Column Treatment Case Report No. 45｜ ILC International Lumbago Clinic (Tokyo Clinic)

January 25, 2023

The patient

A female patient in her 60s.

The patient’s symptoms before the treatment

• The patient began to feel pain in her lower back in the spring of 2020.

• She was diagnosed with disc herniation around December 2021.

• Around April 2022, she began to feel numbness in her left ankle, even though the pain in her lower back had somewhat improved.

• On a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being the least and 10 being the greatest pain imaginable), she reported pain at 8 in her lower back, 9 in her lower limbs, 8 in her buttocks, and 9 in numbness.

• She is able to walk for over 500m.

• Turning over in bed is not a problem. She has some difficulty in standing up, washing one’s face, sitting in a semi-crouched position, prolonged sitting, and lifting heavy objects.

Imaging and findings

• Disc herniation was observed on disc L4/5.
• Disc herniation was observed on disc L4/5.

・L3/4 – disc degeneration and foraminal stenosis in the left intervertebral foramen is present, so treatment was suggested accordingly.

・L4/5 – disc herniation was observed, and is the probable cause of the numbness in the left lower limb, so treatment was suggested accordingly.

・L5/S – disc degeneration was observed, and treatment was suggested accordingly.

Treatment

The Cellgel Method was performed on 3/4, 4/5 and 5/s.

This is an image of the patient’s back after the Discogel injection.

The treatment took about 25 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