Can Spinal Decompression Help an L4-L5 Disc Herniation? | Kearny Mesa, CA

L4-L5 is one of the most common levels Dr. Cassidy James Boelk, DC sees on lumbar MRIs.

Sometimes the patient already knows exactly what the report says. They come in saying, “I've got a 5-millimeter herniation at L4-L5,” or “My MRI says the disc is pressing on a nerve.”

That's helpful, but Dr. Boelk still has a lot of questions.

Where is the pain?

Does it stay in your back or go into your buttock or leg? Is anything numb? How long can you sit? What happens when you walk? Has your leg become weaker? What have you stopped doing because of this?

An L4-L5 disc herniation may be a condition Dr. Boelk considers for Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression, but he doesn't treat an MRI report. He treats the person sitting in front of him.

Dr. Boelk has more than 22 years of experience with Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression and has performed more than 100,000 treatments. His Kearny Mesa clinic has seven DRX9000 systems, and he also trains other doctors in spinal decompression protocols and techniques.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “I Came in Not Able to Bend and Walking With a Limp”

“By March I am now able to bend without any pain and am able to walk normally.”

“Dr. Boelk and his team are the best in the business! I have had lower back problems for over 5 years and been to 6 other doctors seeking options other than surgery. I came in early January not able to bend and walking with a limp. By February I was able to bend again with minimal pain and by March I am now able to bend without any pain and am able to walk normally.

I am EXTREMELY happy I did not have surgery and found Dr. Boelk. Trust him and the process and he will get you feeling better. He also said from the beginning that if at any stage in the process he felt like progress wasn't happening he would let me know which was not the case with other specialist I have seen in the past so I appreciate that.”

— Calder Pearce, San Diego, CA

That last part is something Dr. Boelk feels strongly about.

If a patient isn't progressing the way he expects, he wants to know why. The answer isn't to keep treating someone indefinitely simply because they've already started.

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Have an L4-L5 Herniation on Your MRI? Bring It In.

If you already have a lumbar MRI, bring the actual images with you if possible.

The consultation with Dr. Boelk is no charge.

He'll sit down with you, look at the L4-L5 level and compare what he sees with what you're actually experiencing.

He may ask:

• Where did the symptoms first start?

• Where are they now?

• Does the pain travel below the knee?

• Is any part of your leg or foot numb or tingling?

• Have you noticed weakness?

• How long can you sit before symptoms start?

• What happens when you stand or walk?

• Are bending, lifting or exercising becoming more difficult?

• What treatments have you already tried?

• Did any of them help, even temporarily?

He'll also look at the rest of the MRI. Sometimes L4-L5 isn't the only abnormal level.

The goal is to determine whether the imaging and symptoms make sense together and whether Dr. Boelk believes Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression may be appropriate.

The consultation is no charge and there is no obligation to begin treatment.

You don't have to decide that you want spinal decompression before you come in.

First find out whether Dr. Boelk thinks you're a candidate.

Because he personally performs these consultations while continuing to care for his existing patients, only a limited number can be worked into the schedule each week.

Call 619-298-0800 and ask about the next available No-Charge Consultation with Dr. Cassidy James Boelk, DC.

Live 24/7 Answering Service • Hablamos Español

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Two L4-L5 Herniations Can Look Similar and Behave Very Differently

This is why Dr. Boelk doesn't like treating patients from the MRI report alone.

One person with an L4-L5 herniation may be working, exercising and functioning pretty normally with intermittent lower back pain.

Another person with a similar finding may have trouble putting on shoes, getting out of the car or sitting through dinner.

Someone else may say the back barely hurts but the leg is driving them crazy.

That's a very different presentation.

Dr. Boelk wants to understand what your L4-L5 problem is doing to you before deciding what to do about it.

“My Back Isn't That Bad. It's My Leg.”

Dr. Boelk hears this all the time.

A lumbar disc problem can affect a nerve, so the symptoms don't necessarily stay where the injured disc is located.

Patients may describe aching, burning, tingling, numbness or sharper pain traveling into the buttock or leg.

Some can sit fairly comfortably but have trouble standing.

Others hate sitting, especially driving.

That's useful information.

So is what makes the symptoms stop.

If sitting for five minutes settles down symptoms that begin after standing or walking, tell Dr. Boelk. If coughing or sneezing sends pain farther into the leg, tell him that too.

The details help.

Where Does the DRX9000 Fit In?

Dr. Boelk uses the DRX9000 exclusively for Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression.

The treatment applies controlled distraction to the spine with the goal of reducing mechanical stress at the involved spinal segment and creating a more favorable environment around the disc and surrounding structures.

The clinic has seven DRX9000 systems—four lumbar and three cervical combination systems.

But owning a lot of equipment isn't what determines whether somebody should be treated.

Patient selection does.

Dr. Boelk first wants to know whether the problem in front of him is something he reasonably expects to respond.

Don't Only Track Your Pain Number

A patient may tell Dr. Boelk, “My pain is still a five.”

Okay.

But what else has changed?

Maybe three weeks ago you couldn't drive more than 15 minutes and now you can drive for an hour.

Maybe the pain used to go into your foot and now it stops around the buttock.

Maybe you're sleeping through the night again.

Or perhaps the opposite is happening. The symptoms are traveling farther down the leg, numbness is becoming more constant or you're noticing weakness that wasn't there before.

