Column Treatment Case Report No. 74｜ ILC International Lumbago Clinic (Tokyo Clinic)
May 31, 2023
Patient case
The patient
A male patient in his 50s.
The patient’s medical history to date
In his 20’s, the patient suffered from occasional strained backs when he was practicing martial arts. He was diagnosed with disc herniation.
In 2016, he started to have pain up to his whole back.
Currently, he has had block injections and muscle exercises, but still has numbness in his lower left limb, so he decided to come to our clinic.
Symptoms before treatment
・Pain levels before treatment
| Lower back | Lower limbs | Numbness | Buttocks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pain level | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
No pain at all is rated as 0, and the maximum possible pain is rated as 10.
Main areas of pain and numbness: lower back, left lower limb.
Bending forward: no change
Bending backward: no change
Lasegue test: pain occurs at an 80-degree angle.
Point of tenderness: none
Additional explanations on our clinic’s medical examination
・Daily activities
Somewhat difficult when washing one’s face, sitting in a semi-crouched position, and prolonged sitting.
Pain occurs in the legs on a daily basis.
The patient’s ability to walk is unaffected.
Imaging and findings
- L5/s – disc herniation on the left side
- L1/2, 2/3, 3/4, 4/5, 5/s – disc degeneration
The above findings were also observed on the imaging.
・L5/s- disc herniation on the left side was observed, and is the probable cause of the pain and numbness.
Based on the examination and imaging findings, we proposed the above treatment.
Treatment
The cellgel procedure was performed on disc L5/s.
The treatment was performed by our administrative director.
This is an image of the patient’s back after the Discogel injection.
The treatment took about 15 minutes.
After resting in the recovery room, the patient was able to walk home by himself.
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
