Column Treatment progress No.121: A patient whose condition temporarily worsened after treatment before finally improving.

schedule

07.03.2024

The patient

A male patient in his 70s

Treated in July 2023. About 12 months have passed since the treatment.

Symptoms and treatment

This patient had spinal stenosis at the location indicated by the red frame (L3/4).

Degenerative disc disease was also observed at L2/3 and 5/s.

L4/5 had a narrowed intervertebral disc, and it was ruled out as a possible treatment candidate due to the possibility that the needle could not be inserted and of the low chances of therapeutic effect.

The patient’s condition before treatment / the treatment

He had been experiencing pain in his left leg for quite some time, but it started to get worse in 2023.

He visited a local orthopedic clinic, where he was diagnosed with spinal stenosis, and was prescribed block injections and medication, and placed under observation.

After the block injections, he felt temporarily better, but his symptoms eventually returned after some time.

At the time when he was suggested surgery and was hesitating, he heard about our hospital and decided to come for consultation and treatment.

The patient’s medical evolution after the treatment

This is a chart where the patient evaluates the pain in each body part on a scale of 0 to 10.

The scale is based on a rating of 0 for no pain at all and 10 for the worst possible pain.

	Lower back	Lower limbs	Numbness	Buttocks
Before the treatment	5	6	2	5
One week after the treatment	2	4	2	1
One month after the treatment	9	7	0	9
3 months after the treatment	1	1	0	1
6 months after the treatment	0	0	0	0

The following are feedback from the patient when contacted for follow-up.

At the one-week mark, I started to feel pain 4 days after the treatment, but then it got better.

After one month, the pain in the lower back and legs was at the same level as before the treatment.

At the 3 months mark, after 2 months the pain and numbness had decreased.

At the 6 months mark, he is finally able to live his life without pain, just as it was before. He is now also actively exercising.

It is believed that the symptoms of this patient were caused by spinal canal stenosis.

The reason for the worsening of the pain after the treatment is thought to be due to the increase in pressure caused by the insertion of DiscoGel into the intervertebral disc and the treatment mechanism of DiscoGel.

As time passed, the pain from the treatment subsided and the symptoms lessened.

I hope that the patient will continue to consciously engage in physical exercise.

*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.

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. Nerve damage is a non-zero possibility due to the nature of the treatment, but there have been no reports of damage in either autopsy cases or in 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. In addition, 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.