How Do I Know If My Herniated Disc Is Healing? | La Jolla, CA
Is Your Herniated Disc Healing—or Are You Just Having a Good Day?
This is one of the most common questions people have while recovering from a herniated disc.
You feel better for several days.
Then you sit too long, exercise, travel, work in the yard, or simply wake up one morning and the pain is back.
Naturally, you wonder:
“Am I actually getting better?”
Healing from a herniated disc isn't always a straight line.
There may be good days and bad days along the way. Rather than judging recovery by one day's pain level, it can be more useful to look for consistent changes in your symptoms and what you're physically able to do.
Signs that may indicate improvement include:
-
Pain becoming less intense
-
Pain occurring less frequently
-
Sciatica or arm pain traveling a shorter distance
-
Decreased numbness or tingling
-
Improving strength
-
Increased walking tolerance
-
Sitting or standing longer
-
Sleeping better
-
Moving with less restriction
-
Gradually returning to normal activities
One of the most important questions you can ask yourself is:
“What can I do today that I couldn't do several weeks ago?”
That answer may tell you more about your progress than simply rating your pain from 1 to 10.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ From Severe L5 Nerve Pain to Walking, Exercising and Lifting Again
Amanda came to the office after months of severe symptoms caused by an extruded disc pressing on her L5 nerve.
She was struggling to stand upright and walk and had already been scheduled for spinal injections and a surgical evaluation.
Her story provides a powerful example of how functional improvement can be an important part of measuring recovery.
**“Last year, I spent three months constantly going back and forth between doctor's appointments and urgent care. The pain was unbearable—I was taking medication regularly just to get through the day. Getting out of bed was excruciating, and walking or standing felt like torture. Every step filled me with dread.
In December, my doctor finally ordered an MRI. That's when I learned I had an extruded disc pressing on my L5 nerve, which affects the leg and foot. My doctor scheduled two follow-up appointments: one for pain management (spinal injections), and another to evaluate me for surgery.
Then I discovered spinal decompression therapy. I was thrilled to find a non-invasive alternative. I never ended up needing either of those appointments.
Now, I'm walking regularly, standing up straight—something I couldn't do before. When I first sought help, I was so hunched over that I had to use a cane just to move forward. Because of the pain, I hadn't exercised in months. But now, I'm doing a program called 75 Hard, which requires not one but two 45-minute workouts every day, and I've even gotten back to lifting weights!
I'm so thankful I found this place. It's conveniently located near my work, which makes it easy to fit sessions into my lunch break. Dr. Boelk and the staff are incredibly friendly and polite—it's always a pleasure to come in. The environment is so relaxing that I look forward to each visit. I truly thank God for leading me to this alternative. It's made such a difference in my life.”**
— Amanda, San Diego, CA
Individual results vary. Amanda's experience doesn't mean every patient will experience the same result or avoid injections or surgery.
But look at the changes she described.
She didn't simply say her pain score went down.
She went from struggling to stand and walk to walking regularly, standing upright, exercising and lifting weights again.
That's meaningful functional improvement.
Find Out If You're a Candidate
If your herniated disc, sciatica, or persistent neck or lower-back pain isn't improving the way you expected, Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression may be an option.
Dr. Cassidy James Boelk, DC can evaluate your condition, review your symptoms and available imaging, and determine whether you're an appropriate candidate for treatment.
📞 Call 619-298-0800
🌐 SanDiegoBackCare.com
📍 5095 Murphy Canyon Road, Suite 300
San Diego, CA 92123
7 Signs Your Herniated Disc May Be Healing
1. Your Pain Is Less Intense or Less Frequent
Pain doesn't necessarily need to disappear completely before you're making progress.
Maybe the severe pain that once lasted all day now comes and goes.
Perhaps mornings are easier.
Maybe a flare-up that previously lasted several days now settles down much faster.
These changes can matter.
Look at the pattern over time rather than one isolated day.
2. Your Sciatica Isn't Traveling as Far Down Your Leg
This can be an important change with lumbar disc problems.
Initially, pain may travel from the lower back or buttock all the way through the leg and into the calf, ankle, or foot.
As symptoms improve, some patients notice that the pain no longer travels as far.
For example:
Pain that previously reached the foot may stop at the calf.
