Column Treatment Case Report No. 79｜ ILC International Lumbago Clinic (Nagoya Clinic)
July 30, 2026
The patient
A female patient in her 60s.
The patient’s medical history to date
Had intermittent sciatica and received symptomatic treatment. Experienced pain in 2025 and was monitored on oral medication. Around May 2026, pain intensified when lying on her side, standing, and lying flat. She usually slept on her back without turning over during sleep, but after carefully doing stretches found online before bedtime, her pain improved dramatically, almost as if it had never been there. A local clinic diagnosed her with lumbar disc herniation, spinal canal stenosis, and spondylolisthesis, recommending spinal fusion surgery. Since she was concerned about undergoing surgery she visited our clinic.
Pre-treatment symptoms
・Pain levels before treatment
| Lower back | Lower limbs | Numbness | Buttocks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pain level | 5 | 0 | 5 | 3 |
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, left leg numbness, bilateral buttocks pain
Bending forward: OK
Bending backward: pain on both sides of the lower back
Lasegue test: negative
Point of tenderness: bilateral in the sciatic nerve region
Intermittent claudication: negative
Additional explanations on our clinic’s medical examination
・Daily activities
Volleyball and stretching
Imaging and findings
- L1/2: Degeneration, disc bulging, and annular tear
- L2/3: Degeneration
- L3/4: Degeneration, disc bulging, and left foraminal stenosis
- L4/5: Degeneration, right-sided disc herniation, and bilateral foraminal stenosis
- L5/S: Degeneration, disc bulging, bilateral foraminal stenosis, and annular tear
The above findings were also observed on the imaging.
Disc degeneration, disc herniation, bilateral foraminal stenosis, and annular tears were observed at L3/4, L4/5, and L5/S. These findings were considered likely to be contributing to the patient’s main 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
