Column Treatment Case Report No. 94｜ ILC International Lumbago Clinic (Tokyo Clinic)
August 14, 2023
Patient case
The patient
A female patient in her 60s.
The patient’s medical history to date
In her 40’s, the patient suffered from back strain about 4 to 5 times.
In August 2022, she felt discomfort in her lower back when carrying a bag of rice, and a few days later, she felt severe pain in her right lower limb.
She consulted an orthopedic surgeon and was diagnosed with disc herniation. After taking medication and undergoing rehabilitation, she stopped coming to the hospital after feeling a slight improvement.
In June 2023, after developing a high fever and frequent coughing, she developed pain in her lower back again. The same prescription and block injections were prescribed as before, but this time there was no improvement.
The patient visited our clinic seeking to improve his symptoms.
Symptoms before treatment
・Pain levels before treatment
| Lower back | Lower limbs | Numbness | Buttocks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pain level | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 |
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, right lower limb.
Forward bending: tension in the right thigh.
Bending backward: no change
Lasegue test: positive at 80 degres on the right side
Point of tenderness: L4/5 on the right and left sides, L5/s on the right side.
Additional explanations on our clinic’s medical examination
・Daily activities
Pain increases with prolonged sitting.
The patient walking ability is not affected
Imaging and findings
- L4/5-5/s – disc herniation
- L2/3-5/s – disc degeneration
The above findings were also observed on the imaging.
・L4/5, 5/s – disc herniation was observed, and is the most probable cause of the pain and of the recurrent strained back.
Based on the examination and imaging findings, we proposed the above treatment.
Treatment
After consulting with the patient, the Cellgel Method was performed on L4/5 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 25 minutes.
After resting in the recovery room, the patient was able to walk home by herself.
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
