Column Treatment Progress Report No.80: A Patient Who Showed Symptoms Improvement at the 6-Month Mark
November 22, 2023
The patient
A male patient in his 50s
Treated in March 2023. Approximately 8 months have passed since treatment.
Symptoms and treatments to date
MRI images revealed lumbar disc herniations at L3/4, L4/5, and L5/S (indicated by the red frames).
In addition, foraminal stenosis at L4/5 was observed due to disc bulging.
Pre-treatment medical history and treatments to date
Until 5 Years Ago: The patient felt discomfort in the lower back.
December 2022: Developed Sciatica after an acupuncture session. Visited a nearby orthopedic clinic and was diagnosed with suspected lumbar disc herniation and treated conservatively with medication.
Current symptoms before treatment: Persistent pain in the lower back and buttocks, and numbness in the left leg.
Treatment
Based on the imaging and physical examination, the Cellgel Method was performed on 3 intervertebral discs: L3/4, L4/5, and L5/S.
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 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 7 |
| 1 week after treatment | 5 | 2 | 5 | 3 |
| 1 month after treatment | 5 | 2 | 6 | 6 |
| 3 months after treatment | 2 | 2 | 6 | 6 |
| 6 months after treatment | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
The following is feedback from the patient when contacted for follow-up.
1 Week Post-Treatment: Still had superficial needle-prick pain (from the procedure), but symptoms were relieved.
1 Month Post-Treatment: Not much visible improvement yet.
3 Months Post-Treatment: Low back pain improved, but sciatica and lower limb numbness still remained.
6 Months Post-Treatment: Pain and numbness have improved overall, although the patient still feels a heaviness in the lower back.
This patient showed gradual improvement over approximately six months.
We encouraged light exercise during daily life, which the patient practiced consistently.
Currently, his pain is minimal, and he only experiences a feeling of heaviness in the lower back, suggesting that as time passes, his symptoms should become increasingly unnoticeable.
* 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 Cergel 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
