Column Treatment Case Report No. 40｜ ILC International Lumbago Clinic (Nagoya Clinic)
March 5, 2026
The patient
A female patient in her 80s.
The patient’s medical history to date
Her first acute strained back (lumbago) occurred at age 19. Over the decades, she has experienced several major relapses. For the last 7–8 years, she suffered from chronic, unexplained back pain that worsened specifically when standing or walking.
She had received countless block injections. While these are common for pain management, they provided her with only a few hours of relief at a time. Acupuncture and manipulative therapy also failed to provide lasting improvement.
Pre-treatment symptoms
・Pain levels before treatment
| Lower back | Lower limbs | Numbness | Buttocks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pain level | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
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 pain and bilateral buttock pain.
Bending forward: mild worsening of lower back pain
Bending backward: no aggravation
Lasegue test: negative
Point of tenderness: mild tenderness at L4/5 (center), and L5/S (center)
Intermittent claudication: negative
Additional explanations on our clinic’s medical examination
・Daily activities
No particular physical activities
Imaging and findings
L1/2: No abnormal findings
L2/3: Mild disc degeneration
L3/4: Disc degeneration
L4/5: Disc degeneration, disc bulging, annular tear
L5/S: Disc degeneration, disc bulging
The above findings were also observed on the imaging.
Disc degeneration, disc bulging, and annular tears were observed at L2/3, L3/4, L4/5, and L5/S, which are considered highly likely to be the cause of the patient’s main symptoms.
Treatment
After consulting with the patient, the Cellgel Method was performed.
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
