Column Treatment Report No 111: a Patient Whose Sciatic Nerve Symptoms are Lingering Slightly
2024.05.08
The patient
A female patient in her 60s.
Treated in June 2023. Approximately 10 months have passed since treatment.
Symptoms and treatment
This patient had disc herniation at the site indicated by the red frame (L4/5).
In addition, L3/5 and 5/s showed stenosis of the intervertebral foramen due to disc degeneration.
Pre-treatment medical history and treatments
In her 30’s, she had her first strained back, and since then, she has had another strained back only once.
Two years ago, she started going to the gym, but her back began to feel increasingly heavy.
One day she became unable to move and visited her local orthopedic doctor, who diagnosed her with osteoarthritis of the lower back.
The patient visited our clinic seeking to improve her symptoms.
Post-treatment progress
The table below shows the results of the patient’s own evaluation of the pain in each body site on a scale of 0 to 10.
No pain at all is rated as 0 and 10 as the maximum possible pain.
| Lower back | Lower limbs | Numbness | Buttocks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Before treatment | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| 1 week after treatment | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 month after treatment | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 3 months after treatment | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 6 months after treatment | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
The following is feedback from the patient when contacted for the follow-up.
After 1 week, there were moments of pain in the lower back depending on the movements made.
After 1 month, symptoms of sciatic neuralgia appeared. The pain was not so severe.
After 3 months, daily life was fine, but pain occured after exercising.
After six months, the patient experienced some pain because of the cold weather.
This patient was thought to have disc herniation disc in L4/5.
The herniation of L4/5 is in the midline and is a relatively large category. The patient’s symptoms may have improved only for a short period of time after the treatment, due to the same effect as blocked injections for a week or two.
Because the hernia was large, it took time for the Cellgel method to take effect, but the symptoms improved after about the 3 month mark.
Since there is no problem in her daily life, we instructed her not to overdo the exercise.
* It takes about 3 weeks to 3 months to see the full effects of the treatment.
* Effects in the treatment may vary according to individual differences. Please be aware that there is a possibility that the exact same effects may not be replicated every time.
Our clinic’s treatment method
Here is some additional information about the Cellgel method that we have presented here.
Cost of the Cellgel method: 1,320,000 yen per site (including tax) to 1,760,000 yen for 5 sites (including tax)
Cost for this patient’s case: Cellgel performed in 2 areas = 1,430,000 yen (including tax)
Risks and side effects of the Cellgel method: Transient pain may occur after treatment. Due to the very nature of the treatment, the possibility of nerve damage is not zero, but so far there have been no reports of damage in either reported cases or publications. There is a very small possibility of allergic reactions to the local anesthetic. 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 pulls in the surrounding tissues. Also, if the disc is almost completely worn out, it may not be possible to treat it. The doctor will consult with you during your visit to determine the best treatment option for your condition.
For more detailed information, please refer to the following links:
Column page explaining the Cellgel method in an easy-to-understand manner
Page of the Cellgel procedure at our clinic
This article was written by the administrative Director of our clinic
