Column Treatment Progress Report No. 97: a Patient Who was Diagnosed with Disc Herniation on a Different Vertebra After Getting Spinal Canal Stenosis Surgery
February 16, 2024
The patient
A female patient in her 80s.
Treated in April 2023. Approximately 10 months have passed since treatment.
Symptoms and treatments
This patient had disc degeneration in the areas indicated by the red frame (L4/5).
Anterolisthesis was also observed in L5.
Pre-treatment medical history and treatments
Around 2000, the patient was surgically treated for spinal canal stenosis. Post-operative recovery was satisfactory.
In March 2023, the patient’s back began to hurt after receiving a massage, and she found it difficult to walk.
She visited a local orthopedic clinic, where she was diagnosed with spinal stenosis.
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 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 4 |
| 1 week after treatment | 0 | 6 | 0 | 5 |
| 1 month after treatment | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 months after treatment | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 months after treatment | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The following is feedback from the patient when contacted for follow-up.
After one week, the base of her right foot was painful. She felt that the symptoms were reduced when going up and down stairs.
After one month, she was overjoyed to find that she had no symptoms left at all.
After 3 months, she still had no pain at all.
After 6 months, she sometimes felt pain when getting up from a chair.
In this case, the main symptoms were thought to be caused by disc herniation at L4/5.
The patient was also actively involved in rehabilitation after treatment, such as underwater walking.
Although the discs other than the one treated have also degenerated, we think this is merely due to the eefects of age. As there were no fractures in the vertebrae themselves, we think the patient will be able to lead a better life from now on.
* It takes approximately 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
