Column Treatment Report No.45 – ILC International Low Back Pain Clinic (Osaka) Column
July 30, 2024
The patient
A male patient in his 50s
The patient’s medical history to date
He has had back pain for a long time, but in January of this year, he started to feel numbness in his legs.
The hospital he visited diagnosed him with spinal stenosis.
He was told that it was not serious enough to require surgery, and he was put on medication and placed under observation.
He came to our clinic seeking improvement of his symptoms.
Symptoms before treatment
He had pain when changing position, back pain on the right-side, numbness in the right thumb and on the front and outer sides of both thighs, all with predominance on the right-side. He also had numbness on the outer side of the lower leg.
・Pain levels before treatment
| Lower back | Lower limbs | Numbness | Buttocks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pain level | 7 | 2 | 5 | 3 |
No pain at all is rated as 0, and the maximum possible pain is rated as 10.
Main pain area: lower back, lower limbs
Bending forward: Painful
Bending backwards: Painful
Lasegue test: Positive at 70 degrees on the right side
Pressure points: None
Coughing and sneezing: It used to hurt at the beginning of this year, but not anymore.
Additional explanation of our clinic’s medical examination
・Daily activities
Walking is fine. He does not feel any pain when lying down.
No problems when washing his face. He feels pain when he gets up in the morning.
Images and Findings
- L1/2, 2/3, 3/4, 4/5 – Intervertebral disc degeneration, protrusion
- Scoliosis
The above was also observed in the imaging.
Degeneration, protrusion, and narrowing of the intervertebral foramen at L3/4 and 4/5 were observed, and the possibility of these being the cause of the main symptoms due to nerve compression is high.
L1/2, 2/3 – Disc degeneration and protrusion were observed, and may also be the cause of the main symptoms.
Treatment
After consulting with the patient, the Cellgel method was performed on L1/2, 2/3, 3/4, and 4/5.
The treatment was performed by Dr. Maruyama.
The treatment took about 45 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
