Column Treatment Progress Report No.11: A Patient Whose Pain Disappeared and Walking Posture Improved
March 22, 2023
The patient
A female patient in her 80s.
Treated in October. Approximately 5 months have passed since treatment.
Symptoms and treatments to date
Imaging findings revealed lumbar spinal canal stenosis at the intervertebral disc level indicated by the red frame (L2/3).
In addition, intervertebral disc degeneration was observed at L1/2, L2/3, L3/4, L4/5, and L5/S1.
Around 2008, the patient began experiencing tingling numbness in both knees.
She underwent massage therapy and visited orthopedic clinics, where electrical stimulation therapy was provided; however, symptoms did not improve.
Based on the overall symptom profile, the Celgel Method was performed at four intervertebral disc levels: L2/3, 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 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 0 |
| 1 week after treatment | 5 | 2 | 4 | 0 |
| 1 month after treatment | 8 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| 3 months after treatment | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
The following is feedback from the patient when contacted for follow-up.
1 Week Post-Treatment: Her son remarked that her walking posture had already visibly improved. She continued taking pain medication when necessary.
1 Month Post-Treatment: Reported numbness appearing specifically after bathing or when performing heavy domestic tasks, such as lifting or lowering the futon bedding.
3 Months Post-Treatment: She is now able to walk briskly and fluidly. While the pain in her back and legs has vanished, numbness remains the only lingering symptom.
While the patient is delighted with the improvement in her posture and the disappearance of pain, numbness persists during certain movements.
Our clinic pursues a “double approach” to recovery: combining intervertebral disc treatment with targeted rehabilitation.
For patients with residual symptoms such as this case, we provide specialized rehab guidance to help resolve issues that are difficult to fix through the procedure alone.
* 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
