Can Spinal Decompression Help Sciatica Nerve Pain? Chula Vista, CA

When sciatica has been going on for weeks or months, patients usually aren't looking for another temporary fix.

They want to know why it keeps coming back and what can actually be done about it.

Maybe the medication helps, but only while you're taking it. Maybe an injection gave you relief and the pain gradually returned. Maybe you've been doing exercises faithfully, yet you still can't sit in the car without pain running into your leg. Or perhaps the severe pain has finally settled down, but your foot is still numb.

For some patients, Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression may be an option—particularly when a lumbar disc problem is contributing to irritation or pressure around a spinal nerve.

But Dr. Cassidy James Boelk, DC doesn't recommend decompression simply because someone says they have sciatica.

After more than 22 years working with Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression and more than 100,000 decompression treatments, he still starts by asking the same basic question:

What is causing the nerve to remain irritated?

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Yuri Fresia

“When I first came here I was suffering from sciatica pain for several months non stop. I tried many different non invasive treatments, pain killers but relief was just temporary. I heard about Dr. Boelk on social media and after reading other people testimonials about him I decided to try. It felt better since my first session. After 12 I felt I was improving a lot but still had room to get better so we decided trying 12 more. After 36 sessions I felt I was back to normal. I could get back to surf, jiu jitsu and work after 6 months away. Doctor helped me through the whole process, leaving me free to decide the next step and being honest about expectations. I totally recommend for all my friends that suffer from sciatica pain. It’s worth 100%.”

Find Out if You're a Candidate Before Deciding on Treatment

If you live in Chula Vista and already have a lumbar MRI, bring the actual images and report with you.

Dr. Boelk can look at the images with you and compare what's there with what you're actually feeling.

No MRI yet? That's okay.

A No-Charge, No-Obligation Consultation gives you an opportunity to discuss your symptoms, previous treatment and whether Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression may be worth considering.

The Spinal Decompression & Chiropractic Center of San Diego
5095 Murphy Canyon Road, Suite 300
San Diego, CA 92123
Phone: 619-298-0800
www.SanDiegoBackCare.com
Live 24/7 Answering Service • Hablamos Español

Sciatica Doesn't Tell Dr. Boelk What's Wrong

“Sciatica” tells him something about what you're experiencing.

It doesn't necessarily tell him why.

A lumbar disc may be bulging or herniated near a nerve. Degenerative changes may have reduced the space around the nerve. There may be foraminal narrowing or spinal stenosis.

There are other possible causes of leg pain as well.

That's why Dr. Boelk wants patients to be very specific.

Where does your pain start?

Where does it end?

Is it pain, numbness, burning or tingling?

Does it reach the foot?

Which toes?

Is the leg weak?

Does sitting make it worse?

What happens when you stand or walk?

You may not think those details are important, but they can help determine whether the symptoms correspond with a particular nerve and whether what appears on an MRI makes sense.

You Can Have a Disc Problem Without Terrible Back Pain

This confuses patients all the time.

“My back isn't that bad. It's my leg.”

That doesn't rule out the lower back.

Some people with a lumbar disc problem have considerable back pain along with sciatica. Others feel most of the symptoms in the buttock, thigh, calf or foot.

Sometimes the back pain settles down first while the leg continues to hurt.

Sometimes the sharp pain improves while numbness remains.

This is one reason simply treating the spot that hurts isn't always enough.

What Does Spinal Decompression Actually Do?

Dr. Boelk's office uses the DRX9000 exclusively and has seven systems—four lumbar and three cervical.

For lumbar decompression, the patient is positioned on the DRX9000 while the system applies controlled decompression and relaxation cycles.

Most patients find the treatment comfortable.

But Dr. Boelk doesn't believe successful decompression is simply a matter of strapping someone onto a machine and pushing start.

The patient's diagnosis matters.

So does the disc level, positioning, treatment angle, starting force, body size, symptoms and response to treatment.

An L4-L5 problem may require a different approach than an L5-S1 problem.

A patient with significant leg symptoms may need to be approached differently than someone whose primary complaint is central lower-back pain.

There is no single generic “sciatica protocol” that Dr. Boelk uses on everybody.

Bring the Actual MRI if You Have It

Patients sometimes come in knowing every word from their MRI report.

“Six-millimeter protrusion.”

“Severe foraminal narrowing.”

“Degenerative disc disease.”

“Disc extrusion.”

Those descriptions are useful, but Dr. Boelk still prefers to look at the images.

A measurement alone doesn't tell the whole story.

A smaller disc herniation in an unfortunate location can potentially irritate a nerve considerably. A larger abnormality may look frightening on paper but may not correspond well with the patient's current symptoms.

Dr. Boelk wants to see what is happening at L4-L5, L5-S1 and the other lumbar levels, then compare those findings with the patient's history and examination.

The objective isn't to find the ugliest-looking thing on the MRI.

It's to figure out what is most likely relevant to the person sitting in front of him.

What if Sitting Is Your Biggest Problem?

This is common enough that it's worth paying attention to.

Maybe you're reasonably comfortable when you leave home in Chula Vista, but by the time you've driven into central San Diego, your buttock is aching and your foot is tingling.

Tell Dr. Boelk that.

How long can you sit before it starts?

What happens when you get out of the car?

