Column Treatment Progress Report No.166: A Patient With Long-standing Chronic Low Back Pain Whose Pain Symptoms Improved
April 21, 2025
The patient
A female patient in her 60s.
Treated in December 2023. Approximately 16 months have passed since treatment.
Symptoms and treatments to date
This patient had disc degeneration in the areas indicated by the green arrows (L2/3, 3/4, and 4/5).
Pre-treatment medical history and treatments to date
The patient has had chronic low back pain since her twenties.
One year ago, she experienced numbness in her buttocks and visited her local orthopedic surgeon. The symptoms subsided after taking medication.
Since her chronic back pain had not improved, she decided to visit our clinic to improve her symptoms.
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 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 week after treatment | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 month after treatment | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 months after treatment | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 months after treatment | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The following is feedback from the patient when contacted for follow-up.
After one week, the patient’s wound felt a little heavy, but the pain had already been reduced by a lot.
After one month, there was an occasional throbbing pain when moving, but this did not last long.
After 3 months, the pain in the lower back was improving, and became easier to manage.
After 6 months, she still felt some tension in her lower back when getting up, but it did not bother her once she started moving. The condition in her lower back is excellent.
This patient was most likely suffering from symptoms caused by protrusion and stenosis of the intervertebral foramen as a result of disc degeneration.
The patient had been on medication and rehabilitation for many years and this was the first time she was treated for her back.
Her prognosis is good and we sincerely wish her the best of luck and hope that she will be able to continue to live her life with her symptoms under control.
* 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
