Column Treatment Case Report No. 97｜ ILC International Lumbago Clinic (Tokyo Clinic)
August 25, 2023
Patient Case
The patient
A female patient in her 30s
The patient’s medical history to date
Four years ago, she started having pain in her lower back.
In March 2023, pain and numbness developed in the lower back and in the right lower limb.
In April 2023, she visited her local orthopedist and was diagnosed with disc herniation. She had been undergoing rehabilitation but there was no improvement, so HerniCore was recommended to her.
She came to our clinic for treatment.
Symptoms before treatment
・Pain levels before treatment
| Lower back | Lower limbs | Numbness | Buttocks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pain level | 9 | 8 | 6 | 8 |
No pain at all is rated as 0, and the greatest possible pain is rated as 10.
Main area of pain – lower back, right lower extremity.
Forward bending: no change.
Backward bending: no change.
Lasegue test: positive at 60 degrees to the right.
Point of tenderness: spinous processes of discs 3/4 and 4/5 .
Additional explanations on our clinic’s medical examination
・Daily activities
Pain aggravates when getting up in the morning and when carrying a heavy load.
Walking ability is limited to 100 m at a slow pace.
Imaging and findings
- L4/5, 5/s – disc herniation
- L5/s – tear in the annulus fibrosus
The above findings were also observed on the imaging.
・L4/5, 5/s – disc herniation, which is a possible 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 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 40 minutes.
A tear in the annulus fibrosus can be very painful. This time, the injection was performed at a slow pace because of the pain, That is the reason why the treatment took a long time.
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
