Column Treatment Case Report No. 56｜ ILC International Lumbago Clinic (Nagoya Clinic)
April 30, 2026
The patient
A male patient in his 60s.
The patient’s medical history to date
In his 50s, the patient suddenly became unable to move while walking at work due to an acute episode of a strained back. In September 2025, he experienced pain in his right lower limb, which improved with nerve block injections. However, in February 2026, severe pain and numbness radiating from his buttocks down to his left lower limb made walking difficult. This time, nerve block injections provided no relief.
Pre-treatment symptoms
・Pain levels before treatment
| Lower back | Lower limbs | Numbness | Buttocks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pain level | 1 | 7 | 8 | 7 |
No pain at all is rated as 0, and the maximum possible pain is rated as 10.
Main areas of pain and numbness: numbness on the posterior (dorsal) side of the left lower limb, left sole pain, and left buttocks pain.
Bending forward: icreased left buttock pain
Bending backward: increased left buttock pain
Lasegue test: positive
Point of tenderness: present at L5/S, superior cluneal nerve, and sciatic nerve, all on the left side
Intermittent claudication: negative
Additional explanations on our clinic’s medical examination
・Daily activities
Tennis, badminton, and walking.
Imaging and findings
L1/2: No anomaly
L2/3: No anomaly
L3/4: No anomaly
L4/5: Bulging, mild disc degeneration.
L5/S: Disc degeneration, herniated disc, and left-sided foraminal stenosis.
The above findings were also observed on the imaging.
At L4/5 and L5/S1, disc bulging, disc degeneration, lumbar disc herniation, and left foraminal stenosis were considered highly likely to be the primary causes of the patient’s symptoms.
Treatment
After consulting with the patient, the Cellgel Method was performed on L4/5 and 5/s.
The treatment was performed by Dr. Ban.
This is an image of the Discogel inserted into the intervertebral disc.
The treatment took about 20 minutes.
After resting in the recovery room, the patient was able to walk home by her own means.
Our Clinics’ Treatment
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
