Column Treatment Progress Report no.65: A Patient Who Was Treated at Our Clinic Due to a Recurrence of Symptoms Consecutive to PLDD Performed at Another Clinic
September 04, 2023
The patient
A male patient in his 70s
Treatment in December 2022. About 8 months have passed since the treatment.
Symptoms and treatments to date
The patient exhibited disc herniation in the area indicated by the red frame (disc at L4/5 and 5/s).
Pre-treatment medical history and treatments to date
In his 40s, he was diagnosed with disc herniation and experienced symptoms of numbness in his left lower limb.
In 2005, PLDD was performed on L4/5 and symptoms improved.
In September 2022, he started to experience pain in his left lower limb. He visited an orthopedic surgeon and was diagnosed with disc herniation in L4/5.
He visited our clinic for treatment.
The patient walking ability is not impaired in any way.
Treatment
Treatment was performed using the Cellgel Method on a total of two intervertebral discs, L4/5 and 5/s.
Post-treatment progress
The following is a chart in which the patient rated the pain value of each area on a scale of 0 to 10.
No pain at all is rated as 0, and the greatest possible pain is rated as 10.
| Lower back | Lower limbs | Numbness | Buttocks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Before treatment | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 week after treatment | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 month after treatment | 1 | 5 | 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 one week, nothing had changed compared to before the treatment.
After one month, going to the bathroom after waking up is the hardest part. The pain in the lower back is now only occasional.
After 3 months, the pain had completely disappeared.
After 6 months, the patient is able to live his life symptom-free.
This patient improved following a PLDD procedure performed at another clinic, but the disc herniation recurred several years later.
It took about one month for the treatment to be effective. He has had no recurrence of symptoms so far and is now living a pain-free life. We wish that the hernia will not recur in the future.
* 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
