Column Treatment Progress No.172: A Patient who had Frequent Back Pain Since Her Teenage Years, Whose Condition Improved
June 02, 2025
The patient
A female patient in her 50s.
Treated in February 2024, more than 12 months have passed since treatment.
Symptoms and treatments to date
This patient exhibited disc degeneration in the areas indicated by the red frame (L2/3, 3/4, and 4/5).
Pre-treatment medical history and treatments to date
The patient has had recurrent hernias since her teenage years.
At the end of 2023, she experienced severe pain in her lower back and consulted an orthopedic surgeon at her local hospital. She was diagnosed with spondylolisthesis.
She visited our clinic to improve 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 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 1 week after treatment | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| 1 month after treatment | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 months after treatment | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 months after treatment | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The following is feedback from the patient when contacted for follow-up.
After one week, the patient had no pain in the lower back, but felt pain in muscles that she did not normally use.
After 1 month, the patient still has a feeling of heaviness in the lower back, but the pain in the buttocks and lower legs had disappeared.
After 3 months, the pain was almost non-existent and her condition was improving.
After 6 months, she still has some pain in her right hip, but she has no other symptoms and is able to lead a comfortable life.
This patient’s symptoms are thought to have been caused by disc degeneration.
After treatment, her symptoms subsided relatively early.
She did not exercise prior to treatment, but she now performs rehabilitation once a week as well as daily stretching.
Since her symptoms have now stabilized, we would like her to continue exercising without straining herself too much.
* It takes approximately 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
Page of the Cellgel procedure at our clinic
This article was written by the administrative Director of our clinic
