Pilots Seem to Often Suffer from Lower Back Pain

Patient Information

Male, 40s

Illness and Symptoms

• Spinal Canal Stenosis
• Herniated Disc

Patient Condition

The patient is an international pilot. About five years ago, he started experiencing back pain, and recently, after long flights, the pain worsened to the point where he had difficulty standing. Three years ago, a fellow pilot underwent treatment at our clinic and showed improvement, so this patient came based on their recommendation.

Examination Results and Diagnosis

The MRI results showed that several discs in the back had flattened and deformed, so the patient was diagnosed with a herniated disc. Additionally, the nerve pathways in the lower back were narrowed, causing spinal canal stenosis.

Treatment Method

Discseel® Procedure

After performing an Annulogram on the disc, damage was found, so Discseel® was applied. If no damage is found, PLDD method may be more appropriate. In an MRI, damage is typically detected by a reduction in disc thickness. If there is no reduction in thickness, it is likely that there is no damage.

Three small needles are inserted into the disc that needs treatment. The patient is given a sedative and local anesthesia so that they do not feel pain during the procedure.

An Annulogram is being performed to check for damage to the disc. In the United States, this test is recommended for all disc treatments, but in Japan, most facilities still perform disc treatments without this test.

The image on the left is before the treatment, and on the right after the treatment. We have confirmed that the disc ring area has been properly treated.

It has been seven years since we adopted the Discseel® Procedure, and we continue to adhere to the appropriate treatment guidelines.

Message from the Clinic Director

I have treated several pilots, and according to the information, airlines set strict health standards for their pilots. They must prove their physical condition to remain eligible for work.

By the way, the Tenjin Festival is being held in Osaka. There will be fireworks today, and it will be crowded with many visitors. The event location is quite close to our clinic, and starting in the afternoon, the streets will be closed to vehicles. I actually wanted to join and enjoy the Tenjin Festival, but with the rise in coronavirus cases, I decided to refrain.