Column Treatment Case Report No. 186｜ ILC International Lumbago Clinic (Tokyo Clinic)
January 08, 2025
The patient
A female patient in her 50s.
The patient’s medical history to date
The patient first had a strained back around 30 years ago. Since then, she has had two more episodes of strained back.
3 years ago, she fell on her buttock, and since then she has felt pain in her buttock area.
In December 2024, she began feeling more symptoms in her buttocks and knees than usual. She visited a local orthopedist and was put under observation with rehabilitation and medication, but eventually decided to come to our clinic for improvement of her symptoms.
Symptoms before treatment
・Pain levels before treatment
| Lower back | Lower limbs | Numbness | Buttocks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pain level | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 |
No pain at all is rated as 0, and the maximum possible pain is rated as 10.
Main area of pain and numbness: from the lower back to the lower limbs
Forward bending: tightness in the right lower limb
Bending backward: no change
Lasegue test: negative
Point of tenderness: 4/5 on the rightside, 3/4 on the left side
Intermittent claudication: none
Additional explanations on our clinic’s medical examination
・Daily activities
Aggravation at the beginning of any movement or when going up and down stairs.
Imaging and findings
- L3/4 – Spinal canal stenosis
- L2/3, 3/4, 4/5 – disc degeneration
The above findings were also observed on the imaging.
・L3/4-Spinal canal stenosis was observed and is considered the most likely cause of the main symptoms.
・L2/3,4/5 – Intervertebral disc degeneration, which may also be the cause of the main symptoms.
Treatment
After consulting with the patient, the Cellgel Method was performed on L2/3, 3/4 and 4/5.
The treatment was performed by our administrative director, Dr. Minowa.
This is an image of the patient’s back after the Discogel injection.
The treatment took about 25 minutes.
After resting in the recovery room, the patient was able to walk home by herself.
Our clinic’s treatment method
Additional information about the Cellgel method we have introduced in this column.
Cost of the Cellgel method: 1,320,000 yen per area (including tax) to 1,760,000 yen per 5 areas (including tax)
Risks and side effects of the Cellgel method: Transient pain may occur after treatment. Nerve damage is not a zero possibility due to the very nature of the treatment, but there have been no reports of damage so far in either report cases or publications. There is a very small possibility of allergic reactions to local anesthetics. 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 retracts the surrounding tissues. In addition, if the disc is almost completely collapsed, treatment may be difficult. The doctor hold a consultation with you during your visit to the clinic to determine the best treatment option for your condition.
For more detailed information, please refer to the following links:
Blog page explaining the Cellgel method in an easy-to-understand manner
The Cellgel method on our treatment methods page
This article was written by the Administrative Director of our clinic
