Column Treatment Report No.157 / ILC International Low Back Pain Clinic (Tokyo) Column
July 5, 2024
The patient:
A female patient in her 60s
Patient’s medical history to date
She developed a strained back when she was in her 40s while lifting a futon, but it got better over time.
From then on, she started to have days when her back hurt. Gradually, the pain spread from her lower back to her right leg.
She visited a local orthopedic clinic where she was diagnosed with spondylolisthesis.
She visited our clinic because oral medication failed to improve her symptoms.
Symptoms before treatment
・Pain levels before treatment
| Lower back | Lower limbs | Numbness | Buttocks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pain level | 5 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
No pain at all is rated as 0, and 10 as the maximum possible pain.
Main areas of pain: right lower back, right lower limbs
Forward bending: pain in the lower back
Backward bending: Pain in the lower back
Lasegue test: negative
Tenderness: Not present
Intermittent claudication: present (after walking about 500m)
Additional information about our clinic’s medical examination
・Daily activities
She is in constant pain, but it increases when she raises her right leg, for example when going upstairs.
Images and Findings
- L3/4 – Spinal canal stenosis
- L3/4, 4/5 – Degenerative Disc Disease
- L3 – Anterolisthesis
The above is also confirmed by the imaging.
・L3/4 – Narrowing of the spinal canal associated with spondylolisthesis is observed, and is highly likely to be the cause of the main symptoms.
・Protrusion due to disc degeneration in L5/S has been observed, which may be another cause of the symptoms.
Treatment
After consulting with the patient, the cellgel method was performed on L3/4 and 4/5.
The treatment was performed by Director Minowa.
This is an image of the patient’s back after injection of the Discogel.
The treatment took about 20 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