Later, it may become primarily thigh or buttock discomfort.
A similar pattern can occur with a cervical herniated disc when symptoms that previously traveled into the fingers become more localized toward the arm, shoulder, or neck.
Changes in the distribution of nerve symptoms can provide useful information about recovery.
3. Numbness and Tingling Are Decreasing
Disc-related nerve irritation can cause more than pain.
Patients may experience:
-
Numbness
-
Tingling
-
Pins and needles
-
Burning
-
Altered sensation
These symptoms don't always disappear at the same rate as pain.
If numbness or tingling is becoming less frequent, less intense, or affecting a smaller area, that may be an encouraging change.
4. Your Strength Is Improving
Strength deserves particular attention when a herniated disc affects a spinal nerve.
A lumbar disc problem may contribute to weakness involving the leg, ankle, or foot.
A cervical disc problem may affect the shoulder, arm, wrist, hand, or fingers.
Improving strength may be a positive sign.
Increasing or rapidly progressing weakness, however, should be medically evaluated rather than simply watched.
5. You Can Sit, Stand or Walk Longer
Functional improvement is one of the most practical ways to measure progress.
Consider where you were several weeks ago.
Could you only sit for 15 minutes before needing to change position?
Could you barely walk around the block?
Was standing through a conversation uncomfortable?
Could you tolerate your commute?
Now compare that with today.
Being able to sit longer, walk farther, stand more comfortably, drive farther, or work longer can represent meaningful progress even if some discomfort remains.
6. You're Sleeping Better
Pain can have a major impact on sleep.
Patients with significant disc or nerve symptoms may struggle to find a comfortable position, wake repeatedly during the night, or experience increased pain every time they roll over.
If you're sleeping for longer periods and waking less frequently because of pain, that's another functional change worth paying attention to.
7. You're Getting Your Normal Life Back
Ultimately, this is what most patients care about.
Not simply:
“Is my pain a 3 instead of a 6?”
But:
“Can I live normally again?”
Maybe that means returning to:
-
Work
-
Exercise
-
Golf
-
Surfing
-
Hiking
-
Traveling
-
Lifting weights
-
Playing with your children
-
Walking on the beach
-
Sitting through dinner
-
Getting through a full day without constantly thinking about your back
Returning to meaningful activities can be one of the clearest signs that you're moving in the right direction.
Can You Have a Flare-Up While Your Disc Is Healing?
Yes.
A flare-up doesn't automatically mean you've undone all of your progress.
As patients begin feeling better, they naturally start doing more.
Sometimes they do too much, too soon.
That can temporarily increase soreness or nerve irritation.
The important questions become:
-
How severe was the flare-up?
-
How long did it last?
-
Did symptoms return to their previous level?
-
Are neurological symptoms worsening?
-
Are you recovering from flare-ups more quickly than before?
If you used to experience a five-day setback and now a temporary increase in symptoms settles within a day, that's different from steadily worsening pain and neurological function.
Look at the overall trajectory.
Does Feeling Better Mean My Disc Is Completely Healed?
Not necessarily.
This is an important distinction.
Pain can improve as inflammation and nerve irritation decrease even while the injured tissues continue recovering.
Feeling better is certainly encouraging.
But feeling better for several days doesn't necessarily mean the spine is immediately ready for heavy lifting, aggressive exercise, or every activity that previously aggravated the condition.
A progressive return to normal activities may be appropriate.
Should I Get Another MRI to See If My Herniated Disc Is Healing?
Not necessarily.
MRI can provide valuable structural information, but another MRI isn't automatically required simply because you're recovering from a disc injury.
Clinical changes also matter.
Dr. Boelk may evaluate:
-
Your pain pattern
-
Location of symptoms
-
Numbness or tingling
-
Muscle strength
-
Sensation
-
Functional ability
-
Walking tolerance
-
Sitting and standing tolerance
-
Orthopedic and neurological findings
Imaging should be interpreted together with the patient rather than in isolation.
What If My Herniated Disc Isn't Improving?
If you've given the condition time and appropriate conservative care but continue experiencing significant symptoms, it may be worth reevaluating what's happening.
There may be several questions to answer:
-
Is the herniated disc actually producing the symptoms?
