Column Treatment Case Report No. 50｜ ILC International Lumbago Clinic (Tokyo Clinic)
February 10, 2023
The case of a patient diagnosed with disc herniation which was compounded by physical therapy.
The patient
A male patient in his 40s.
The patient’s medical history to date
- In 2021, the patient was diagnosed with disc herniation.
- In August 2022, numbness appeared in his left lower limb. He went to physical therapy and as a result became unable to walk and developed symptoms of numbness.
- Around December 2022, his lower back became painful again after his child climbed on his body.
- On a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being minimum and 10 being maximum), the pain is 5 in the lower back, 9 in the lower limbs, 9 in the buttocks, and 7 in the numbness.
- The patient’s walking ability is restricted to under 100m.
- Washing one’s face and prolonged sitting are no problem, but turning over in bed and lifting heavy objects are very difficult. He also has some difficulty standing up.
Imaging and findings
- L4/5 and 5/s show signs of disc herniation.
・L4/5 – disc herniation on the left side was observed, and may be the probable cause of the back pain and numbness in the left lower limb, so treatment was suggested accordingly.
・L5/s – midline disc herniation on the left side was observed, and may be the probable cause of the back pain and numbness in the left lower limb, so treatment was suggested accordingly.
Treatment
The Cellgel Method was performed on L4/5 and 5/s.
This is an image of the patient’s back after the Discogel injection.
The treatment took about 40 minutes.
After resting in the recovery room, the patient was able to walk home by himself.
Snow has been forecasted in Tokyo again today.
Since many of you come from far away, please be safe and be careful when coming to our clinic in the bad weather.
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
