Column Treatment Progress Report No. 211: A Patient Who Improved from Walking with a Cane to Walking Unaided
June 17, 2026
The patient
A male patient in his 50s
Treated in August 2025. Approximately 10 months have passed since treatment.
Symptoms and treatments to date
This patient had disc degeneration in the areas indicated by the red frame (L1/2, 3/4, 4/5).
Pre-treatment medical history and treatments to date
The patient had experienced multiple episodes of acute low back pain since his teenage years.
In 2023, severe lower back pain struck during a workout, leaving him unable to move. He visited a local orthopedic clinic and was diagnosed with a lumbar disc herniation. He was monitored under symptomatic treatments, including nerve block injections.
In June 2025, the symptoms flared up again. He visited an orthopedic clinic where surgical intervention was recommended.
Weighing the risks associated with open surgical procedures, he chose to visit our clinicIn June 2025, the symptoms flared up again. He visited an orthopedic clinic where surgical intervention was recommended.
Weighing the risks associated with open surgical procedures, he chose to visit our clinic as an alternative.
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 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| 1 week after treatment | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| 1 month after treatment | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 3 months after treatment | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 months after treatment | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The following is feedback from the patient when contacted for follow-up.
One week after treatment, the patient reported that he was able to walk without using a cane.
One month after treatment, he stated that his symptoms had improved to approximately one-tenth of their pre-treatment severity.
3 months after treatment, he continued performing the stretching and strengthening exercises recommended by our clinic every day. Although he occasionally experienced a feeling of heaviness, it resolved with stretching.
6 months after treatment, he reported being able to live his daily life completely free of symptoms.
In this patient’s case, foraminal stenosis stemming from intervertebral disc degeneration was determined to be the primary cause of his symptoms.
At his initial visit, he required a cane for ambulation. Remarkably, within one week of treatment, he had improved to independent walking without any assistive device.
The patient also committed himself wholeheartedly to his rehabilitation program, contributing to an excellent outcome. We are delighted with his progress.
* It generally takes 3 weeks to 3 months for treatment effects to appear.
* 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 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
