Column Treatment Progress Report No.147: a Patient Competing in Bench Press Competitions

December 11, 2024

The patient

A male patient in his 70s

Treated in December 2023. About 12 months have passed since the treatment

Symptoms and treatments

The patient has spinal canal stenosis in the areas indicated by the red frame (L2/3, 3/4, 4/5).

Pre-treatment medical history and treatments

The patient first felt a tingling sensation in his right toe 20 years ago.

Intermittent claudication and numbness in the right buttock developed 10 years ago.

Onset of numbness and back pain in the left buttock in 2023.

His local orthopedic surgeon recommended medical treatment and rehabilitation, and to undergo fusion surgery if the pain worsened further.

Since he saw no improvement to his condition, he decided to come to our clinic.

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.

The following is feedback from the patient when contacted for follow-up.

At the one-week follow-up, the patient experienced pain in his lower back on the night of the treatment. The next day, he still had pain, but it got better after taking painkillers.

After 1 month, his lower back felt heavy when he woke up. The pain eased once he started to move.

After 3 months, his back felt better and he could walk for a long time without any symptoms.

After 6 months, there were no symptoms remaining, but the heaviness in the lower back upon waking up was still present.

The patient’s symptoms were thought to be caused by spinal stenosis.

He is a bench press athlete and has achieved excellent results in competitions.

Even after the treatment, he was still winning competitions, which amazed us even further with the possibilities of the Cellgel Method.

This case made us consider that it may be possible for the patient to return to the lifestyle he had before his back pain by gradually getting used to his new body structure and through regular training.

* 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