Column Treatment Case Report No. 152｜ ILC International Lumbago Clinic (Osaka Clinic)
June 28, 2025
The patient
A male patient in his 50s.
The patient’s medical history to date
30 years ago, the patient was diagnosed with disc herniation, and he has been doing traction every day ever since, which had some positive effect for about the first 2 years.
Not long ago, he became unable to walk and was rushed to the emergency room.
After taking a CT and x-rays, he was told that he had disc herniation, but was only prescribed suppositories for pain relief.
The patient visited our clinic seeking to improve his symptoms.
Symptoms before treatment
Turning over in bed: somewhat difficult
Standing up: somewhat difficulty
Washing ones’s face: somewhat difficulty
Prolonged standing and semi-crouched position: very difficult
Prolonged sitting: very difficult
Lifting and carrying heavy objects: very difficult
・Pain levels before treatment
| Lower back | Lower limbs | Numbness | Buttocks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pain level | 1 | 10 | 5 | 10 |
No pain at all is rated as 0, and the maximum possible pain is rated as 10.
Main areas of pain and numbness: buttocks on the right side, lower limbs.
Additional explanations on our clinic’s medical examination
Imaging and findings
- L4/5, 5/s – disc degeneration, disc herniation, and foraminal stenosis
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 likely 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. Ohara.
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
