Column Treatment Progress Report No.83: a Patient With a Recurring Strained Back Issue

December 02, 2023

The patient

A female patient in her 60s.

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).

In addition, L2/3, 3/4, 4/5, and 5/s discs showed disc degeneration.

Pre-treatment medical history and treatments

In her 30s, first time experiencing a strained back.

In 2022, she suffered a strained back for the third time.

In September 2022, due to pain in the left buttock, she visited her local orthopedist and was diagnosed with disc herniation. She decided to take medication and observe the evolution of her condition.

Since the medication did not work well, she visited our clinic for treatment.　　

Progress after treatment

The following is a chart in which the patient rated each area of pain on a scale of 0 to 10.

No pain at all is rated as 0, and the greatest possible pain is rated as 10.

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

After 1 week, the patient had no symptoms at all.

After 1 month, she felt some pain resembling muscle soreness, but it did not bother her too much.

After 3 months, the same muscle pain as at 1 month was still present, but the level had decreased.

After 6 months, the overall condition of the patient had improved. She was able to resume running and other activities, although she still had some occasional discomfort in her left leg.

In this case, the patient’s symptoms were mainly located in the lower limbs and buttocks.

Before treatment, she was only able to do simple stretches, but after 5 months of treatment, she has recovered to the point where she is able to run again.

The pain level has decreased significantly since the treatment, and we are happy to see the positive effects of it.

We hope that she will continue to enjoy her daily life without overworking herself too much.

* 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