Column Treatment Progress Report No. 203: A Patient Who Saw Relief from Severe Pain During Walking
March 25, 2026
The patient
A male patient in his 80s
Treated in April 2024. Approximately 12 months have passed since treatment.
Symptoms and treatments to date
This patient had disc degeneration in the areas indicated by the red frame (L2/3, 3/4, 4/5, 5/s).
In addition, a compression fracture at L2 was identified.
Pre-treatment medical history and treatments to date
The patient first experienced acute low back pain while playing tennis in his 30s.
In 2022, he was diagnosed with a compression fracture of the L2 vertebra.
In 2024, he developed pain in the right buttock upon waking, which progressed to pain with every step while walking. He visited a local orthopedic clinic and was managed with medication.
As symptoms did not improve, he visited another hospital where a nerve block injection was recommended.
After returning home, he searched for various treatment options online, learned about our clinic, and came for consultation.
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 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| 1 week after treatment | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 month after treatment | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 months after treatment | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 6 months after treatment | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The following is feedback from the patient when contacted for follow-up.
After 1 week: Overall pain had improved significantly; walking pain had resolved.
After 1 month: No recurrence of symptoms; daily life remained stable.
After 3 months: No pain, but occasional numbness in the soles of both feet.
After 6 months: Able to carry out daily life without any problems.
In this case, the primary cause was disc degeneration.
We are very pleased that the pain during walking—the issue the patient was most eager to fix—has been resolved.
Regarding the numbness felt at the 3-month mark: this is often seen as a temporary change in symptoms or location during the repair process of the Cellgel Method. It is a common occurrence during the improvement phase as the disc stabilizes.
* 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
