 week: Slight improvement in the lower back pain, but overall similar to pre-treatment.
1 month: Pain reduced by approximately half; movements feel lighter.
3 months: Pain present upon waking but improves after beginning daily activities.
6 months: Daily life has become much more comfortable.
This patient’s symptoms were attributed primarily to intervertebral disc degeneration.
While the patient’s daily symptoms have improved, he remained concerned about pain upon waking up.
This type of morning pain can often be attributed to poor blood circulation during sleep.
Our clinic recommends rehabilitation, exercise, and activities that promote healthy blood flow. Back pain is often the result of complex, overlapping factors. We strive to improve each patient’s Quality of Life (QOL) by identifying and removing these causes one by one.
* 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
