Column Treatment Progress Report No.8: A Patient with Frequent Acute Low Back Pain Who Remained Symptom-Free After Treatment
March 15, 2023
The patient
A female patient in her 40s.
Treated in October. Approximately 5 months have passed since treatment.
Symptoms and treatments to date
Imaging findings revealed intervertebral disc degeneration at the levels marked in red:
L2/3, L3/4, and L4/5.
In addition, residual findings consistent with previous disc herniation were observed at L2/3 and L3/4.
Following childbirth, the patient experienced low back pain on the night after receiving chiropractic treatment and was subsequently diagnosed with a lumbar disc herniation at an orthopedic clinic.
After that diagnosis, she began to experience frequent episodes of acute low back pain (lumbago) occurring every 2–3 months.
The Celgel Method was performed at three intervertebral disc levels:
L2/3, L3/4, and L4/5.
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 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 week after treatment | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 month after treatment | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 months after treatment | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The following is feedback from the patient when contacted for follow-up.
1 Week Post-Treatment:
Severe pain upon waking had slightly improved, but pain was still present with certain movements.
The location of the pain shifted daily, sometimes appearing on the right side, sometimes on the left.
1 Month Post-Treatment: The pain decreased overall, though there were still some days where she felt discomfort.
3 Months Post-Treatment: The patient reported being pain-free and in good condition.
This patient primarily experienced pain without numbness.
At the 1-week mark, it is common for pain to persist or even temporarily increase because the Discogel adds volume to the disc.
Over time, the repair mechanism takes effect, and the pain gradually subsides.
We encourage patients whose pain temporarily worsens after treatment not to become discouraged, and to view the recovery process from a long-term perspective.
* 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
