Column Treatment Progress Report No. 41: A Patient Who Was scheduled For Hip Osteoarthritis Surgery
June 10, 2023
The patient
A female patient in her 60s.
Treated in February 2023. Approximately 4 months have passed since treatment.
Symptoms and treatments to date
This patient had disc herniation in the areas indicated by the red frame (L3/4).
Additionally, intervertebral disc degeneration was observed at the following levels:
L2/3, L3/4, L4/5, and L5/S1.
Pre-treatment medical history and treatments to date
In her 40s: Experienced an episode of acute low back pain (strained back).
5 years ago: developed a sensation similar to cramps in the left leg while walking.
June 2022: Pain appeared in the left lower limb after driving. Nerve block injections were administered but provided no improvement.
She subsequently visited our clinic and proceeded with treatment.
Treatment
The Cellgel Method was performed at four intervertebral disc levels:
L2/3, L3/4, L4/5, and L5/S1.
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 | 4 | 10 | 8 | 7 |
| 1 week after treatment | 2 | 9 | 0 | 2 |
| 1 month after treatment | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 months after treatment | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The following is feedback from the patient when contacted for follow-up.
At 1 week: Pain in the hip joint due to my hip osteoarthritis.
At 1 month: The patient also underwent hip surgery, and overall the pain has disappeared.”
At 3 months: The patient is so happy that both her hip and lower back now feel good.
This patient was dealing with hip osteoarthritis alongside her lumbar (spinal) condition. By treating the discs first and subsequently undergoing hip surgery, both sets of symptoms were resolved, leading to an excellent outcome with pain levels reaching “0.” It is not uncommon for patients to have issues in both the back and the hip joints; however, treating them in the correct sequence can significantly improve the overall quality of life.
* 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
