Column Treatment Progress Report No. 197: A Patient with Disc Degeneration at L4/5
The patient
A male patient in his 40s
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
Sudden onset of low back pain occurred during work two years prior.
Visited multiple hospitals where it was suggested that a bone fragment might be the cause. Managed with medication and observation, but the effectiveness gradually diminished.
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 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 1 week after treatment | 6 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 1 month after treatment | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 months after treatment | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 months after treatment | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The following is feedback from the patient when contacted for follow-up.
After 1 week: No symptoms for about two days post-procedure, but symptoms gradually reappeared.
After 1 month: Pain symptoms had slightly improved.
After 3 months: Symptoms occurred after walking long distances.
After 6 months: Frequency of pain episodes decreased.
This patient’s symptoms were attributed to intervertebral disc degeneration.
The lower back pain improved steadily over time.
The patient was also very proactive in his own recovery, attending rehabilitation sessions and taking a focused approach to his bodily health.
* 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
