Column Treatment Progress Report No.117: A Patient Whose Pain Temporarily Worsened After Treatment
June 14, 2024
The patient
A female patient in her 60s.
Treated in July 2023, approximately 1 year has passed since treatment.
Symptoms and treatment
This patient had disc degeneration in the areas indicated by the red frames (L2/3, 3/4, 4/5, 5/s).
Pre-treatment medical history and treatments
When working, she often felt pain like that of a strained back.
From 2022 onwards, she began to experience pain in her lower back.
She tried rehabilitation and medication, but since her condition did not improve, she stopped going to the hospital.
After monitoring the situation, the condition temporarily improved, but then worsened again.
The patient visited our clinic for treatment with the aim of improving her symptoms.
Post-treatment progress
The table below shows the results of the patient’s own evaluation of the pain in each body site on a scale of 0 to 10.
No pain at all is rated as 0 and 10 as the maximum possible pain.
| Lower back | Lower limbs | Numbness | Buttocks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Before treatment | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| One week after treatment | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| One month after treatment | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| 3 months after treatment | 3 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| 6 months after treatment | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
The following is feedback from the patient when contacted for the follow-up.
After 1 week, she felt that the swelling in her legs had somewhat decreased after the treatment.
After one month, the symptoms had generally eased, but they would resurface up on certain days.
After 3 months, the pain had become stronger than after two months of treatment.
After 6 months, the patient was feeling much better than before the treatment. The area where the pain had appeared previously had also improved.
In this case, it is thought that the symptoms were caused by the protrusion due to intervertebral disc degeneration.
As the symptoms temporarily worsened, we talked to the patient about the importance of rehabilitation and the rehabilitation that can be done at home.
We were glad that the patient was able to work on it as much as possible and reduce the pain.
The volume of the intervertebral disc may increase due to medication, and pain may occur when repairing the intervertebral disc. The worsening of the symptoms this time is thought to be a side effect of the healing process.
* It takes about 3 weeks to 3 months to see the full effects of the treatment.
* Effects in the treatment may vary according to individual differences. Please be aware that there is a possibility that the exact same effects may not be replicated every time.
Our clinic’s treatment method
Here is some additional information about the Cellgel method that we have presented here.
Cost of the Cellgel method: 1,320,000 yen per site (including tax) to 1,760,000 yen for 5 sites (including tax)
Cost for this patient’s case: Cellgel performed in 2 areas = 1,430,000 yen (including tax)
Risks and side effects of the Cellgel method: Transient pain may occur after treatment. Due to the very nature of the treatment, the possibility of nerve damage is not zero, but so far there have been no reports of damage in either reported cases or publications. There is a very small possibility of allergic reactions to the local anesthetic. 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 pulls in the surrounding tissues. Also, if the disc is almost completely worn out, it may not be possible to treat it. The doctor will consult with you during your visit to determine the best treatment option for your condition.
For more detailed information, please refer to the following links:
Column page explaining the Cellgel method in an easy-to-understand manner