Those changes can be more useful than a single number.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A Patient Who Traveled More Than 300 Miles

“After my first few treatments, I feel as though I have returned to 100%. Life for me is completely different.”

“Hi my name is Rosa Algravez. I have suffered from leg numbness and low back pain for 4 years. I haven’t been able to do groceries or even take baths without pain. I looked for relief with various doctors with no luck. I have done treatments ranging from chiropractic to acupuncture. My husband found Dr. Boelk in the newspaper and we decided since we had tried everything else that we were going to give this a try. After my first few treatments, I feel as though I have returned to 100%. Life for me is completely different.

My husband and I have returned to enjoying life. We travel 300+ miles everyday from Calexico. I can do things now with little to no limitations. The staff makes you feel welcomed and it’s a very family environment. The payments are easy and I would recommend this to anyone suffering with low back pain. Thank You”

— Rosa Algravez, Age 58, Calexico, CA

Rosa had dealt with leg numbness and lower back pain for four years. Even grocery shopping and bathing had become difficult.

She and her husband traveled more than 300 miles for care.

Patients also come to the clinic from other states and countries, but distance by itself isn't a reason Dr. Boelk accepts someone for treatment. Out-of-town patients still have to be appropriate candidates.

What If Physical Therapy Didn't Work?

That question comes up frequently.

The first thing Dr. Boelk wants to know is what “didn't work” actually means.

Did you get stronger but the leg pain stayed the same?

Did you improve for a while and then flare up again?

Did certain exercises consistently send symptoms farther down the leg?

Or did absolutely nothing change?

The same applies to injections, chiropractic care, medications and other treatments.

Don't just tell Dr. Boelk you've “tried everything.” Tell him what happened when you tried it.

Does L4-L5 Automatically Mean Surgery?

No.

An L4-L5 disc herniation on an MRI by itself doesn't determine whether someone needs surgery.

Symptoms, neurological findings, severity, progression and response to conservative treatment all matter.

Dr. Boelk has treated many patients who were trying to avoid surgery, but avoiding surgery at any cost isn't the goal.

There are situations where he wants a patient evaluated medically or surgically.

Progressive weakness is one of the things he takes seriously.

New bowel or bladder dysfunction, difficulty initiating or controlling urination, or numbness involving the groin, inner thighs or saddle region requires prompt medical evaluation.

Those aren't symptoms to wait on while trying routine conservative care.

Sometimes L4-L5 Isn't the Whole Problem

This is another reason Dr. Boelk looks at the entire MRI.

Maybe L4-L5 is herniated, but there's also substantial degeneration at L5-S1.

Maybe there's foraminal narrowing.

Maybe there's a spondylolisthesis and Dr. Boelk needs to know whether it's stable.

Sometimes weight-bearing flexion and extension X-rays are useful because an MRI taken while lying down doesn't answer every question about spinal stability.

The treatment decision comes after putting those pieces together.

★ Coming in for a Consultation Doesn't Mean You'll Be Treated

“Just not in my personal case.”

“Very nice Dr. and Honest ! I would definitely recommend anyone who hasn't had metal put in there back in a surgery to go to him and give his program a shot. I believe it would definitely help. Just not in my personal case. As I have a lot of hardware in my back. But I'm glad I took the time to meet with him. It was very informative all around.”

— Toni W., Lake Elsinore, CA

Toni wanted to know whether spinal decompression might help her.

Because of the amount of hardware in her back, Dr. Boelk did not accept her for treatment.

She still felt the consultation was worthwhile.

That's exactly why the first appointment should be about figuring out candidacy rather than assuming everybody who has back pain belongs on a decompression table.

Dr. Cassidy James Boelk, DC

Dr. Boelk's background includes:

• Doctor of Chiropractic

• Certified Spinal Decompression Doctor

• Certified Pain-Free Performance Specialist (PPSC)

• Founder, Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Training Academy

• Trains other doctors in spinal decompression protocols and techniques

• Founding Member, American Spinal Decompression Society

• Member, International Disc Education Association

• California X-Ray Radiation Supervisor & Operator

• More than 22 years of Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression experience

• More than 100,000 spinal decompression treatments performed

He also understands spinal injury personally. Dr. Boelk suffered an L5 compression fracture at age 16 and later dealt with disc injuries and sciatica himself.

If Your MRI Says L4-L5 and You're Not Sure What to Do

Bring it in.

You don't need to diagnose yourself from the report, and you don't need to decide ahead of time whether spinal decompression is what you want.

Tell Dr. Boelk what's changed.

Maybe you used to surf, golf, work out or walk several miles and now you're avoiding those things.

Maybe sitting through the workday is getting harder.

Maybe you're simply tired of going from one treatment to another without understanding what's actually causing the symptoms.

Start there.

No-Charge Consultation With Dr. Cassidy James Boelk, DC

Bring your MRI if you have one.

Dr. Boelk will personally review the images, listen to what you're experiencing and determine whether he believes your L4-L5 disc problem may be appropriate for Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression.

There is no charge and no obligation to begin treatment.

If Dr. Boelk thinks he may be able to help, he'll explain why.

If he doesn't, he'll tell you.

Only a limited number of these consultations can be set aside each week because Dr. Boelk personally performs them while continuing to treat his existing patients.

Call 619-298-0800 and ask about the next available No-Charge Consultation.

Live 24/7 Answering Service • Hablamos Español

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

619-298-0800
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