Column Treatment Progress No.60: A Patient Who Improved to the Point of Being Able to Play Sports Again Post-treatment

August 18, 2023

The patient

A female patient in her 60s.

Treated in November 2022. About 9 months have passed since the treatment.

Symptoms and treatments to date

This patient has spinal canal stenosis in the area indicated by the red frame (disc at L4/5).

In addition, disc degeneration was observed on discs L1/2 to 5/s.

Anterolisthesis was observed in L4.

Pre-treatment medical history and treatments to date

In March 2022, pain appeared in the patient’s lower back. She visited an orthopedic surgeon, was diagnosed with spondylolisthesis and spinal canal stenosis, and started rehabilitation, recovering to a level where she could lead a normal life.

In September 2023, her symptoms aggravated.

She came to our clinic for treatment after learning about it.

Treatment

Treatment was performed on discs L3/4, 4/5, and 5/s with the Cellgel Method.

Post-treatment progress

The following is a chart in which the patient rated the pain value of each area on a scale of 0 to 10.

No pain at all is rated as 0, and the greatest possible pain is rated as 10.

	Lower back	Lower limbs	Numbness	Buttocks
Before treatment	10	6	4	6
1 week after treatment	9	3	4	4
1 month after treatment	3	3	4	2
3 months after treatment	3	6	2	3
6 months after treatment	2	4	0	2

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

After 1 week, symptoms started to improve from around the 3rd or 4th day.

After 1 month, the pain was worst when waking up in the morning, but it got a little better little by little.

After 3 months, the patient was able to live her life without painkillers. Sometimes, the calf area and below knee became tense around noon.

After 6 months, the level of pain upon waking up in the morning has improved. In the afternoon, pain occurs in the lower back and right lower extremity.

Although the pain level did not completely disappear after the treatment, the level is gradually decreasing.

The patient’s condition has also improved to the point where she is able to start tennis and aquabics 6 months after the treatment.

We hope that the pain levels will decrease over time and that the symptoms will improve as the patient builds muscle through sports.

* 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