Column Treatment Case Report No. 50｜ ILC International Lumbago Clinic (Nagoya Clinic)
April 9, 2026
The patient
A male patient in his 70s.
The patient’s medical history to date
In December 2025, the patient fell down a staircase. Approximately 20 days later, he developed lower back pain.
He visited a medical clinic and was prescribed oral medication, but no improvement was observed. After revisiting the clinic following the New Year, he began rehabilitation therapy; however, this also proved ineffective, leading him to seek treatment at our clinic.
Pre-treatment symptoms
・Pain levels before treatment
| Lower back | Lower limbs | Numbness | Buttocks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pain level | 10 | 10 | 7 | 7 |
No pain at all is rated as 0, and the maximum possible pain is rated as 10.
Main areas of pain and numbness: lower back pain on the right side, bilateral posterior thigh pain, buttock pain on the right side
Bending forward: no aggravation
Bending backward: causes lower back pain on the right side
Lasegue test: positive
Point of tenderness: present at L4/5 (right side)
Intermittent claudication: positive
Additional explanations on our clinic’s medical examination
・Daily activities
The patient currently has no regular exercise routine.
Imaging and findings
L2/3: Disc degeneration, disc herniation on the right side, foraminal stenosis on the right side
L3/4: Disc degeneration
L4/5: Disc degeneration and disc bulging
L5/S: No anomaly
The above findings were also observed on the imaging.
Disc degeneration, bulging, right-sided disc herniation, and right foraminal stenosis at L1/2, L2/3, L3/4, and L4/5 were considered highly likely to be the cause of the patient’s main symptoms.
Treatment
After consulting with the patient, the Cellgel Method was performed on L1/2, 2/3, 3/4 and 4/5.
The treatment was performed by Dr. Ban.
This is an image of the Discogel inserted into the intervertebral disc.
The treatment took about 30 minutes.
After resting in the recovery room, the patient was able to walk home by her own means.
Our Clinics’ Treatment
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
