Column Treatment Case Report No. 52｜ ILC International Lumbago Clinic (Tokyo Clinic)
February 27, 2023
The case of a patient who began to have pain in her lower limbs 5 years ago and experienced difficulty walking as a result.
The patient
A female patient in her 70s.
The patient’s medical history to date
The patient started experiencing pain and a dull sensation in her left lower limb five years ago. Later, she began to have difficulty walking.
When pain also appeared in her right lower limb, she visited an orthopedic surgeon, who diagnosed her with spinal canal stenosis.
She was treated with electric therapy, but stopped coming to the hospital due to the COVID epidemics, and then she decided to come to our clinic.
Symptoms before treatment
The patient was able to walk up to 150 m.
After walking more than 50 meters, symptoms such as a sensation of heat and numbness in the lower limbs began to appear.
・Pain levels before treatment
| Lower back | Lower limbs | Numbness | Buttocks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pain level | 2 | 8 | 3 | 8 |
No pain at all is rated as 0, and the maximum possible pain is rated as 10.
・Daily activities
Lifting heavy objects and hanging laundry on the line is very difficult. Some difficulty in standing up, sitting in a mid-crouched position, and prolonged sitting.
Imaging and findings
- L1/2, 2/3, 3/4, 4/5, 5/s – disc degeneration
- L4/5 – spinal stenosis caused by anterolisthesis in L4
- L5/s – disc herniation
・L3/4 – since cracks were observed in the disc, preventive treatment to avoid symptoms of disc herniation in the future.
・L4/5 – spinal canal stenosis was observed, and may be the probable cause of the symptoms in the lower limbs and difficulty in walking.
・L5/s – disc herniation in the midline towards the left, which may be a probable cause of the pain in the left lower limb.
Based on the examination and imaging findings, we proposed the above treatment.
Treatment
The Cellgel Method was performed on L1/2, 2/3, 3/4, 4/5 and 5/s.
We also performed the cellgel Method on L1/2 and L2/3 at the patient’s request.
This is an image of the patient’s back after the Discogel injection.
The treatment was completed without any pain.
The treatment took about 35 minutes.
After resting in the recovery room, the patient was able to walk home by herself.
We are proud to announce that we will soon open a rehabilitation facility in the vicinity of Tokyo Station.
We plan to publish more detailed information in a separate article.
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
