Column Treatment Case Report No.97 ｜ ILC International Lumbago Clinic (Nagoya Clinic)
October 8, 2026
The patient
A male patient in his 90s.
The patient’s medical history to date
The patient injured his lower back from carrying an oxygen tank while scuba diving, an activity he continued until around the age of 75. From around age 76, he became unable to stand on his tiptoes and could no longer perform the flutter kick when swimming. His swimming speed also decreased.
He had previously been diagnosed with a herniated disc due to lower back pain and had undergone laser treatment, possibly at L4/5. His symptoms seemed to have improved slightly after the procedure.
At first, symptoms were more severe in his left lower limb, but also began to appear in his right lower limb around 2021. The numbness bothered him more than lower back pain, prompting him to visit our clinic.
Pre-treatment symptoms
・Pain levels before treatment
| Lower Back | Lower Limbs | Numbness | Buttocks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pain level | 6 | 8 | 9 | 2 |
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 and numbness on both sides; pain and numbness from the back of both thighs to the soles of the feet.
Bending forward: no abnormality
Bending backward: no abnormality
Lasegue test: negative
Point of tenderness: L3/4, 4/5, 5/S
Intermittent claudication: negative
Additional explanations on our clinic’s medical examination
・Daily activities
Hobbies: scuba diving, gym.
Imaging and findings
L1/2: Disc degeneration
L2/3: Disc degeneration, bulging, loss of disc height, bilateral foraminal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, endplate degeneration
L3/4: Disc degeneration, bulging, bilateral foraminal stenosis, spinal canal stenosis, endplate degeneration
L4/5: Disc degeneration, disc herniation, bilateral foraminal stenosis, ligamentum flavum hypertrophy, spinal canal stenosis
L5/S: Disc degeneration, disc herniation, bilateral foraminal stenosis, endplate degeneration
The above findings were also observed on the imaging.
Degeneration, herniation, bilateral foraminal stenosis, ligamentum flavum hypertrophy, and LSS (lumbar spinal stenosis) were observed at L3/4, 4/5 and 5/S, and these are highly likely to be the cause of the main symptoms.
Treatment
After consulting with the patient, the Cellgel Method was performed on L3/4, 4/5 and 5/S.
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 walked out of the clinic on his own.
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
