Column Treatment Progress Report No.179: A Patient Who Once Recommended to Have Surgical Intervention to Treat Spinal Canal Stenosis
The patient
A female patient in her 60s
(Treatment performed in February 2024 – over 12 months have passed since treatment)
History of symptoms and diagnosis
This patient was diagnosed with spinal canal stenosis at the L4/5 level (highlighted in red on imaging).
Pre-treatment medical history and treatments to date
In the summer of 2022, she began experiencing pain in the posterior thigh of the lower limb. After visiting a nearby orthopedic clinic, she was diagnosed with spinal canal stenosis and advised to undergo surgery. However, she was hesitant about surgery and chose not to proceed.
Although there were periods without symptoms, the pain began to return intermittently.
She was later referred to our clinic by an acquaintance.
Post-treatment follow-up
Below is a summary of her self-reported pain scores over time, where 0 = no pain and 10 = worst imaginable pain.
| Lower back | Lower limbs | Numbness | Buttocks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Before Treatment | 1 | 4 | 1 | 4 |
| 1 Week After | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 1 Month After | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 3 Months After | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 6 Months After | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
Patient feedback during follow-up
1 Week After Treatment
The day after the procedure, she experienced lower back pain and was unable to lift her legs. However, the pain had subsided by the third day.
1 Month After Treatment
Pain appeared in the back of the thigh after long periods of walking or standing. Mild lower back pain was noted upon waking in the morning.
3 Months After Treatment
Pain in the lower limbs had transitioned to a numbness sensation.
6 Months After Treatment
Pain reappeared during prolonged walking. However, the pain that used to occur during housework prior to treatment had gone away, which she found very positive.
This patient presented severe spinal canal stenosis.
Even now, one year post-treatment, she is able to go about her daily life without issue. She did report occasional leg pain during running, but overall, her symptoms have improved compared to the pre-treatment condition. The patient expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the treatment.
⚠️ Please note that therapeutic effects typically take between 3 weeks to 3 months to appear.
⚠️ Treatment results vary from patient to patient and may not produce the same outcome for everyone.
Our clinic’s treatment method
Treatment cost
¥1,320,000 per level (tax included) – ¥1,760,000 for five levels (tax included)
Risks and side effects
- Temporary pain after treatment may happen.
- Nerve damage is theoretically possible but has not been reported in either our clinical experience or medical literature.
- There is a very low risk of allergic reaction to local anesthetics.
- Symptoms may temporarily worsen within 1–2 weeks post-treatment due to decompression pulling on surrounding tissues.
- If the intervertebral disc is severely collapsed, the treatment may not be feasible. Suitability is determined during consultation with the physician.
For more detailed information, please visit the following pages:
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
