Column Treatment Case Report No. 38｜ ILC International Lumbago Clinic (Nagoya Clinic)
February 26, 2026
The patient
A male patient in his 40s.
The patient’s medical history to date
The patient had experienced lower back pain since his 30s.
In June 2025, numbness began to appear.
He visited a nearby medical clinic, where an MRI examination resulted in a diagnosis of lumbar disc herniation.
Pre-treatment symptoms
・Pain levels before treatment
| Lower back | Lower limbs | Numbness | Buttocks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pain level | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 |
No pain at all is rated as 0, and the maximum possible pain is rated as 10.
Main areas of pain and numbness: Bilateral lower back and buttock pain; right leg pain and numbness.
Bending forward: Triggered right leg pain.
Bending backward: no aggravation
Lasegue test: positive
Point of tenderness: none
Intermittent claudication: negative
Additional explanations on our clinic’s medical examination
・Daily activities
The patient played baseball during his school years.
Imaging and findings
L1/2: Disc degeneration, disc bulging, annular tear
L2/3: No abnormality
L3/4: Disc degeneration, central disc herniation
L4/5: Mild disc degeneration, disc herniation
L5/S: Disc degeneration, disc bulging, annular tear
The above findings were also observed on the imaging.
Disc degeneration, disc bulging, and annular tears observed at L1/2, L3/4, L4/5, and L5/S were considered highly likely to be the primary causes of the patient’s symptoms.
Treatment
After consulting with the patient, the Cellgel Method was performed on L1/2, 3/4, 4/5 and 5/s.
The treatment was performed by Dr. Ban.
This is an image of the Discogel inserted into the intervertebral disc.
The treatment took about 40 minutes.
After resting in the recovery room, the patient was able to walk home unaided.
Our clinic’s treatment method
Additional information about the Cellgel method we have introduced in this column.
Cost of the Cellgel method: 1,320,000 yen per area (including tax) to 1,760,000 yen per 5 areas (including tax)
Risks and side effects of the Cellgel method: Transient pain may occur after treatment. Nerve damage is not a zero possibility due to the very nature of the treatment, but there have been no reports of damage so far in either report cases or publications. There is a very small possibility of allergic reactions to local anesthetics. Symptoms may temporarily worsen during the first week or two after treatment. This is believed to be due to the decompression effect of the implant, which retracts the surrounding tissues. In addition, if the disc is almost completely collapsed, treatment may be difficult. The doctor hold a consultation with you during your visit to the clinic to determine the best treatment option for your 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
