Column Treatment Progress Report No. 201: A Patient Who Has Improved to the Point of Being Able to Go Up and Down Stairs Smoothly
March 11, 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 spinal canal stenosis in the areas indicated by the red frame (L1/2, 3/4 and 4/5)
Pre-treatment medical history and treatments to date
The patient’s journey began in late 2024 when lower back pain started to encroach on his daily life.
initially sought help at a local orthopedic clinic, undergoing rehabilitation and medication. When these conservative measures failed to provide relief, his doctor proposed surgery.
Seeking a non-invasive alternative that would allow him to avoid a long hospital stay, he came to our clinic for the Cellgel Method.
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 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 1 |
| 1 week after treatment | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| 1 month after treatment | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 months after treatment | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 months after treatment | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
The following is feedback from the patient when contacted for follow-up.
After 1 week:
Overall improvement noted, though some calf pain remained
After 1 month:
Occasional mild lower back pain only
After 3 months:
Further improvement; condition close to asymptomatic
After 6 months:
Able to turn in bed and walk 2 km without difficulty
For this patient, the primary challenge was spinal canal stenosis, which made even a flight of stairs a daunting obstacle.
Within just one month of the Cellgel treatment, he regained enough stability and confidence to navigate stairs without assistance.
While he notes that he is not “100% symptom-free” (a rare occurrence in multi-level stenosis), the frequency and intensity of his pain have dropped so drastically that he has successfully returned to an active lifestyle.
* 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
