Column Treatment Progress Report No.10: A Patient Whose Walking Distance Increased Gradually Following Treatment
March 18, 2023
The patient
A female patient in her 70s.
Treated in October. Approximately 5 months have passed since treatment.
Symptoms and treatments to date
July 2021: Symptoms began after a fall down a flight of stairs, causing initial low back pain.
February 2022: Pain and numbness in the left lower limb emerged. Conservative treatment (medicated patches) was provided at a local clinic.
September 2022: Received a nerve block injection. This slightly improved walking ability (100–500m) and eased the pain, though numbness persisted.
Pre-treatment medical history and treatments to date
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.
Treatment
In accordance with the patient’s wishes, the Celgel Method was performed at three intervertebral disc levels: L3/4, L4/5, and L5/S1.
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 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 2 |
| 1 week after treatment | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 |
| 1 month after treatment | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| 3 months after treatment | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
The following is feedback from the patient when contacted for follow-up.
1 Week Post-Treatment: Reported a heavy sensation in the lower limbs and buttocks. However, the pre-treatment pain was vanishing, and her walking speed increased.
1 Month Post-Treatment: Felt pressure in the calves, but numbness became milder. Despite continued heaviness in the buttocks, she was able to walk for 20 minutes (round trip).
3 Months Post-Treatment: Symptoms continued to improve. Although she occasionally drags her leg, she is now capable of a 30-minute walk.
While some residual pain remains, the patient is delighted that her walking distance increases day by day.
While relief from pain and numbness is important, we believe that the greatest benefit is the ability to once again enjoy daily life.
We remain committed to improving the Quality of Life (QOL) for everyone we treat.
* Results vary among individuals. Please be aware that identical outcomes cannot be guaranteed.
* It generally takes 3 weeks to 3 months for treatment effects to appear.
Our Treatment Method
Supplementary Information on the Cellgel Method
Cost of the Cellgel Method:
¥1,320,000 / 1 site (tax included)
to ¥1,760,000 / 5 sites (tax included)
Risks and Side Effects:
Temporary pain may occur after treatment.
Nerve injury is theoretically possible due to the nature of the procedure, but no such cases have been reported in our own experience or in published studies.
Extremely rare risk of allergic reaction to local anesthetic.
Symptoms may temporarily worsen for 1–2 weeks after treatment, believed to be due to decompression effects of the implant pulling on surrounding tissue.
If the disc is severely collapsed or nearly gone, treatment may not be possible.
The physician will discuss suitable treatment options with each patient depending on their condition.
For more detailed information, please refer to the following links:
Blog page explaining the Cellgel Method in an easy-to-understand manner
The Cellgel Method on our treatment methods page
This article was written by the administrative Director of our clinic
