Column Treatment Progress Report No.144: a Patient Who Had Yet to Visit an Orthopedic Clinic
December 2, 2024
The patient
A male patient in his 40s
Treated in November 2023. Approximately 12 months have passed since treatment.
Symptoms and treatments
This patient had degenerative disc disease in the areas indicated by the red frames (L2/3, 3/4, 4/5).
Pre-treatment medical history and treatments
The patient had been suffering from lower back and leg pain for 20 years.
He had been to a chiropractor but had never consulted an orthopedic surgeon.
The patient visited our clinic because of the persistent pain that would not improve.
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 | 9 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 week after treatment | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 month after treatment | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 months after treatment | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 months after treatment | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The following is feedback from the patient when contacted for follow-up.
After 1 week, the pain and numbness had disappeared. Recently, It feels as if my lower back was being stretched.
After 1 month, the pain had disappeared altogether.
After 3 months, there was no worsening of the symptoms and he was able to live his daily life without any problems.
After 6 months, he was elated that the pain had disappeared regardless of what activity he was doing.
In this case, the main symptom was thought to be stenosis of the intervertebral foramen caused by intervertebral disc degeneration.
As he had not visited an orthopedic clinic before, it is difficult to say for sure, but it is thought that the immediate effect of the block injection led to the disappearance of the symptoms at an early stage.
In this case, it may also be possible that the therapeutic effect of the block injection was at first more effective than that of the Cellgel Method. Looking at the long term, we think that the combined therapeutic effect of the Cellgel method will have a synergistic effect.
* 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
