Column Treatment Case Report No. 139｜ ILC International Lumbago Clinic (Osaka Clinic)
May 27, 2025
The patient
A male patient in his 50s.
The patient’s medical history to date
When he was about 20 years old, the patient was sometimes unable to stand up after going to the bathroom.
Since then, he has had occasional pain in his left buttock and lower limb induced by fatigue.
4 months ago, he visited another hospital because he had lower back pain and numbness/pain in his left lower limb. He started taking medication.
Since there was no improvement, he underwent MRI and CT scan and was diagnosed with spondylolisthesis of the lumbar vertebra L5 .
He did some research on treatment with medical insurance, but since it required hospitalization, he decided to come to our hospital instead.
Symptoms before treatment
Turning over in bed: easy
Standing up: no problem
Washing one’s face: no problem
Prolonged standing and semi-crouched position: somewhat difficult
Prolonged sitting: very difficult
Lifting and carrying heavy objects: no problem
・Pain levels before treatment
| Lower back | Lower limbs | Numbness | Buttocks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pain level | 7 | 8 | 7 | 6 |
No pain at all is rated as 0, and the maximum possible pain is rated as 10.
Main areas of pain and numbness: lower back, lower limbs.
Bending forward: painful
Bending backward: no problem
Lasegue test: negative
MMT: slightly decreased in left dorsiflexion
Additional explanations on our clinic’s medical examination
Imaging and findings
- L4/5 – disc degeneration, protrusion
- L5/s – disc degeneration, disc herniation, spondylosis
The above findings were also observed on the imaging.
Findings show that the compression of the spinal canal on discs L4/5 and 5/s is the probable cause of the symptoms.
Treatment
After consulting with the patient, the Cellgel Method was performed on L4/5 and 5/s.
The treatment was performed by Dr. Maruyama.
The treatment took about 35 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
