Column Treatment Case Report No. 45｜ ILC International Lumbago Clinic (Nagoya Clinic)
March 23, 2026
The patient
A male patient in his 70s.
The patient’s medical history to date
Approximately 4–5 years ago, the patient was diagnosed with spinal canal stenosis at one level, and he also experienced pain in the thighs.
Around February this year, pain in the lower back and legs worsened. After playing golf in March, he developed difficulty walking and now uses a cane. He reports significant numbness in both lower limbs. He is currently receiving medication at another clinic.
Pre-treatment symptoms
・Pain levels before treatment
| Lower back | Lower limbs | Numbness | Buttocks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pain level | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
No pain at all is rated as 0, and the maximum possible pain is rated as 10.
Main areas of pain and numbness: bilateral lower back, anterior and posterior aspects of both lower limbs, dorsum and sole of the right foot, and bilateral buttocks.
Bending forward: pain in both calves
Bending backward: no aggravation
Lasegue test: negative
Point of tenderness: left sacroiliac joint
Intermittent claudication: negative
Additional explanations on our clinic’s medical examination
・Daily activities
Desk work.
Imaging and findings
L1/2: No abnormalities
L2/3: Disc herniation, disc degeneration
L3/4: Disc degeneration
L4/5: Disc degeneration, bilateral foraminal stenosis
L5/S: Disc degeneration, bilateral foraminal stenosis
The above findings were also observed on the imaging.
Disc herniation, disc degeneration, and bilateral foraminal stenosis at L2/3, L3/4, L4/5, and L5/S are considered highly likely to be the cause of the primary symptoms.
Treatment
After consulting with the patient, the PODD Method was performed on L2/3, 3/4, 4/5 and5/s.
The treatment was performed by Dr. Ban.
This is an image of the Discogel inserted into the intervertebral disc.
The treatment took about 40 minutes.
After resting in the recovery room, the patient was able to walk home by her own means.
Our Clinics’ Treatment
Supplemental Information about the PODD Method.
Cost:
¥330,000 (1 level, tax included) to ¥550,000 (up to 5 levels, tax included)
Cost in this case:
1 level = ¥330,000 (tax included)
There is a possibility of transient pain occurring after treatment. Due to the characteristics of the treatment, the possibility of nerve damage is not zero, but there are no reports of damage in our own cases or in medical literature. There is an extremely slight possibility of an allergic reaction to local anesthesia. Additionally, in cases where the intervertebral disc is crushed and almost gone, treatment may not be possible. Patients will consult with a doctor at the time of their visit to select a treatment method suitable for their condition.
Refer to the links below for additional information:
Our Clinic’s dedicated Page on the PODD Method
This article was written by: The Administrative Director of Our Clinic
