Column Case Report No.149 | ILC International Low Back Pain Clinic (Tokyo) Column
May 22, 2024
The patient:
A male patient in his 70s
The patient’s medical history to date
He had been suffering from lower back pain for some time, but it got worse about 4 or 5 years ago.
It got worse even more this year. He received treatment such as block injections, but there was no improvement, so he came to our hospital for treatment.
Symptoms before treatment
・Pain levels before treatment
| Lower back | Lower limbs | Numbness | Buttocks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pain level | 9 | 8 | 9 | 3 |
No pain at all is rated as 0, and the maximum possible pain is rated as 10.
Main pain area: lower back
Forward bending: aggravation of lower back pain
Backward bending: aggravation of lower back pain
Lasegue test: positive on both sides, with stronger numbness on the right side.
Pressure point: near the spinous process of L3, 4 and 5.
Additional explanations on our clinic’s medical examination
・Daily activities
It feels worse when standing and walking.
Intermittent claudication is present, several minutes of rest are needed to resume walk.
Imaging and findings
- L1/2,2/3,3/4,4/5,5/s – degeneration of the intervertebral discs
- L2/3,3/4,4/5 – spinal canal stenosis
The above findings were also observed on the imaging.
L2/3, 3/4, 4/5 – spinal canal stenosis was observed, and there is a high possibility that this was the cause of the symptoms in the lower back and legs.
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. Kono.
This is an image of the patient’s back after the Discogel injection.
The treatment took about 15 minutes.
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
