Column Treatment Progress Report No.153: a Patient Who Had Temporary Difficulty in Walking but Whose Condition Improved
January 31, 2025
The patient
A male patient in his 80s
Treated in December 2023. Approximately 12 months have passed since treatment.
Symptoms and treatments up to now
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This patient had disc degeneration in the areas indicated by the red frame (L1/2/3, 3/4).
Pre-treatment medical history and treatments
The patient has had lower back pain for a long time, and he was also treated with laser therapy in L4/5.
Around August 2023, he also began to have pain in the lower limbs.
He visited a local orthopedic surgeon and was diagnosed with spinal canal stenosis.
The patient visited our clinic seeking to improve his symptoms after learning its existence.
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 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 7 |
1 week after treatment | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
1 month after treatment | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
3 months after treatment | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
6 months after treatment | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
12 months after treatment | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The following is feedback from the patient when contacted for follow-up.
After one week, the pain had disappeared.
After 1 month, the patient still felt no pain and was comfortable in his everyday life.
After 3 months, his back became painful due to over- exercising. The pain appeared in the half-sitting posture, but it disappeared as soon as he started stretching his back.
After 6 months, he had temporary difficulty walking, but it got better after taking painkillers and medicines to improve the blood flow.
After 12 months, the patient was able to stretch and walk without pain.
This patient is considered to have had symptoms caused by spinal canal stenosis.
We believe that the block injection and the Cellgel method were very effective in this case.
Regarding the difficulty in walking at 6 months, the patient’s symptoms improved over time while taking painkillers, so we think that the symptoms were caused by side effects of the healing process.
We sincerely hope that his condition will remain stable, as he has yet to show any symptoms at the 12-month mark.
* 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