May 16, 2024

The patient

Male in his 60s, from China.

The patient’s medical evolution up to now

2024.05.16

Around the age of 36, he started having back pain due to carrying heavy objects at work, and was diagnosed with a herniated disc.

　He had nerve root blocks for about 6 months, but since his symptoms failed to improve, he underwent L4/5 fusion surgery in 2015.

　His symptoms improved after the surgery, but his back pain returned in 2017.

　Since then, he has had recurring back pain with a strained back at least once a year, caused by being in lockdown at home because of the coronavirus pandemic.　　

Starting this year, he also began to feel left buttock pain, and came to our clinic looking to improve his condition.

Symptoms before the treatment

　Mainly back pain and left buttock pain.

　

　・　Pain levels before treatment

	Lower back	Lower limbs	Numbness	Buttocks
Level of pain	4	0	0	1

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

Main area of pain: lower back

Forward bending: Not possible

Back bending: Discomfort in the lower back

Lasegue test: Negative

Points with tenderness: L3/4, 4/5, 5/S mild tenderness

Coughing, sneezing: May sometimes induce pain

The patient also feels also pain when the weather is bad.

Extra Explanation about the Medical Examination

・Daily activities

Aggravated when standing up when waking up.

　Extremely difficult to lean forward when washing one’s face.

　Walking for a long time is somewhat difficult.

　

Imaging and findings

• L2/3　-　 Disc degeneration, thickened ligamentum flavum
• L3/4　-　Osteophytes, posterior disc protrusion, compression of dural sac, mild spinal
• L4/5　-　Post fusion, enlarged postoperative spinal canal

　

・Based on the above, it was determined that L2/3 and 3/4 were most likely the causes of the main symptoms.

Treatment

After consulting with the patient, the Cellgel procedure was performed on L2/3 and 3/4.

The treatment was performed by Dr. Maruyama.

　　　　Before injecting Discogel　　 After injecting Discogel　

The treatment took about 35 minutes.

The patient was moved to the recovery room to rest for some time, after which he was able to walk home on his own.

Our clinic’s treatment method

Additional information about the Cellgel method we have introduced in this column.

Cost of the Cellgel method: 1,320,000 yen per area (including tax) to 1,760,000 yen per 5 areas (including tax)

Risks and side effects of the Cellgel method: Transient pain may occur after treatment. Nerve damage is not a zero possibility due to the very nature of the treatment, but there have been no reports of damage so far in either report cases or publications. There is a very small possibility of allergic reactions to local anesthetics. 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 retracts the surrounding tissues. In addition, if the disc is almost completely collapsed, treatment may be difficult. The doctor hold a consultation with you during your visit to the clinic to determine the best treatment option for your 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