Column Case Report No.164 | ILC International Low Back Pain Clinic (Tokyo) Column
August 26, 2024
The patient
A male patient in his 20s
The patient’s medical history to date
He began to feel lower back pain while practicing judo in junior high school. He visited an orthopedic clinic and was diagnosed with spondylolysis.
If he had left the pain untreated without undergoing rehabilitation, etc., the pain would have become more severe in high school.
He came to our clinic to undergo treatment.
The patient’s symptoms before treatment
・Pain levels before treatment
| Lower back | Lower limbs | Numbness | Buttocks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pain level | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 |
No pain at all is rated as 0 and the maximum possible pain as 10.
Main areas of pain: lower back
Bending forward: pain in the lower back
Bending backwards: more pain in the lower back than if bending forwards
Lasegue test: positive, 45 degrees on the right, 50 degrees on the left
Tenderness point: right L4/5, left L5/S
Intermittent claudication: none
Additional information on our clinic’s medical examination
・Daily activities
The pain becomes stronger when bending over or standing up after sitting for a long time.
Images and findings
- L3/4, 5/s – Intervertebral disc degeneration
- L5/s – Spondylolisthesis
- L3/4 – Findings of a crack
The above was also observed on the imaging.
・L3/4, 5/s – Intervertebral disc degeneration is likely to be the cause of the main symptoms
Treatment
After consulting with the patient, the Cellgel method was performed on L3/4 and 5/s.
The treatment was performed by Director Minowa.
This is an image of the patient after the Discogel was injected.
The treatment took about 30 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
