Column Treatment Case Report No.100 ｜ ILC International Lumbago Clinic (Nagoya Clinic)
October 22, 2026
The patient
A male patient in his 60s.
The Patient’s Medical History to Date
Three years ago, he suddenly experienced severe pain that made it difficult for him to walk, so he visited an orthopedic clinic. He subsequently attended a clinic specializing in lower back pain and did stretching sessions approximately 10 times, which somewhat improved his symptoms. Numbness developed after he started wearing shoes with a narrow fit. The patient visited our clinic seeking to improve symptoms.
Pre-treatment symptoms
・Pain levels before treatment
| Lower back | Lower limbs | Numbness | Buttocks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pain level | 6 | 3 | 6 | 7 |
No pain at all is rated as 0, and the maximum possible pain is rated as 10.
Main areas of pain and numbness: numbness in the outer side of the left thigh; numbness from the outer side of both calves to the soles of both feet.
Bending forward: nothing unusual
Bending backward: nothing unusual
Lasegue test: negative
Point of tenderness: negative
Intermittent claudication: negative
Additional explanations on our clinic’s medical examination
・Daily activities
Desk-based work, gym workouts, and walking.
Imaging and findings
L1/2: nothing unusual
L2/3: nothing unusual
L3/4: Annular tear
L4/5: Disc degeneration, bulging, annular tear, bilateral foraminal stenosis
L5/S: Disc degeneration, bulging
The above findings were also observed on the imaging.
Degeneration, bulging, annular tear, and bilateral foraminal stenosis were observed at L4/5 and 5/S, and these are highly likely to be the cause of the main symptoms.
Treatment
After consulting with the patient, the Cellgel Method was performed on L4/5 and 5/S.
The treatment was performed by Dr. Ban.
This image shows the area after DiscoGel was injected.
The procedure took approximately 20 minutes to complete.
After resting in the recovery room, the patient walked out of the clinic on his own.
Our Clinics’ Treatment
Here is supplementary information about the Cellgel Method introduced in this case.
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
