Column Treatment Progress Report No.107: a Patient Whose Pain Recurred After the Cellgel Treatment Before Disappearing Again
April 10, 2024
The patient
A male patient in his 50s
Treated in May 2023. Approximately 11 months have passed since treatment.
Symptoms and treatment
This patient had disc degeneration in the areas indicated by the red frames (L4/5, 5/s).
Pre-treatment medical history and treatments
May 2023: He started to feel pain in the lower back. Sometimes he felt pain in the lower limbs as well.
Currently: The pain is about 1/10th of what it used to be.
In the past, the patient has undergone laser treatment for L4/5 and surgical treatment for a L5/s hernia.
The patient visited our clinic seeking 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 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 |
| 1 week after treatment | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 month after treatment | 0 | 10 | 0 | 3 |
| 6 months after treatment | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The following is feedback from the patient when contacted for the follow-up.
One week after treatment, pain appeared after the patient attempted to do something strenuous, but otherwise there were no symptoms.
After one month, the pain returned, but it was not so painful.
After six months, the pain disappeared again.
In this case, the cause of the pain was thought to be degeneration of the L4/5 and 5/s intervertebral discs.
The reason the symptoms disappeared after one week is because the Cellgel Method usually has the same immediate effects as a block injection. Although the effect is immediate, there is a possibility that the pain will flare up again because it does not work for a long period of time.
Although the patient was busy and we were unable to contact him at the three-month mark, the effects of the Cellgel Method began to take effect over time, and the pain disappeared again at the six-month mark.
As the patient often drives for work, he was careful to take care of his posture and take regular breaks.
* It takes about 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
