Column Treatment Case Report No. 85｜ ILC International Lumbago Clinic (Nagoya Clinic)
August 25, 2026
The patient
A male patient in his 40s.
The patient’s medical history to date
Three years ago, the patient suddenly developed acute low back pain (a strained back) when standing up from a chair. At that time, he had pain only in the midline of the lower back and could not stand up on his own, but it improved in about 4 days. Since then, he occasionally felt as though it might happen again. Over the past 3 months, the condition has worsened to its current state. For the past several months, he has had low back pain upon waking that prevents him from standing up straight, and turning over in bed is also painful. About a month ago, he jogged lightly for a short distance and experienced pain so severe that he could barely walk. He has not consulted an orthopedic clinic. The pain has eased somewhat, but getting up from lying down is still difficult.
Pre-treatment symptoms
・Pain levels before treatment
| Lower back | Lower limbs | Numbness | Buttocks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pain level | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
No pain at all is rated as 0, and the maximum possible pain is rated as 10.
Main areas of pain and numbness: both sides of the lower back
Bending forward: no aggravation
Bending backward: aggravation of midline lumbar pain
Lasegue test: negative
Point of tenderness: Bilateral L5/S
Intermittent claudication: positive
Additional explanations on our clinic’s medical examination
・Daily activities
Mountain climbing in his 20s; currently no particular activities
Imaging and findings
L1/2: Nothing unusual
L2/3: Nothing unusual
L3/4: Nothing unusual
L4/5: Nothing unusual
L5/S: Disc degeneration, annular tear, and endplate degeneration
The above findings were also observed on the imaging.
At L5/S, disc degeneration, an annular tear, and endplate degeneration were observed and were considered likely to be the cause of the patient’s main symptoms.
Treatment
After consulting with the patient, the Cellgel Method was performed on L5/s.
The treatment was performed by Dr. Ban.
This is an image of the Discogel inserted into the intervertebral disc.
The treatment took about 10 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
