Herniated Back Disc Treatments Without Surgery – San Diego, CA
Patient Experience
“I had really bad back problems to the point I couldn’t sleep, also had pain radiating along the sciatic nerve which ran down one leg from the lower back—caused by an accident. I came in and talked to Dr. Cassidy about my back problems. He evaluated me and mentioned I was a good candidate for this treatment. After the first 2 decompression sessions my sciatic pain was gone and we were able to work on the root of the problem. I did a total of 24 sessions, after which I was able to start rehabilitation training to strengthen my core. The office is super nice and the staff’s customer service is above and beyond. Back and neck issues are horrible to live with—trust me, I know firsthand. I gained weight, took pain killers, went into depression, and had major anxiety. I’m over it now—feeling better, walking, sleeping well, and starting to have a better social life as well. The experience for me has been nothing but excellent. Dr. Cassidy Boelk is hands down amazing—super glad I came here.”
— Abel T., San Diego, CA
Source: www.SanDiegoBackCare.com / SoTellUs
👉 Severe pain, nerve symptoms, and loss of function improved quickly, followed by long-term recovery and return to normal life.
Next Step: Herniated Disc & Nerve Evaluation — Get a Clear Answer First
If you’ve been told you have a herniated disc and your symptoms are not improving, the next step is not more random treatment—it’s understanding what is actually causing your pain and whether the disc is truly the source.
At our office, this begins with a Herniated Disc & Nerve Evaluation, where Dr. Boelk personally works through your case to determine what is driving your symptoms and whether you are a candidate for care.
What We Do During This Evaluation
- Review your full history and current symptoms
- Go through what you’ve already tried and how your body responded
- Review any prior MRI or imaging (if available)
- Explain what is most likely causing your pain
- Identify whether the disc is the primary issue
- Assess for nerve irritation or compression
- Evaluate which movements or positions affect your symptoms
- Determine whether a more targeted approach is needed
What We Determine
- Whether your pain is truly coming from a disc issue
- Whether nerve pressure is contributing to your symptoms
- Whether you are an appropriate candidate for care
- What a customized plan would look like if you qualify
- What realistic expectations should be
- Or if another path would be more appropriate
⚠️ We do not recommend treatment for every patient.
Only patients we believe we can genuinely help are accepted into care.
Because of the time and attention required, we reserve a limited number of new patient evaluation appointments each week.
What Is a Herniated Disc?
A herniated disc occurs when the inner portion of the disc pushes outward and can place pressure on nearby nerves.
This often leads to:
- Sciatica
- Pain traveling down the leg
- Numbness or tingling
- Weakness
- Pain that worsens with sitting or bending
Why Many Herniated Disc Cases Don’t Improve
Many patients are told to:
- rest
- stretch
- strengthen
- take medication
- consider injections
While these may help temporarily, they often do not fully address the problem if:
👉 Disc pressure remains unchanged
If pressure on the nerve continues, symptoms tend to persist or return.
Experience Matters With Herniated Disc Cases
At The Spinal Decompression & Chiropractic Center of San Diego:
Dr. Cassidy Boelk, DC has spent over 20 years focusing specifically on disc injuries and nerve-related pain.
- Certified Spinal Decompression Doctor
- Certified Pain-Free Performance Specialist
- Founder – Spinal Decompression Training Academy
- Over 100,000 spinal decompression treatments performed
- Exclusive use of DRX9000 spinal decompression systems
- One of the only clinics in the region with 7 DRX9000 units
Patients travel from across the United States and internationally—including Mexico, the United Kingdom, and Spain—to receive this level of specialized care.
What the Research Shows
Clinical research on Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression has demonstrated:
- 90.5% of patients reported pain reduction
- Significant improvement in nerve-related symptoms
- Improved function in daily activities
Source: Military Medicine, 2025 – Retrospective Study on Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression
Major institutions such as Johns Hopkins, Duke Medical Center, and Mayo Clinic emphasize conservative care when appropriate before surgery.
Patient Experience
“I have had a wonderful experience with Dr. Boelk and his staff at the Spinal Decompression and Chiropractic Center of San Diego. They have a great protocol and the best decompression machines. I’ve been to other places with sub par machines and didn’t get any benefit. Dr. Boelk is very attentive and cares about each person, you can see it in how he interacts with everyone. Been undergoing treatment for about 12 sessions now and the sciatica is gone and I’m almost back to normal, didn’t think it would ever heal but even after the first session I had tremendous relief and could sleep mostly pain free for the first time in months. Definitely worth the investment! Thank you!”
— Michael Langsdale, San Diego, CA
Source: www.SanDiegoBackCare.com / SoTellUs
👉 After unsuccessful care elsewhere, experienced rapid relief and near full recovery.
Out-of-Town Patient Experience
“My name is Lynn. I am from Alaska, and I just want to say it was totally worth taking a trip to go to the Spinal Decompression & Chiropractic Center of San Diego. I was having pain radiating down my legs, I couldn’t sleep, I could barely walk. After treatment I am back to shoveling snow, teaching school, taking walks. I highly encourage anybody that might be considering spinal decompression therapy, it really makes a difference.”
— Lynn C., Alaska
Source: www.SanDiegoBackCare.com / SoTellUs
👉 Severe mobility limitations improved to full daily function after traveling for specialized care.
Not Everyone Is a Candidate
Spinal decompression is not appropriate for every patient.
“Very nice Dr. and honest! I would definitely recommend anyone who hasn't had metal put in their 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
Source: www.SanDiegoBackCare.com / SoTellUs
👉 You will always be told honestly whether this is the right fit—or not.
Request Your Herniated Disc & Nerve Evaluation
If you’ve been diagnosed with a herniated disc and are trying to avoid injections or surgery, the next step is to get a clear understanding of what is actually causing your symptoms.
📞 Office: 619-298-0800
📱 Call/Text: 619-884-8298
🌐 www.SanDiegoBackCare.com
📍 The Spinal Decompression & Chiropractic Center of San Diego
5095 Murphy Canyon Road, Suite 300
San Diego, CA 92123
👉 Most patients tell us they wish they had done this step sooner instead of continuing treatments that weren’t addressing the real problem.