Column Case Report No. 151｜ ILC International Low Back Pain Clinic (Tokyo) Column
June 3, 2024
The patient:
A female patient in her 60s
The patient’s medical history to date
In her 20s, she developed a strain in her lower back. As it got better after about a week, she didn’t bother to go to the hospital at the time. But she strained her lower back several times after that.
In 2019, she started to experience pain in her right lower leg as well as her lower back.
In 2021, the pain gradually became stronger, and although she received block injections, she started to have difficulty standing and so decided to visit our clinic.
Symptoms before treatment
・Pain levels before treatment
| Lower back | Lower limbs | Numbness | Buttocks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pain level | 6 | 10 | 7 | 0 |
No pain at all is rated as 0, and the maximum possible pain is rated as 10.
Main pain area: lower back, left hip joint
Bending forward: No change
Bending backward: No change
Lasegue test: Negative
Pressure points: None
Intermittent claudication: She needs to take a rest every 5mn
Additional explanations on our clinic’s medical examination
・Daily activities
The pain starts when she starts walking. Recently, even standing is difficult at times.
Imaging and findings
- L3/4,4/5 – disc degeneration
The above findings were also observed on the imaging.
・L3/4,4/5 – disc degeneration was observed, and there is a high possibility that this is the cause of the main symptoms of lower back pain.
Treatment
After consulting with the patient, the Cellgel method was performed on L3/4, and 4/5.
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
