Column Treatment Case Report No. 91｜ ILC International Lumbago Clinic (Tokyo Clinic)
August 01, 2023
Patient Case
The patient
A male patient in his 60s.
The patient’s medical history to date
In 2018, the patient started to feel pain in his lower back. He consulted an orthopedic surgeon who found nothing wrong, but his condition gradually deteriorated and he began to have pain from his buttocks to his thighs area.
From 2018 onwards, he visited an orthopedic surgeon once again and was diagnosed with a small disc herniation. He had block injections, but the pain only was only relieved for one day.
He came to our clinic for treatment.
Symptoms before treatment
・Pain levels before treatment
| Lower back | Lower limbs | Numbness | Buttocks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pain level | 8 | 8 | 6 | 8 |
No pain at all is rated as 0, and the greatest possible pain is rated as 10.
Main areas of pain – lower back, from both buttocks to both toes.
Forward bending: no change.
Backward bending: no change.
Lasegue test: no change.
Point of tenderness: none.
Additional explanations on our clinic’s medical examination
・Daily activities
Pain increases when standing and walking.
Symptoms of intermittent claudication occur after walking about 500 m.
Imaging and findings
- L4/5 – spinal canal stenosis
- L4/5 – disc degeneration
- L3/4, 5/s – mild disc degeneration
The above findings were also observed on the imaging.
・L3/4, 5/s – mild disc degeneration, from a preventative perspective.
・L4/5 – spinal canal stenosis, which is a probable cause of the pain and numbness
Based on the examination and imaging findings, we proposed the above treatment.
Treatment
The Cellgel Method was performed on discs L3/4, 4/5, and 5/s.
The treatment was performed by our administrative director, Dr. Minowa.
This is an image of the patient’s back after the Discogel injection.
The treatment took about 30 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
