Column Case Report No. 174｜ ILC International Lumbago Clinic (Tokyo) Column
October 23, 2024
The patient
A male patient in his 60s.
The patient’s medical history to date
When he was in his 30s, he developed lower back pain and visited a nearby orthopedic clinic, where he received a nerve block injection and his condition improved. After that, he suffered frequent episodes of sudden lower back pain.
In 2022, he developed numbness in his right lower limb.
In April 2023, he had an MRI scan and was diagnosed with spinal canal stenosis. He was taking medication to see how he responded, but his condition failed to improve.
He came to our clinic seeking treatment.
Symptoms before treatment
・Pain levels before treatment
| Lower back | Lower limbs | Numbness | Buttocks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pain level | 2 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
No pain at all is rated as 0, and the maximum possible pain is rated as 10.
Main areas of pain and numbness: right lower limb
Bending backward: No change
Lasegue test: Negative
Pressure points: L4/5 and 5/s on the right side
Intermittent claudication: none
Additional explanations on our clinic’s medical examination
・Daily activities
Pain is always present.
Imaging and findings
- L4/5, 5/s – disc degeneration
The above findings were also observed on the imaging.
・Mild disc degeneration was observed at L4/5,5/s, and stenosis of the right intervertebral foramen was observed at L4/5, and a crack was observed at L5/s. There is a high possibility of L4/5 causing numbness in the right lower limb and L5/s causing frequent bouts of lower back pain.
Treatment
After consulting with the patient, the Cellgel Method was performed on L4/5 and 5/s.
The treatment was performed by Dr. Minowa.
This is an image of the patient’s back after the Discogel injection.
The treatment took about 20 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)
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
