Column Treatment Progress Report No. 105: a Patient Whose Symptoms Improved 6 Months After Treatment
March 27, 2024
The patient
A female patient in her 70s.
Treated in May 2023, approximately 10 months have passed since the treatment.
Symptoms and treatments
This patient had disc herniation at the points indicated by the red frames (L4/5, 5/s).
Pre-treatment medical history and treatments
In January 2023, after carrying heavy luggage and driving for quite some time, her lower back and hip joints began to hurt. She visited a nearby orthopedic clinic and was diagnosed with disc herniation.
Although the pain improved slightly after taking medication, numbness remained.
The patient visited our hospital 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 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 2 |
| 1 week after treatment | 4 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| 1 month after treatment | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 3 months after treatment | 2 | 5 | 5 | 4 |
| 6 months after treatment | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The following is feedback from the patient when contacted for follow-up.
One week after treatment, pain was still present from the lower back to the buttocks.
After 1 month, she felt numbness in the shin of her right leg.
After 3 months, the numbness in her right leg remained. She felt a little pain from her lower back to her legs.
After 6 months, her symptoms had improved greatly. The pain in her lower back when she woke up in the morning was the worst pain she felt during the day, but it got better as she moved around.
In this case, the cause of the patient’s symptoms was thought to have been disc herniation in L4/5 and 5/s.
The reason for the pain when waking up is due to poor blood flow. Moving the body improves blood flow and gradually relieves the pain.
It is somewhat difficult to improve blood flow while sleeping, but doing stretches when you wake up can be very effective.
* 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
