Treatment Case Studies
& Blog

Column Case Report No.28 | ILC International Low Back Pain Clinic (Osaka) Column

June 20, 2024

The patient

A male patient in his 60s

The patient’s medical history to date

 He developed disc herniation in his late teens.

He was put under observation and the symptoms went into remission.

The symptoms reappeared in his 40s.

He was put under observation with block injections and massages.

He came to our clinic to improve his symptoms.

Symptoms before treatment

 He would get pain if he made an unusual movement.

When he lifted something heavy, he would feel like he had pulled a muscle in his lower back and couldn’t stand up.

He would feel pain when he woke up or when he turned over in bed.

・Pain levels before treatment

Lower backLower limbsNumbnessButtocks
Pain level3~10550

The pain level is rated on a scale of 0 to 10, with 0 being no pain at all and 10 being the worst possible pain.

Main areas of pain: lower back, legs

 Coughing/sneezing: painful when the lower back hurts

Lasegue test: negative

Pressure points: positive on the right in L3/4, and on the left in L4/5



Additional information on our clinic’s medical examination

・Daily activities

He had a numb sensation in the right knee.

It hurt when going downstairs.

Images and findings

  • L2/3, 3/4, 4/5 – disc degeneration, protrusion
  • L3/4 – facet joint inflammation

 The above was also observed on the imaging.

・L2/3, 3/4, 4/5 – disc degeneration, protrusion, and compression of the spinal canal

are highly likely to be the cause of the symptoms, which are more pronounced on the right side.

Treatment

After consulting with the patient, the Cellgel method was performed on L2/3, 3/4, and 4/5.

The treatment was performed by Dr. Maruyama.

     This is an image after the injection of DiscoGel.

After resting in the recovery room, the patient was able to walk home by himself.

Our clinic’s treatment method

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