Does Spinal Decompression Help a Herniated Disc? | Kearny Mesa, CA

If your MRI says you have a herniated disc, the answer is yes, Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression may help in certain cases.

But the MRI alone doesn't tell Dr. Cassidy James Boelk, DC whether you're a good candidate.

He wants to see the actual images and then compare them with what you're feeling. Where does the pain go? Is it staying in the back or running into the buttock and leg? Any numbness or tingling? Can you sit comfortably? What happens when you stand or walk?

Those details matter.

Dr. Boelk has been doing Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression for more than 22 years and has performed more than 100,000 treatments. His office has seven DRX9000 systems, making it the largest known Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression clinic in Southern California.

Herniated discs are a big part of what he treats. He also trains other doctors in spinal decompression protocols and techniques.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “The Spinal Decompression Has Relieved All the Pain I Felt in My Lower Back”

“I lost mobility and had difficulty even putting shoes on.”

“I have been seeing Dr. Boelk since November for my back pain due to disc herniation. I lost mobility and had difficulty even putting shoes on. The pain was interfering with my everyday lifestyle. After reviewing the X-ray results, we agreed upon a treatment plan. Agreeing to this treatment plan was the best choice I've made for my back pain. The spinal decompression has relieved all the pain I felt in my lower back. I can walk, run and exercise without any pain and I'm able to get back in the gym and continue my daily routines. The office staff are very friendly and caring as well. I highly recommend Dr. Boelk's office to anyone seeking exceptional care.”

— Paul C.

Paul came in with a disc herniation that was affecting normal daily activities. Even putting his shoes on had become difficult.

Later, he described being able to walk, run, exercise and get back into the gym.

That's what Dr. Boelk wants to know when he's checking progress: what can you do now that you couldn't do before?

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Have a Herniated Disc? Bring Your MRI in and Let Dr. Boelk Take a Look.

This is exactly what the No-Charge Consultation is for.

You don't need to know whether you want spinal decompression. You don't even need to know whether spinal decompression is appropriate.

Bring the actual MRI images if you have them.

Dr. Boelk will personally go through the case with you and look at:

• Where the disc is herniated.

• Whether a nerve appears to be involved.

• Where the pain travels.

• Numbness or tingling in the leg or foot.

• Any weakness you've noticed.

• How long you can sit, stand or walk.

• What makes the symptoms better or worse.

• What you've already tried.

• Whether your MRI matches your symptoms.

• Whether he believes you're a candidate for Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression.

If you don't have an MRI yet, that's okay. Dr. Boelk can still listen to what's happening and discuss whether additional examination or imaging may be appropriate.

There is no charge for the consultation and no obligation to start treatment.

You're coming in for an experienced opinion. That's it.

And if Dr. Boelk doesn't think spinal decompression is appropriate, he'll tell you.

Dr. Boelk personally performs these consultations while also treating his existing patients, so there are only a limited number available in the schedule each week.

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

Live 24/7 Answering Service • Hablamos Español

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Herniated Disc, Protrusion, Extrusion — What Does All of This Mean?

MRI reports can sound pretty alarming.

Disc bulge. Protrusion. Herniation. Extrusion. Nerve root compression.

Patients sometimes walk into the office holding the report and assuming the worst.

Dr. Boelk would rather see the images.

A disc herniation generally means disc material has displaced beyond its normal boundary. Depending on where it goes, it may irritate or compress a spinal nerve.

That's when you may start feeling symptoms somewhere other than your back.

You might have pain in the buttock or calf. Your foot may tingle. A few toes may feel numb.

Sometimes the leg is terrible and the back barely hurts at all.

Does a Herniated Disc Automatically Mean Surgery?

No.

Many people with lumbar disc herniations are treated conservatively, depending on the severity of their symptoms and neurological findings.

Dr. Boelk has also seen the opposite situation. Someone has been trying different conservative treatments for months while their leg is becoming progressively weaker.

That's different.

There isn't one answer for every herniated disc.

The MRI, examination, symptoms and how those symptoms are changing all have to be considered.

What Does the DRX9000 Do?

