Column Treatment Progress Report No.79: a Patient Who Suffered from Recurring Strained Back Problems
November 20, 2023
The patient
A male patient in his 70s
Treated in March 2023. About 8 months have passed since the treatment
Symptoms and treatments up to now
This patient had disc herniation in the area indicated by the red frame (L5/s disc).
L2/3 had disc protrusion and L3/4 had spondylolisthesis .
L4/5 showed signs of post-fusion surgery.
Pre-treatment medical history and treatments
The patient has had about five episodes of strained backs in the past.
In 2014, she received posterior fusion surgery to treat spondylolisthesis (in 4/5).
In 2018, her right hip became stiff and painful, so she visited her local orthopedist and was diagnosed with a hernia. Symptomatic treatment, including block injections, did not improve her condition and she began to experience numbness symptoms.
In December 2019, she underwent PELD (endoscopic intervertebral disc removal). The pain subsequently improved.
Currently, she has pain and numbness symptoms in the right lower limb, and pain in the lower back and buttock area on some days.
The patient came to our clinic for treatment.
Treatment
Based on the imaging and medical examination, the Cellgel Method was performed on a total of 3 intervertebral discs, L2/3, 4/5, and 5/s.
Post-treatment progress
he 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 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 4 |
| 1 week after treatment | 4 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| 1 month after treatment | 4 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| 3 months after treatment | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| 6 months after treatment | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
The following is feedback from the patient when contacted for follow-up.
After one week, pain had decreased; she was able to walk about 5,000 to 6,000 steps.
After one month, pain was still present but did not last long. She has recovered to the point where she was able to resume Curves.
After 3 months, she was happy to find more and more days when she did not have any pain. She enjoyed physical exercise and signed a new gym contract.
After 6 months, she felt much better than before the treatment. She sometimes had pain, but it disappeared after moving a little.
This patient has had fusion surgery and PELD in the past.
She has always liked to exercise, so she started exercising at her own initiative when the pain decreased.
Since she exercised without overdoing it, she did not get fatigued and her blood flow improved, which we believe helped her symptoms improve.
Since she had frequent episodes of strained back, we think she is physically predisposed to disc herniation.
As a preventive measure, the Cellgel Method was also performed on L2/3 where degeneration was present.
We hope she will continue without overdoing it.
* 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
