Column Treatment Case Report No. 107｜ ILC International Lumbago Clinic (Tokyo Clinic)
October 06, 2023
Patient case
The patient
A male patient in his 50s, who came from Hong Kong.
The patient’s medical history to date
10 years ago, while exercising, the patient’s right leg suddenly became painful and he was unable to stand up.
He went to a nearby hospital and was diagnosed with disc herniation.
Currently, symptoms are worsening. Whenever he has pain, he gets massages at an osteopathic clinic and monitors his condition.
He found out about our clinic on the Internet and decided to come see us.
Symptoms before treatment
・Pain levels before treatment
| Lower back | Lower limbs | Numbness | Buttocks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pain level | 10 | 10 | 5 | 10 |
No pain at all is rated as 0, and the greatest possible pain is rated as 10.
Main pain areas – lower back, right buttock.
Forward bending: twitching in the right lower limb
Backward bending: twitching in the right lower limb
Lasegue test: no change
Tenderness: none
Additional explanations on our clinic’s medical examination
・Daily activities
Pain is present in all of the patient’s activities except when lying down, which interferes with his daily activities.
The patient has walking difficulties.
Imaging and findings
- L4/5, 5/s – disc degeneration
- L4/5, 5/s – disc herniation
The above findings were also observed on the imaging.
・L4/5, 5/s- herniation on the right side of the disc was observed, and may be the cause of the pain and numbness.
Based on the examination and imaging findings, we proposed the above treatment.
Treatment
After consultation with the patient, the Cellgel method was performed on L4/5 and 5/s.
The treatment was performed by our administrative director, Dr. Minowa.
This is an image after the injection of the Discogel into the intervertebral disc.
The image below shows the treatment in progress.
This is a shot of the preparation stage before inserting the Discogel needle into the intervertebral disc.
The treatment was completed in about 25 minutes.
After resting in the recovery room, the patient was able to walk home by herself.
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
