Column Treatment Progress Report No.67: A Patient Whose Symptoms Aggravated at First but Eventually Eased Up After 6 Months
September 13, 2023
The patient
A female patient in her 60s.
Treated in January 2023. About 8 months have passed since the treatment.
Symptoms and treatments to date
This patient has intervertebral foramen stenosis caused by disc degeneration in the area indicated by the red frame (discs L4/5 and 5/s).
Pre-treatment medical history and treatments to date
In April 2022, the patient developed symptoms of numbness in both toes. She consulted a local orthopedist and was told that her flat feet were the cause, and was given stretching exercises to do and told to monitor how her condition progressed.
In May 2022, she consulted a different orthopedist for a second opinion and was diagnosed as having a reduced intervertebral disc height, for which she was assigned rehabilitation. She started to experience symptoms of numbness when sitting, and started taking medication, but without any improvement.
The patient decided to come to our clinic for treatment.
The patient’s ability to walk was not affected.
Treatment
The patient underwent treatment for a total of two vertebrae, discs L4/5 and L5/s, with the Cellgel Method.
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 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 1 |
| 1 week after treatment | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| 1 month after treatment | 5 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 3 months after treatment | 5 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 6 months after treatment | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
The following is feedback from the patient when contacted for follow-up.
After one week, the patient was uncomfortable when sleeping or lying down. Pain also occurred when bending forward.
After one month, the lower back was painful after about five minutes of sitting. Toes were also turning cold easily, but this improved when she moved around.
After 3 months, the pain in the lower back when sitting improved a little. Every time she would lie down, her toes would go numb.
After 6 months, the lower back is now better. The numbness is also improving little by little, but it has not disappeared completely yet.
This patient’s lower back symptoms aggravated after one month, and her symptoms improved as a whole after six months.
Her cervical spine was also in poor condition, and the residual numbness could have been caused by it. The patient also expressed the desire to be treated for this at our clinic, but it was not found to be indicated under our current available treatment options.
The patient’s back pain has now been relieved, and we hope that it will gradually improve further as we continue to monitor the patient’s condition.
* 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
