Column Treatment Case No.155｜ILC International Low Back Pain Clinic (Tokyo) Column
June 26, 2024
category
The patient
A male patient in his 70s
Patient’s medical history up to now
25 years ago, he underwent surgery for spinal canal stenosis.
Two weeks ago, he began to experience back pain, buttock pain, and paresthesia in the left lower limb. He also exhibited symptoms of intermittent claudication.
The patient came to our clinic to improve his symptoms.
Symptoms before treatment
・Pain levels before treatment
| Lower back | Lower limbs | Numbness | Buttocks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pain level | 8 | 7 | 7 | 8 |
No pain at all is rated as 0, and the maximum possible pain is rated as 10.
Main pain area: left hip to left lower extremity
Forward bending: mild buttock pain
Backward bending: mild buttock pain
Lasegue test: negative
Tenderness: L4/5
Intermittent claudication: present
Additional explanation of our clinic’s medical examination
・Daily activities
Pain when standing, sleeping, and sitting. In other words, the patient is in constant pain.
Imaging and findings
- L1/2,2/3,3/4,4/5,5/s – disc degeneration
- L3/4,4/5,5/s – Intervertebral foramen stenosis
- L4/5,5/s – Post decompression surgery
The above has been observed on the imaging.
L3/4,4/5,5/s – intervertebral foramen stenosis due to disc protrusion, which is the probable cause of the main symptoms.
Treatment
After consultation with the patient, the Cellgel procedure was performed on L3/4,4/5,5/s.
The treatment was performed by Dr. Kono.
The image below shows the DiscoGel after injection.
The treatment took about 15 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
