Column Treatment Case Report No. 82｜ ILC International Lumbago Clinic (Nagoya Clinic)
2026.08.13
The patient
A male patient in his 60s.
The patient’s medical history to date
The patient first experienced an episode of acute low back pain while bending forward in his 30s. Since then, he has experienced repeated episodes of acute low back pain.
Around the age of 60, he began experiencing dizziness. Because he could not predict when the dizziness would occur, he stopped walking regularly. He believes that this decrease in physical activity may have contributed to the worsening of his low back pain.
Approximately 5–6 years ago, he visited another hospital, where he was advised to undergo a surgical procedure to remove the intervertebral discs entirely.
Pre-treatment symptoms
・Pain levels before treatment
| Lower back | Lower limbs | Numbness | Buttocks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pain level | 7 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
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 buttocks pain
Bending forward: no issue
Bending backward: no issue
Lasegue test: negative
Point of tenderness: negative
Intermittent claudication: negative
Additional explanations on our clinic’s medical examination
・Daily activities
Swimming, Judo, Softball, Indiaca (in younger years)
Imaging and findings
- L1/2: Degenerative disc changes, left-sided disc herniation, annular tear
- L2/3: Degenerative disc changes, disc bulging, right foraminal stenosis
- L3/4: Degenerative disc changes, disc bulging, right facet joint cyst
- L4/5: Degenerative disc changes, disc bulging, reduced disc height
- L5/S: Degenerative disc changes, disc herniation, annular tear
The above findings were also observed on the imaging.
At L1/2, L2/3, L3/4, L4/5, and L5/S, degenerative disc changes, disc bulging, foraminal stenosis, facet joint cysts, and annular tears were identified. These findings are considered likely to be contributing to the patient’s main symptoms.
Treatment
After consulting with the patient, the Cellgel Method was performed on L1/2, 2/3, 3/4, 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 50 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
