Column Treatment Progress Report No.163: A Patient with Residual Numbness One Year After Treatment
April 04, 2025
The patient
A male patient in his 80s
Treatment in December 2023. About 15 months have passed since the treatment.
Symptoms and treatments to date
This patient had spinal canal stenosis in the area indicated by the red frame (L2/3), and in addition, L1/2, 3/4, and 4/5 were also treated.
Pre-treatment medical history and treatments to date
Around 2021, the patient started experiencing pain and numbness symptoms in his lower limbs.
He went to physical therapy and since his symptoms improved after going, he decided on his own to observe the evolution of his condition.
In the winter of 2023, he started having back pain. He visited a local orthopedist and was diagnosed with spinal canal stenosis and disc herniation.
He received medication and rehabilitation, but since his condition did not improve, he decided to come to 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.
| Lower back | Lower limbs | Numbness | Buttocks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Before treatment | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| 1 week after treatment | 5 | 5 | 8 | 4 |
| 1 month after treatment | 4 | 7 | 7 | 2 |
| 3 months after treatment | 3 | 3 | 7 | 0 |
| 6 months after treatment | 3 | 2 | 7 | 0 |
| 12 months after treatment | 2 | 4 | 7 | 0 |
The following is feedback from the patient when contacted for follow-up.
After one week, both lower legs and the back of his left foot were occasionally painful. He had occasional cramps in both legs.
After one month, although his walking distance had slightly increased, his left leg was more prone to cramping than before.
After 3 months, he had occasional pain in the groin area on the right side.
After 6 months, the pain had gradually disappeared.
After 12 months, he feels a heaviness in his lower back when he wakes up. Numbness is still present.
There is a high possibility that this patient’s symptoms were caused by spinal canal stenosis.
One year has now passed since the treatment, and although the patient is satisfied with the treatment itself as the symptoms have generally decreased, the numbness symptoms remain.
The patient has been actively working on improving his blood flow and on stretching regularly, but his symptoms have only slightly decreased so far.
Long-standing numbness symptoms may sometimes show little improvement at first. We will strive with renewed efforts to commit to our clinic’s philosophy dedicated towards ” treating a 100% of back pain”.
* 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
