Column Treatment Case Report No. 63｜ ILC International Lumbago Clinic (Nagoya Clinic)
May 28, 2026
The patient
A male patient in his 70s.
The patient’s medical history to date
Until recently, the patient was able to play golf without experiencing any pain. However, around December of last year, he began feeling some pain when standing up after sitting for an extended period. This progressed into a sharp, shooting pain radiating from his lower back and buttocks down to both calves. The pain worsens upon standing up and walking; at its worst, walking even two or three steps becomes severely distressing. He was diagnosed with lumbar disc herniation at a local clinic and prescribed painkillers, which provided no relief. While he feels no pain while sitting, the pain consistently triggers when standing up and attempting to walk after prolonged sitting.
Pre-treatment symptoms
・Pain levels before treatment
| Lower back | Lower limbs | Numbness | Buttocks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pain level | 7 | 9 | 0 | 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 pain, bilateral posterior lower limb pain, and bilateral buttock pain.
Bending forward: no aggravation
Bending backward: pain in the posterior aspect of both thighs
Lasegue test: negative
Point of tenderness: negative
Intermittent claudication: positive
Click here for additional explanations on our clinic’s medical examination
・Daily activities
The patient enjoys playing golf and bowling.
Imaging and findings
L1/2: No remarkable findings.
L2/3: Disc degeneration, bulging.
L3/4: Disc degeneration, bulging.
L4/5: Disc degeneration, bulging, disc herniation, spinal canal stenosis, bilateral foraminal stenosis, and Schmorl’s nodes.
L5/S: Disc degeneration, bulging.
The above findings were also observed on the imaging.
Pathological findings including degeneration, bulging, herniation, spinal canal stenosis, bilateral foraminal stenosis, and Schmorl’s nodes across L2/3, L3/4, L4/5, and L5/S were identified as the highly likely causes of his primary symptoms.
Treatment
After consulting with the patient, the Cellgel Method was performed on L3/4, 4/5 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 30 minutes.
After resting in the recovery room, the patient was able to walk home by his 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
