Column Treatment Case Report No. 83｜ ILC International Lumbago Clinic (Nagoya Clinic)
August 17, 2026
The patient
A female patient in her 60s.
The patient’s medical history to date
Symptoms initially appeared several years ago while performing half-crouching tasks such as weeding. Around April 2025, she experienced a sudden onset of leg numbness and visited an orthopedic clinic, where she was diagnosed with lumbar disc herniation. She underwent a nerve block injection, but stopped attending out of fear; the block was also not very effective. Currently, she has numbness extending from her right buttock to her toes. There are times when she experiences a complete loss of sensation due to numbness in her right sole. The symptoms worsen particularly when walking or standing. Walking is limited to about 5 minutes before she needs to rest. She used to walk her dog, but currently has to make a conscious effort to walk around 500 steps a day.
Pre-treatment symptoms
・Pain levels before treatment
| Lower back | Lower limbs | Numbness | Buttocks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pain level | 5 | 8 | 10 | 4 |
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, bilateral buttock pain
Bending forward: no change
Bending backward: no change
Lasegue test: negative
Point of tenderness: L5/S bilateral, bilateral sacroiliac joints
Intermittent claudication: negative
Additional explanations on our clinic’s medical examination
・Daily activities
Walking, walking the dog.
Imaging and findings
- L1/2: Degenerative disc disease
- L2/3: Degenerative disc disease
- L3/4: Lumbar disc herniation, degenerative disc disease, foraminal stenosis
- L4/5: Spinal canal stenosis, lumbar disc herniation, degenerative disc disease, foraminal stenosis
- L5/S1: Degenerative disc disease
The above findings were also observed on the imaging.
Spinal canal stenosis, lumbar disc herniation, degenerative disc disease, and foraminal stenosis were identified at L3/4 and L4/5. These are highly likely to be the primary cause of the patient’s main symptoms.
Treatment
After consulting with the patient, the Cellgel Method was performed on L3/4 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 20 minutes.
After resting in the recovery room, the patient was able to walk home by his 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
