Column Treatment report No.18: Case of a patient with pain consecutive to spinal canal stenosis surgery caused by a different disc
The patient: Male in his 70s
Treated in November, 2022. 4 months have elapsed since he received the treatment
Symptoms and treatment
The patient had herniated disc in the area indicated by the red rectangle (disc 5/s).
The findings of fissures in each of the discs indicated that a herniation had occurred in the past.
The patient had previously had a bolt placed by posterior fusion in L3/4.
Progression before treatment
Posterior fusion surgery was performed on L4/5 for spinal canal stenosis in 2008.
Around October 2022, he developed severe pain from his left hip to his lower limb.
He consulted an orthopedic surgeon who diagnosed him with a herniated disc.
Treatment
The Cellgel method was performed on disc 5/s.
Progression after treatment
The table below shows the patient’s evaluation of pain in each area on a scale of 0 to 10.
No pain at all is rated as 0, and the maximum possible pain is rated as 10.
| Lower back | Lower limbs | Numbness | Hips | |
| Before treatment | 4 | 8 | 8 | 7 |
| One week after treatment | 2 | 4 | 4 | 5 |
| 1 month after treatment | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| 3 months after treatment | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The following are extracted from the feedback from the patient when contacted for the follow-ups:
-At the one-week post-treatment follow-up, the area that was painful before treatment was becoming less painful.
-At the 1-month post-treatment follow-up, a little pain remained but had considerably improved overall.
– Now after 3 months, the pain in the lower back is back to levels before when the original symptoms appeared, and the rest of the progress is very good, of which the patient is quite content. He is now actively doing exercises such as walking lengths in a pool.
The original symptom of scoliosis pain is considered as being outside the scope of the present treatment.
As for the herniated disc, which is a symptom of L5/s, I am very happy to report that both pain and numbness from the hips to the lower limbs have completely disappeared as a result of this treatment.
We encourage the patient to continue doing exercises such as walking lengths in a pool.
* It takes about 3 weeks to 3 months to see the full effects of the treatment.
* There may be individual differences in the effects of the treatment. Please be aware that the same exact results may not be replicated depending on the patients.
Treatments at our Clinic
Here is some additional information about the Cellgel method that we have introduced here.
Cost of the Cellgel method: 1,420,000 yen per site (including tax) to 1,860,000 yen per 5 sites (including tax) .
Risks and side effects of the Cellgel method: Transient pain may occur after treatment. Nerve damage is never a zero possibility due to the very nature of the treatment, but there have been no reports of damage in either report cases or in 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 has lost its volume almost completely, it may not be possible to perform the treatment. The doctor will consult with you at the time of your visit to determine the best treatment option for your condition.
Please refer to the following links for more information on the Cellgel method:
