Column Treatment Progress Report No.64: A Patient Who Actively Exercised Post-Treatment and Whose Condition Improved as a Result

September 01, 2023

The patient

A female patient in her 80s.

Treated in December 2022. About 8 months have passed since the treatment.

Symptoms and treatments until now

This patient had spinal canal stenosis in the areas indicated by the red frame (discs L1/2, 2/3, and 3/4).

Anterolisthesis was observed on discs L4 and L5.

An old compression fracture was observed in L1.

Pre-treatment medical history and treatments to date

In 2020, the patient had pain in her lower back and had to wear a corset to be functional in her daily life.

In November 2022, she suddenly became unable to get up in the morning. She received block injections and acupuncture, but saw no improvement.

She decided to visit our clinic.　

The patient had difficulty walking when leaning forward.

Treatment

Treatment was performed with the cellgel Method on a total of 3 discs (L3/4, 4/5, and 5/s).

It was decided to exclude discs L1/2 and 2/3 from the treatment due to their reduced disc heights.

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	9	9	9	10
1 week after treatment	9	9	9	10
1 month after treatment	5	4	4	5
3 months after treatment	3	0	4	0
6 months after treatment	1	0	1	0

The following is feedback from the patient when contacted for follow-up.

After 1 week, although her condition had not aggravated, the right side of her body was still painful.

After 1 month, depending on the area, the pain had decreased, and the numbness had become weaker. She was able to move around the house without problem.

After 3 months, she was able to walk outside and was very pleased to be able to go to work.

After 6 months, although her back sometimes hurts and she sometimes has difficulty getting up, she is much better than before the treatment, and she is very appreciative to be able to live her daily life without any problems.

The patient was very proactive after the treatment and continued to actively engage in rehabilitation and exercises.

As a result, the treatment and rehabilitation gradually began to produce positive results, and she was able to resume her work.

We wish the patient to continue to lead his life without pain and recurrence in the future.

* 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