Column Treatment Progress Report No.148: a Patient Who Suffered From Spinal Canal Stenosis Associated by Spondylolisthesis

December 20, 2024

The patient

A female patient in her 70s

Treated in December 2023. About 12 months have passed since the treatment

Symptoms and treatment

This patient had spinal canal stenosis in the areas indicated by the red frame (L1/2, 2/3).

In addition, due to posterior Spondylolisthesis at L4, spinal canal stenosis of L3/4 and L4/5 was also observed.

Pre-treatment medical history and treatments

Around 2019, she began experiencing back pain. She visited her local orthopedic surgeon and was diagnosed with spondylolisthesis and spinal canal stenosis. Surgery was recommended, but she declined.

After learning about our clinic, she decided to consult with us.

Progress after treatment

The following is a chart in which the patient rated the pain value of each area on a scale of 0 to 10.

No pain at all is rated as 0, and the greatest possible pain is rated as 10.

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

After 1 week, pain and heaviness in the lower back still occurred when standing for more than 30 minutes, but it felt better as soon as she laid down.

After 1 month, the pain in the lower back was gradually getting better, but the pain sometimes appeared when doing housework.

After 3 months, the pain was the same as at the 1-month mark.

After 6 months, pain in the back occurred when doing housework, but the level of pain was going down. She felt very happy even with that small improvement.

This patient’s condition is believed to have been caused by spinal stenosis and spondylolisthesis at L4.

The spinal canal can be compressed by a slipped lumbar bone or a compression fracture. Since the Cellgel Method cannot adjust the position of the bones, the only way to basically improve the symptoms is surgery.

The patient in the present case chose the Cellgel Method to help improve her symptoms as much as possible without surgery, recognizing that the effect of the treatment itself is expected to be very limited.

Although we predicted the effect of the treatment itself would be very low, we are very happy that the patient was still satisfied with the result.

We will continue strive to eradicate all symptoms in the future, while trying to alleviate pain at the same time.

* 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