Column Treatment Progress Report No.142: a Patient Whose Pain Has Disappeared Since His Treatment About a Year Ago

November 22, 2024

The patient

A male patient in his 70s

Treated in December 2023. Approximately 11 months have passed since treatment.

Symptoms and treatments

This patient was found to have degenerative disc disease and spinal stenosis at the points indicated by the red frames (L3/4, 4/5).

L5/S was not a suitable candidate for treatment because the height of the disc had lost too much of its volume and was too narrow for the treatment.

Pre-treatment medical history and treatments

In 2021, the patient began to experience pain in the lower back and was unable to walk, so he visited a local orthopedic clinic.

He was diagnosed with age-related problems, and after undergoing rehabilitation, showed some improvement.

Since he was still experiencing pain in the lower back, he decided to visit our clinic.

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.

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

After one week, the patient felt lighter and the symptoms had disappeared.

After one month, the patient was able to swing a golf club without pain.

After 3 months, the patient was able to play golf. Even after playing golf, the patient did not experience any pain.

After 6 months, the patient continued to play golf without experiencing any pain in the lower back.

In this case, it is highly likely that the main symptoms were caused by the narrowing of the intervertebral foramen due to intervertebral disc degeneration.

The pain disappeared within a few days of treatment and has remained so to the present day. The effect of the treatment immediately after the procedure is the same as that of a block injection.

The effect of a block injection varies from person to person, with some people experiencing no effect after a few days, others experiencing a long-lasting effect, and others experiencing no effect at all.

In this case, it is thought that the DiscoGel repair progressed while the effects of the block injection were still continuing.

* 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