Column Treatment Progress Report No.62: A Patient with Residual Symptoms Following Treatment, Although the Extent of The Numbness Decreased
August 26, 2023
The patient
A female patient in her 70s.
Treated in December 2022. About 8 months have passed since the treatment.
Symptoms and treatments to date
This patient had spinal canal stenosis in the area indicated by the red frame (discs L3/4 and L4/5).
L4 exhibited anterolisthesis.
Schmoll’s nodes were observed in the upper part of disc L3.
Pre-treatment medical history and treatments to date
A few years ago, the patient started experiencing numbness in the legs.
2 to 3 years ago, dull pain in the buttocks gradually became more severe. During a physical examination that year, she was diagnosed with osteoporosis.
In May 2022, she was diagnosed with spinal canal stenosis by an orthopedic surgeon. She decided to take medication to see how her condition evolved, but stopped taking it because it had no effect on her.
She decided to visit our clinic because people around her who had undergone surgery for spinal canal stenosis gave her a fearsome image of that procedure.
Her walking ability is not affected in any way at this point.
Treatment
Treatment was performed on discs L3/4, 4/5, and 5/s with the Cellgel Method.
Post-treatment progress
The table below shows the patient’s evaluation of pain in each area on a scale of 0 to 10.
No pain at all is rated as 0, and the greatest possible pain is rated as 10.
| Lower back | Lower limbs | Numbness | Buttocks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Before treatment | 3 | 1 | 5 | 4 |
| 1 week after treatment | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 1 month after treatment | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 3 months after treatment | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 6 months after treatment | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
The following is feedback from the patient when contacted for follow-up.
After one week, the pain was severe for 2-3 days after treatment, but then calmed down. The pain subsided and the range of numbness also narrowed.
After one month, the patient was feeling good but had pain in her lower back upon waking up. She still had numbness in her left toe.
After 3 months, the numbness was still present.
After 6 months, she is feeling good, but even though a little numbness still remains, she is recommending the Cellgel Method to the people around her.
Six months have passed since the treatment, but the symptoms of numbness are now only present in the tips of her toes.
She is continuing her rehabilitation at home by performing stretches and walking exercises that she can do at home to improve the numbness.
Considering that before the treatment, the numbness was present everywhere below the knees, the range of the numbness has been substantially reduced.
We hope that the numbness will decrease further as time goes by, and eventually disappear.
* It takes approximately 3 weeks to 3 months to see the full effects of the treatment.
* 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 clinic’s treatment method
Here is some additional information about the Cellgel method that we have presented here.
Cost of the Cellgel method: 1,320,000 yen per site (including tax) to 1,760,000 yen for 5 sites (including tax)
Cost for this patient’s case: Cellgel performed in 2 areas = 1,430,000 yen (including tax)
Risks and side effects of the Cellgel method: Transient pain may occur after treatment. Due to the very nature of the treatment, the possibility of nerve damage is not zero, but so far there have been no reports of damage in either reported cases or publications. There is a very small possibility of allergic reactions to the local anesthetic. Symptoms may temporarily worsen during the first week or two after treatment. This is believed to be due to the decompression effect of the implant, which pulls in the surrounding tissues. Also, if the disc is almost completely worn out, it may not be possible to treat it. The doctor will consult with you during your visit to determine the best treatment option for your condition.
For more detailed information, please refer to the following links:
Column page explaining the Cellgel method in an easy-to-understand manner
Page of the Cellgel procedure at our clinic
This article was written by the administrative Director of our clinic
