Column Treatment Case Report No. 202｜ ILC International Lumbago Clinic (Tokyo Clinic)
April 23, 2025
The patient
A male patient in his 30s.
The patient’s medical history to date
In 2022, the patient suddenly experienced lower back pain during a muscle training session. Since then, he has been experiencing lower back pain and tightness in his muscles.
He visited a local orthopedist and was diagnosed with disc herniation. At the same time, he also developed a strained back.
In 2023, he started to experience pain from his right buttock to his right lower limb.
The patient came to our clinic to improve his symptoms.
Symptoms before treatment
・Pain levels before treatment
| Lower back | Lower limbs | Numbness | Buttocks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pain level | 5 | 7 | 7 | 3 |
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, right lower limb.
Bending forward: sensation of muscle tightness
Bending backward: no change
Lasegue test: negative
Point of tenderness: none
Intermittent claudication: negative
Additional explanations on our clinic’s medical examination
・Daily activities
The patient’s condition is aggravated when standing up.
Imaging and findings
- L3/4,5/s – disc degeneration
- L5/s – suspected rupture of the annulus fibrosus
The above findings were also observed on the imaging.
・L5/s – suspected disc degeneration and rupture of the annulus fibrosus. Probable cause of the strained back and low back pain.
Treatment
After consulting with the patient, the Cellgel Method was performed on L5/s.
The treatment was performed by Dr. Suematsu.
This is an image of the patient’s back after the Discogel injection.
The treatment took about 30 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
