Column Treatment Case Report No.258 ｜ ILC International Lumbago Clinic (Tokyo Clinic)
October 21, 2026
The patient
A female patient in her 80s.
The patient’s medical history to date
The patient had been experiencing lower back pain for the past three to four years. Over the past year, her lower back pain in the mornings had become particularly severe.
She visited an orthopedic clinic, where she was only given medicated patches.
Although she was told that her condition had improved based on X-ray findings, her symptoms remained unchanged.
She visited our clinic because she wanted to improve her symptoms.
Pre-treatment symptoms
・Pain levels before treatment
| Lower back | Lower limbs | Numbness | Buttocks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pain level | 7 | 6 | 3 | 7 |
No pain at all is rated as 0, and the maximum possible pain is rated as 10.
Main areas of pain: lower back pain, pain in the front of the area around the left hip joint.
Bending forward: no change
Bending backward: increased pain
Lasegue test: negative
Point of tenderness: across the lower back, more pronounced on the left, and around the left superior cluneal nerve region
Intermittent claudication: Able to walk more than 500 m
Additional explanations on our clinic’s medical examination
・Daily activities
When bending forward to pick up something, or when standing up from a low position.
Imaging and findings
- L4/5: Spinal canal stenosis
- L1/2 and L5/S: Disc degeneration
The above findings were also observed on the imaging.
・The spinal canal stenosis at L4/5 is highly likely to be the cause of the main symptoms.
Treatment
After consulting with the patient, the Cellgel Method was performed on L1/2, 4/5 and 5/s.
The treatment was performed by our administrative director, Dr. Minowa.
This image shows the area after DiscoGel was injected.
The procedure took approximately 20 minutes to complete.
After resting in the recovery room, the patient walked out of the clinic on her own.
Our Clinics’ Treatment
Here is supplementary information about the Cellgel Method introduced in this case.
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
