Column Treatment Progress No.33 A patient was treated with both the Cellgel method and the PODD method
Patient
Male in his 70s
Treated in December 2022. About 5 months have passed since the treatment
Symptoms and treatment
The patient had degenerative disc disease in the area indicated by the red rectangle (disc 4/5).
We also found Foraminal stenosis in every intervertebral disk.
Evolution prior to treatment
In December 2020, he had an operation for spinal stenosis and his pain and numbness improved.
In May 2022, when walking around, he felt a pain in his lower back and hip. After that, the pain alternated between strong and slight levels depending on the day.
He took some medicine that he received from an orthodontic clinic, but he saw no improvement, thus, he sought help at our clinic.
The treatment at our clinic
The patient was treated with the Cellgel method on 3 intervertebral discs (L2/3, 4/5, 5/5s).
On the L3/4 intervertebral disc, he received the PODD treatment.
Evolution consecutive to treatment
The following is a chart in which the patient herself rated the pain value of each area on a scale of 0 to 10.
No pain at all is rated as 0, and the maximum possible pain is rated as 10.
| Lower back | Lower limbs | Numbness | Buttocks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Before treatment | 7 | 7 | 2 | 0 |
| One week after treatment | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 month after treatment | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 months after treatment | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
The following comments were obtained from the patient when contacted for follow-up.
After one week, his lower back became better.
After 1 month, the pain became much better, but the “heaviness” he felt in his lower back prior to the treatment still remained. The right side became better.
After 3 months, he felt much better overall and his movement also improved. The heaviness in his back also became much better.
Outside of the L3/4 intervertebral disc which was inflamed and treated with the PODD treatment, he received the cellgel treatment on the remaining discs.
The prognosis is good, so we are very happy with the result.
If we tried the cellgel treatment on the inflamed disc, there is a possibility for pain to develop, so at our clinic, we offer the patient two choices, waiting for the inflammation to heal or the PODD treatment.
※ It takes about 3 weeks to 3 months to see the effect of the treatment.
※ The effect of the treatment varies from person to person. Please be aware that there is a possibility that the same effect may not be obtained.
Our clinic’s treatment method
Additional information about the Cellgel method we have introduced in this column.
Cost of the Cellgel method: 1,420,000 yen per area (including tax) to 1,860,000 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:
