Column Case Report No.153 | ILC International Low Back Pain Clinic (Tokyo) Column
June 12, 2024
The patient
A male patient in his 70s.
The patient’s medical history to date
He first developed a strained back around the age of 35. It got better over time, but he continued to suffer from repeated bouts of strained back pain after that.
In 2023, he was practicing golf when he suddenly felt numbness in his lower limbs.
He visited his local orthopedic clinic, where he was diagnosed with spinal stenosis. Painkillers did not agree with his body, so he was unable to take them.
He visited our clinic seeking to improve his symptoms.
Symptoms before treatment
・Pain levels before treatment
| Lower back | Lower limbs | Numbness | Buttocks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pain level | 3 | 2 | 7 | 6 |
We rate pain from 0 (no pain at all) to 10 (worst possible pain).
Main areas of pain – lower back, both lower limbs
Forward bending: no change
Backward bending: numbness occurs
Lasegue test: positive, numbness occurs after 50 degrees of bending forward.
Pressure pain: none
Intermittent claudication: None
Additional explanation on our clinic’s medical examination
・Daily activities
The numbness symptoms are most present when waking up and in the morning.
The patient feels numbness throughout the day, but it is at a level that he can manage in his everyday life.
Images and findings
- L1/2, 2/3, 3/4, 4/5, 5/s-disc degeneration
- L4/5 – Disc herniation
- L4/5 – Spinal canal stenosis
The above was also observed on the imaging.
・L4/5 – Disc herniation and spinal canal stenosis were observed, and the possibility of being the cause of the main symptoms is very high.
・L3/4, 5/s – Disc protrusion was observed, and from both the perspective of symptom improvement and prevention.
Treatment
After consulting with the patient, the Cellgel method was performed on L3/4, 4/5, and 5/s
The treatment was performed by Director Minowa.
This is an image of the Discogel after injection.
The treatment took about 20 minutes to complete
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
