Column Treatment Case Report No. 192｜ ILC International Lumbago Clinic (Tokyo Clinic)
February 21, 2025
The patient
A female patient in her 70s.
The patient’s medical history to date
When the patient was in her thirties, she was diagnosed with disc herniation. Since then, she has had occasional pain in her lower back.
In 2023, she suddenly developed strained back and became temporarily unable to walk. She visited an orthopedic surgeon and was diagnosed with spinal canal stenosis.
Although she was treated with medication, she began to experience numbness in her lower limbs.
The patient visited our clinic seeking to improve her symptoms.
Symptoms before treatment
・Symptoms before treatment
| Lower back | Lower limbs | Numbness | Buttocks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pain level | 4 | 2 | 6 | 4 |
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, both lower limbs.
Bending forward: no change
Bending backward: no change
Lasegue test: positive (on both sides)
Point of tenderness: spinous process of L3/4, 4/5 (on both sides)
Intermittent claudication: positive after walking for 100m or less.
Additional explanations on our clinic’s medical examination
・Daily activities
Symptoms were aggravated when the patient stooped or stood up.
Imaging and findings
- L4/5 – disc herniation
- L2/3,3/4,4/5,5/s – disc degeneration
The above findings were also observed on the imaging.
・L4/5 – disc herniation, most likely the cause of the main symptoms.
・L2/3,3/4,5/s – degeneration of the protruding disc may also be the cause of each symptom.
Treatment
After consulting with the patient, the Cellgel Method was performed on L2/3, 3/4 and 4/5.
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
