Column Treatment Case Report No.101 ｜ ILC International Lumbago Clinic (Nagoya Clinic)
October 26, 2026
The patient
A male patient in his 40s.
The patient’s medical history to date
At the age of 15, while active as a rugby player, he was diagnosed with a herniated disc, but his symptoms improved with rehabilitation. His lower back pain worsened from around the age of 40, and for the past 5 months he has had persistent strong pain centered on the lower back. He repeatedly has sudden pain similar to acute episodes of lower back pain (strained back) about once a month. More recently, he has gone through three to four cycles of worsening and easing symptoms.
He works in a physically demanding job and has managed to continue working by wearing a lumbar support brace.
Previously, shoulder and neck pain were his main symptoms, and these improved with acupuncture and other treatment, but his lower back pain has become stronger. He suspects that his everyday body movements and habits may be contributing to the problem.
He visited an orthopedic clinic, but only an X-ray examination was performed, and nothing unusual came up.
Pre-treatment symptoms
・Pain levels before treatment
| Lower back | Lower limbs | Numbness | Buttocks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pain level | 10 | 5 | 5 | 8 |
No pain at all is rated as 0, and the maximum possible pain is rated as 10.
Main areas of pain: Lower back, right knee, and buttocks
Bending forward: nothing unusual
Bending backward: midline of the lower back
Lasegue test: positive
Point of tenderness: both sides of L5/S
Intermittent claudication: positive
Additional explanations on our clinic’s medical examination
・Daily activities
The patient did rugby and boxing when younger and currently plays golf.
Imaging and findings
L1/2: nothing unusual
L2/3: nothing unusual
L3/4: nothing unusual
L4/5: nothing unusual
L5/S: Degenerative disc disease, mild disc herniation, annular tear
The above findings were also observed on the imaging.
Degenerative disc disease, mild disc herniation, and an annular tear are seen at L5/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 L5/S.
The treatment was performed by Dr. Ban.
This is an image of the Discogel inserted into the intervertebral disc.
The treatment took about 10 minutes.
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
