Column Treatment Case Report No. 191｜ ILC International Lumbago Clinic (Tokyo Clinic)
February 17, 2025
The patient
A male patient in his 30s.
The patient’s medical history to date
The patient started to feel pain in the lower back when he was in high school.
In 2017, he gradually became unable to move after playing sports. He visited a local orthopedist and was diagnosed with disc herniation, and was given medication and told to monitor his condition.
In 2021, he was told by his doctor that his herniated disc had worsened on the imaging and was recommended to undergo laser treatment, which he declined.
He came to our clinic because of the lack of improvement in his condition after that.
Symptoms before treatment
・Pain level before treatment
| Lower back | Lower limbs | Numbness | Buttocks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pain level | 7 | 5 | 4 | 6 |
No pain at all is rated as 0, and the greatest possible pain is rated as 10.
Main area of pain – lower back
Forward bending: no change
Backward bending: no change
Lasegue test: negative
Point of tenderness: L4/5 on both sides
Intermittent claudication: negative
Additional explanations on our clinic’s medical examination
・Daily activities
Symptoms are aggravated when stooping.
Imaging and findings
- L3/4,5/s – disc herniation
- L3/4,4/5,5/s – disc degeneration
The above findings were also observed on the imaging.
・L3/4,5/s – herniated discs, most likely the cause of the main symptoms.
・L4/5s – intervertebral foramen stenosis due to disc protrusion, which may also be causing the symptoms.
Treatment
After consultation with the patient, the Cellgel procedure was performed on L3/4, 4/5, and 5/s.
The treatment was performed by our administrative director, Dr. Minowa.
This is an image of the patient’s back after the Discogel injection.
The treatment took about 20 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
