Column Treatment Progress Report No. 198: A Patient Who Went from Using a Cane to Walking Independently
February 18, 2026
The patient
A female patient in her 70s.
Treated in April 2024. Approximately 12 months have passed since treatment.
Symptoms and treatments to date
This patient was diagnosed with spinal canal stenosis in the areas indicated by the red frame (L4/5).
Spondylolisthesis was also observed at both L4 and L5.
Pre-treatment medical history and treatments to date
Two years ago, she suddenly developed lower back pain while at work.
She visited multiple hospitals and was told that a possible cause was a bone defect. She was monitored with medication, but the effectiveness gradually decreased.
The patient visited our clinic seeking 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 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 6 |
| 1 week after treatment | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 1 month after treatment | 1 | 5 | 5 | 1 |
| 3 months after treatment | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 6 months after treatment | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
The following is feedback from the patient when contacted for follow-up.
At 1 week: Overall symptoms had improved.
At 1 month: Some pain had returned. She began water walking exercises (hydrotherapy).
At 3 months: She became able to walk without using a cane.
At 6 months: She expressed great happiness that she was now able to walk, although she had been unable to do so prior to treatment.
This patient’s condition was caused by spinal canal stenosis.
At the time of her first visit, she was using a cane and appeared to have some difficulty walking.
Through pain reduction from the treatment and improvement of walking posture through rehabilitation, her condition has improved to the point where she can now walk smoothly.
* 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