Does walking around help?

Can you sit comfortably in one chair but not another?

If prolonged sitting consistently aggravates the leg, break it up when possible.

Changing positions and taking short comfortable walks may be more useful than spending hours trying to find the “perfect” posture.

And Don't Automatically Stretch Every Tight Leg

Patients with sciatica frequently describe the back of the leg as incredibly tight.

So they stretch it.

And stretch it.

And stretch it harder.

Sometimes they're repeatedly irritating the very thing they're trying to calm down.

If a stretch gives you a normal muscular pulling sensation, that's one thing.

If it creates electrical pain, burning, tingling or numbness that shoots farther down the leg, pay attention.

You don't get extra credit for pushing through neurological symptoms.

Look for Changes in Your Normal Life

Pain scales have their place, but patients often notice progress in other ways first.

You suddenly realize you slept six hours without waking up because of your leg.

You drove somewhere without having to pull over.

You can put your sock on again.

You're walking farther.

You're standing longer.

The pain that used to go all the way to your foot doesn't seem to travel as far.

Or maybe you've been treating the problem for weeks and none of those things are improving.

That's useful information too.

Dr. Boelk wants to know how the condition is affecting your actual life and whether those limitations are changing.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Dee M. — Peoria, Arizona

“Dr Boelk is highly knowledgeable and has made a difference in my life.
I have a degenerative bone issue in my lower back. Spinal decompression is the only way that gives me relief all the way to my feet. I highly recommend
the Spinal Decompression center.”

— Dee M., Peoria, AZ

What if You've Already Had an Injection or Physical Therapy?

Bring that information with you.

Dr. Boelk isn't only interested in treatments that failed completely.

Suppose an epidural injection took away 80% of your leg pain for a month and then the symptoms returned.

That's worth knowing.

Maybe physical therapy substantially improved your strength and mobility, but the foot numbness never changed.

That's worth knowing too.

The same applies to chiropractic care, medications, acupuncture, massage or exercises you've tried on your own.

Your response to previous care can provide additional clues about what's happening.

Not Everyone With Sciatica Should Have Spinal Decompression

There are patients Dr. Boelk doesn't accept for decompression.

An unhealed fracture is one example.

Other concerns can include significant osteoporosis, unstable spondylolisthesis, abdominal aortic aneurysm, pregnancy for lumbar decompression, certain malignancies and other conditions that may make treatment unsafe or inappropriate.

Previous spinal surgery needs to be reviewed carefully, especially when fusion or metal hardware is present at the level that would need treatment.

And occasionally, the examination or imaging points in a completely different direction.

In those situations, telling the patient not to undergo decompression is just as important as knowing when to recommend it.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Jeff J. — Tucson, AZ

“I found this terrific practice on social media. I followed up and did my own research so I decided to pay them a visit. The place is clean, well organized and run by a very efficient receptionist. I met with the doctor and after a honest and forthright conversation, we both determined that surgery was my only option to correct my back issues. I will return as a customer when the time is right.”

— Jeff J., Tucson, AZ

Pain Is One Thing. Increasing Weakness Is Another.

If your leg hurts terribly, that obviously deserves attention.

But Dr. Boelk also wants to know whether the nerve appears to be losing function.

Is your foot beginning to slap when you walk?

Are you having trouble lifting the front of the foot?

Does one leg suddenly feel substantially weaker than the other?

Is the leg giving way?

Increasing neurological weakness should be evaluated rather than simply watched indefinitely.

New bowel or bladder dysfunction, difficulty urinating, numbness around the groin or saddle area, or rapidly progressing weakness can be signs of a medical emergency and require prompt medical attention.

Why Dr. Boelk Has Focused on Decompression for More Than 22 Years

Dr. Boelk's interest in spinal injuries began with his own.

He suffered an L5 compression fracture at age 16 and later experienced disc injuries and sciatica. He spent thousands of hours working through his own rehabilitation, and those experiences eventually became part of his professional focus.

Dr. Boelk is a Certified Spinal Decompression Doctor and Certified Pain-Free Performance Specialist.

He founded the Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Training Academy, where he trains other doctors in decompression protocols and techniques. He is a Founding Member of the American Spinal Decompression Society, a member of the International Disc Education Association, and holds California X-ray radiography credentials.

More than 22 years and 100,000+ decompression treatments provide a tremendous amount of clinical experience.

But experience also means knowing when not to treat someone.

Could Spinal Decompression Help Your Sciatica?

If you live in Chula Vista and sciatica is making it difficult to sit, drive, sleep, exercise, work or simply get through a normal day, find out what's causing it before assuming you have to live with it.

Bring your MRI images and report if you have them.

Dr. Boelk can review your symptoms and imaging and discuss whether Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression may be appropriate for your situation.

No MRI? You can still schedule a consultation.

Not every patient is a candidate. If Dr. Boelk doesn't believe decompression is appropriate for your condition, he'll tell you.

No-Charge, No-Obligation Consultation

The Spinal Decompression & Chiropractic Center of San Diego
5095 Murphy Canyon Road, Suite 300
San Diego, CA 92123

Phone: 619-298-0800
www.SanDiegoBackCare.com

Live 24/7 Answering Service • Hablamos Español

Call 619-298-0800 to schedule your No-Charge, No-Obligation Consultation.