Column Treatment Progress No.37: a Patient Whose Quality of Life Improved
The patient
A female patient in her 60s.
Treated in December 2022. About 5 months have passed since the treatment.
Symptoms and treatment
The patient had been diagnosed with spinal stenosis in the area indicated by the red rectangle (disc L3/4 and 4/5).
She also had a slight forward leaning slipped disk (L1) and back leaning slipped disk (L3)
Evolution prior to treatment
She started showing symptoms from around 20 years ago.
Around 7 years ago, she was diagnosed with slipped disks and spinal stenosis.
She also already had bad knees, but she decided to see our clinic for her back problems first.
The treatment at our clinic
The patient was treated with the Cellgel method on 4 intervertebral discs (L1/2, 2/3, 3/4 and 4/5).
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 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 9 |
| One week after treatment | 6 | 8 | 2 | 9 |
| 1 month after treatment | 5 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 3 months after treatment | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
The following comments were obtained from the patient when contacted for follow-up.
After one week, she felt better. She continued to get treatment for her knee, but after the cellgel treatment, she noticed an improvement there as well.
After 1 month, her lower back felt lighter and while previously, she needed to take stairs using both feet per step, she was able to start using the steps one foot after the other.
After 3 months, she still had pain in her knees, but other than that, she felt her condition was fine.
She is continuing to see a different clinic for her knee problems, though, she says her problem in her knees may have stemmed from her back problems, as her knees feel slightly better than before.
We are very glad to hear that she is able to live her daily life normally these days and she says she was happy to get the cellgel 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: 1,320,000 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:
