Column Treatment Progress Report No. 108: a Patient Who Saw Improvement with His Diagnosed Spondylolisthesis
April 15, 2024
The patient
A male patient in his 30s
Treated in June 2023. Approximately 10 months have passed since treatment.
Symptoms and treatment
This patient had disc herniation at the site indicated by the red frame (L4/5).
Disc degeneration was also observed on L3/4, 4/5, and 5/s.
Pre-treatment medical history and treatments
During junior high school, he often experienced pain in his lower back during his school club activities.
4-5 years ago, his legs would go numb when he was standing or walking for long periods of time. He visited a local orthopedic clinic where he was diagnosed with spondylolisthesis.
Now: He has numbness in both lower limbs. and gets a sudden backache about once a year.
He visited our clinic seeking to improve his 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 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 1 week after treatment | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1 month after treatment | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 3 months after treatment | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 6 months after treatment | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The following feedback was received from the patient when we contacted him for follow-up.
After one week, there was no pain when walking and no subsequent fatigue.
After one month, numbness sometimes occurred in the lower limbs when walking for long periods of time.
After 3 months, numbness occurred when walking. He would like to get rid of the numbness as much as possible.
After six months, the numbness symptoms had disappeared. He can play sports with his children without worrying about it.
In this case, it is thought that it was caused by disc herniation in L4/5.
The pain in the lower back disappeared immediately after treatment. However, the numbness symptoms persisted for about 3 months.
We recommended rehabilitation, but the patient did not respond well, so we instructed him on stretches that he could easily do at home.
We are very happy to see that the patient’s symptoms have completely disappeared due to his efforts.
* 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 nonexistent, 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
