Column Treatment Case Report No. 124｜ ILC International Lumbago Clinic (Osaka Clinic)
April 08, 2025
The patient
A male patient in his 80s.
The patient’s medical history to date
3 years ago, the patient underwent surgery for spinal canal stenosis.
1 year ago, he started to have back pain predominantly on the left side of his back.
The patient came to our clinic to improve his symptoms.
Symptoms before treatment
Aggravation of the symptoms when lying on his back and when standing up.
Numbness in the right ankle joints and beyond that point.
Turning over in bed: somewhat difficult
Standing up: somewhat difficult
Washing one’s face: no problem
Prolonged standing and semi-crouched position: somewhat difficult
Prolonged sitting: no problem
Lifting and carrying heavy objects: somewhat difficult
・Pain levels before treatment
| Lower back | Lower limbs | Numbness | Buttocks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pain level | 6 | 6 | 5 | 0 |
No pain at all is rated as 0, and the maximum possible pain is rated as 10.
Main areas of pain and numbness: lower back on the left, both lower limbs.
Bending backward: no change
Bending forward: painful
Lasegue test: negative
MMT: full
Lumbar point of tenderness: L3/4 and L4/5 on the left
Additional explanations on our clinic’s medical examination
Imaging and findings
- L1/2: disc degeneration
- L2/3: disc degeneration, protrusion, postoperative disc
- L3/4: disc degeneration, bulging, postoperative herniated disc
- L4/5: disc degeneration, protrusion, degenerative spondylolisthesis, postoperative disc
- L5/s – disc herniation, spondylosis
The above findings were also observed on the imaging.
Disc findings show compression of the spinal canal in L1/2, 2/3, 3/4, 4/5, and 5/s is the probable cause of the symptoms.
Treatment
After consulting with the patient, the Cellgel Method was performed on L1/2, 2/3, 3/4, 4/5 and 5/s.
The treatment was performed by our administrative director, Dr. Kotera.
The treatment took about 40 minutes.
After resting in the recovery room, the patient was able to walk home by himself.
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)
*Cost for this particular patient’s case: Cellgel Method performed on 5 sites = 1,760,000 yen (including tax)
Risks and side effects of the Cellgel Method: transient pain may occur after treatment. Although nerve damage is not non-existent due to the very nature of the treatment, 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 aggravate 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 will discuss with the patient during their visit to the clinic to determine the best treatment option for the 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 page of our treatment
This article was written by the Administrative Director of our clinic