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

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

Patients sometimes ask whether the machine is “sucking the herniation back in.”

Dr. Boelk doesn't explain it that way.

He's much more interested in whether the patient is improving.

If the sciatica used to run all the way into your foot and now it's mainly in the buttock, that's something he wants to know.

If you couldn't sit for 20 minutes and now you can sit through a movie, that's meaningful.

If you were walking with a limp and you're walking normally again, that's meaningful too.

Pay Attention to Where the Pain Is Going

This is something Dr. Boelk talks about a lot with sciatica patients.

Don't only track the pain from 1 to 10.

Track where it is.

Maybe your pain is a 5 today instead of a 7. That's good.

But if it used to stay in your buttock and now it's running all the way into your foot, Dr. Boelk wants to know that.

The opposite can happen too.

Pain that was previously going into the foot may start staying closer to the back.

Those changes help him understand how the problem is behaving.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “For the First Time in 10 Years, I Am Completely Pain-Free”

“I was one step away from back surgery.”

“For the first time in 10 years, I am completely pain-free. My sciatca is gone, and I no longer have back pain.

Before finding Dr. Boelk, I tried chiropractic care, acupuncture, pain medications, and several other therapies that simply didn't work. I was one step away from back surgery when I discovered spinal decompression treatment at The Spinal Decompression & Chiropractic Center of San Diego.

The results have been incredible. Every visit was comfortable, relaxing, and completely pain-free. Dr. Boelk and Patty always took the time to explain everything and made me feel genuinely cared for throughout the process.

They are warm, welcoming, and truly dedicated to helping their patients.

Thank you, Dr. Boelk and Patty!”

— Toni H., San Diego, CA

Toni had been dealing with the problem for 10 years and had already tried several other forms of treatment.

Her situation was appropriate for spinal decompression.

Not everybody's is.

What If You've Already Tried Physical Therapy or Injections?

That's not unusual.

Dr. Boelk sees plenty of patients after they've tried physical therapy, chiropractic treatment, medication, epidural injections or some combination of them.

Tell him exactly what happened.

If an epidural helped for four months, that's useful information.

If physical therapy helped the back pain but did nothing for the numbness in your foot, tell him.

If something clearly made you worse, that's important too.

There's no reason to pretend previous treatment didn't happen. It helps Dr. Boelk understand the problem.

When Is Dr. Boelk More Concerned?

Weakness gets his attention.

If you're noticing that one leg is becoming weaker, you're having trouble lifting the front of your foot, you're stumbling more or you're clearly losing strength, that needs to be evaluated.

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

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

Who May Be a Candidate for Spinal Decompression?

Dr. Boelk commonly evaluates patients with disc herniations at L4-L5 and L5-S1, disc protrusions, selected extrusions, disc-related sciatica, degenerative disc disease, foraminal narrowing and certain cases of spinal stenosis.

But he doesn't decide based only on the diagnosis.

Spinal stability matters.

Bone health matters.

Previous surgery and hardware matter.

Neurological findings matter.

And sometimes the problem simply isn't something Dr. Boelk thinks the DRX9000 is going to help.

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★ Not Everyone Who Comes in Gets 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 came in hoping spinal decompression might be an option.

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 one reason the office offers the No-Charge Consultation. You shouldn't have to commit to treatment before you even know whether Dr. Boelk thinks you're a candidate.

Experience Matters With Spinal Decompression

Dr. Cassidy James Boelk, DC has been performing Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression for more than 22 years and has completed more than 100,000 treatments.

His 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

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

If Your MRI Says Herniated Disc, Bring It With You

Don't make a decision just because the MRI report sounds bad.

Bring the actual images.

Let Dr. Boelk look at the herniation and compare it with where you're hurting, what you're having trouble doing and what you've already tried.

Then find out what he thinks.

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

No charge. No obligation. No requirement to start treatment.

Bring your MRI if you have one.

Dr. Boelk will personally review your case and tell you whether he believes Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression may be appropriate.

If he doesn't think you're a candidate, he'll tell you that too.

Only a limited number of these consultations can be worked into the schedule because Dr. Boelk performs them personally 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
SanDiegoBackCare.com

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