Column Treatment Progress Report No.16 | A Patient Treated at Our Clinic Following a Lumbar Laminectomy
April 4, 2023
The patient
A male patient in his 50s
Treated in October 2022. Approximately 5 months have passed since treatment.
Symptoms and treatments to date
This patient had spinal canal stenosis in the areas indicated by the red frame (L3/4 and 4/5).
At L2/3, disc degeneration and bilateral foraminal stenosis were observed.
Treatment was not possible at L5/S because the intervertebral disc was extremely narrow, making it impossible to insert the treatment needle.
Pre-treatment medical history and treatments to date
Due to frequent heavy lifting in daily life, the patient began experiencing pain extending from both thighs to the toes in 2016. After visiting an orthopedic clinic, he was diagnosed with lumbar spinal canal stenosis.
At the end of 2016, the patient underwent a lumbar laminectomy. While pain gradually resolved after surgery, numbness persisted, leading him to seek treatment at our clinic.
Treatment
The Cellgel Method was performed on a total of three disc locations: L2/3, L3/4, and L4/5.
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 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 7 |
| 1 week after treatment | 5 | 3 | 6 | 4 |
| 1 month after treatment | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| 3 months after treatment | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
The following is feedback from the patient when contacted for follow-up.
After 1 week: Pain disappears when lying down; however, numbness still occurs during daily activities.
After 1 month: Both pain and numbness have improved compared to before treatment, but symptoms remain.
After 3 months: Occasional low back pain and mild numbness near the groin area occur, but overall the patient feels that undergoing this treatment was a good choice.
Currently, the pain levels have not reached zero, but compared to before the treatment, the patient is more comfortable and able to do more things. We believe he has reached a level where he can coexist with the remaining minor symptoms.
While our goal is complete symptom resolution, we are pleased that the patient has experienced meaningful improvement.
* 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
