Column Treatment Case Report No. 208｜ ILC International Lumbago Clinic (Tokyo Clinic)
May 30, 2025
The patient
A male patient in his 40s.
The patient’s medical history to date
In his 20’s, the patient started experiencing a strained back about once every two years.
In 2024, he developed a strained back once again and was rushed to the emergency room. He was given medication, rehabilitation, and massage.
Currently, his symptoms are down to about 1/3 of what they used to be, still he decided to come to our clinic to improve his condition.
Symptoms before treatment
・Pain levels before treatment
| Lower back | Lower limbs | Numbness | Buttocks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pain level | 5 | 10 | 8 | 10 |
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 on the left side, right lower limb.
Bending forward: pain in the right buttock
Bending backward : pain in the right buttock
Lasegue test: positive – pain in the right lower limb at an angle of 30 degrees
Point of tenderness: on the right side of disc L4,5
Intermittent claudication: negative
Additional explanations on our clinic’s medical examination
・Daily activities
Symptoms aggravated by sitting or leaning forward.
Imaging and findings
- L3/4,4/5,5/s – disc degeneration
- L5/s – disc herniation
The above findings were also observed on the imaging.
・L5/s – disc herniation is the most probable cause of the main symptoms.
Treatment
After consulting with the patient, the Cellgel Method was performed on L3/4, 4/5 and 5/s.
The treatment was performed by Dr. Iwasaki.
This is an image of the patient’s back after the Discogel injection.
The treatment took about 30 minutes.
Although the patient experienced pain during the treatment, he was able to walk home after taking a break in the recovery room.
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
