Column Case Report No. 170｜ ILC International Low Back Pain Clinic (Tokyo) Column
September, 30 2024.09.30
Patient’s Case Report
The patient
A male patient in his 30s from the USA.
The patient’s medical history to date
In 2008, while sitting down, he felt a pain in the side of his lower back as he tried to reach for something. He visited a local hospital and was given medication and told to see how it evolved. Since then, he has had around 10 episodes of sudden lower back pain.
He was diagnosed with disc herniation when he went a different orthopedic clinic. He was advised to stretch and do rehabilitation, and observe the evolution, or to have surgery with a fusion procedure.
Since he could not get himself to do surgery, he decided to come to our clinic for treatment instead.
Symptoms before treatment
・Pain levels before treatment
| Lower back | Lower limbs | Numbness | Buttocks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pain level | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
No pain at all is rated as 0, and the maximum possible pain is rated as 10.
Main pain area: lower back.
Main areas of pain – Lower back
Forward bending: slight lower back pain
Backward bending: slight lower back pain
Lasegue test: negative result
Pressure pain: none detected
Intermittent claudication: none detected
Additional explanations on our clinic’s medical examination
・Symptoms worsen when sitting or standing for long periods of time.
Walking ability is not impaired.
Imaging and findings
- L5/s – disc degeneration
The above findings were also observed on the imaging.
・L5/s – disc degeneration and a crack on the right side were observed, and these findings are highly likely to be the cause of the main symptoms and repeated bouts of sudden low back pain.
Treatment
After consulting with the patient, the Cellgel method was performed on L5/s.
The treatment was carried out by Director Minowa.
This is an image of the Discogel being injected.
The treatment took about 15 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