-
Is a spinal nerve still being irritated?
-
Is there significant spinal or foraminal stenosis?
-
Is there spinal instability?
-
Are activities repeatedly aggravating the injury?
-
Is another structure contributing to the symptoms?
-
Does the treatment approach need to change?
For appropriate patients, Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy may be another conservative option.
Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression for La Jolla Patients
The Spinal Decompression & Chiropractic Center of San Diego treats patients from La Jolla, UTC, University City, Torrey Pines and throughout San Diego County who are seeking conservative options for difficult disc-related conditions.
Dr. Cassidy James Boelk, DC uses the DRX9000® Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression System for appropriate cervical and lumbar conditions.
The office has 7 DRX9000 Spinal Decompression Systems dedicated to Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy.
Based on the number of dedicated DRX9000 systems in the practice, the center is one of the largest known Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression practices in California.
But the number of machines isn't the most important part.
Determining whether the patient should be treated is.
Not Every Patient Is a Candidate
Dr. Boelk does not recommend Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression simply because an MRI shows a herniated disc.
Some patients require additional testing.
Some are better candidates for another conservative approach.
And there are patients for whom surgery may be the appropriate recommendation.
Jeff traveled from Tucson looking for another option for his condition.
After his evaluation, he and Dr. Boelk determined otherwise.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“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
That is an important part of the practice philosophy.
The objective isn't to recommend spinal decompression to everyone.
It's to determine whether you're an appropriate candidate.
Why Patients Seek Out Dr. Cassidy James Boelk, DC
✔ Certified Spinal Decompression Doctor
✔ Certified Pain-Free Performance Specialist
✔ California X-Ray Radiology Licensed Doctor
✔ Founder, Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Training Academy
✔ Founding Member, American Spinal Decompression Society
✔ More Than 22 Years Clinical Experience
✔ More Than 100,000 Spinal Decompression Treatments Performed
✔ 7 DRX9000® Spinal Decompression Systems
✔ One of the Largest Known Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Practices in California
✔ Patients Travel From Across the United States and Internationally
Dr. Boelk has spent more than two decades working with patients suffering from difficult neck, back, disc, and nerve-related conditions.
His experience is personal as well as professional. After dealing with significant spinal injuries himself, Dr. Boelk has spent thousands of hours studying and working through rehabilitation strategies for his own neck and back injuries as well as those of his patients.
He also trains other doctors in Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression protocols and techniques through the Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Training Academy, based in his San Diego private practice.
When Should You Be Concerned?
Recovery can have ups and downs.
But worsening neurological symptoms deserve attention.
Seek prompt medical evaluation for progressively increasing weakness, worsening numbness, or significant deterioration in your ability to walk or function.
Seek emergency medical attention for symptoms including:
-
New loss of bowel or bladder control
-
Numbness in the groin or saddle region
-
Rapidly progressing muscle weakness
-
Significant or rapidly worsening neurological deficits
These symptoms may indicate serious nerve compression and shouldn't be delayed while pursuing conservative treatment.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “One of the Best Decisions I Made for My Back.”
**“The care I received at Dr. Boelk's office was so wonderful. I went from having to lay down for several hours a day, to being able to live my life normally, and even began working up my exercise capacity. I always felt cared about, and there was a lot of feedback. The exercise and information Dr. Boelk provides is so critical to maintaining positive results and pain reduction with increased mobility and freedom.
All the staff are so caring, and it's one of the best decisions I made for my back!”**
— Kaitelyn H., San Diego, CA
Individual results vary. Not every patient is a candidate for Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy.
Find Out If You're a Candidate for Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression
If your herniated disc, sciatica, or persistent neck or lower-back pain isn't improving the way you expected, the first step is understanding why.
Your evaluation with Dr. Cassidy James Boelk, DC may include:
✔ A review of your symptoms, health history, and previous treatments
✔ A focused orthopedic and neurological examination
✔ Review of your existing MRI or other imaging, when available
✔ Digital X-rays when clinically indicated
✔ Evaluation of spinal stability and other factors that may affect whether decompression is appropriate
✔ An explanation of what may be causing your ongoing symptoms
✔ A determination of whether you're a candidate for Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression
✔ A discussion of your treatment options and recommended next steps
Not everyone is a candidate. If Dr. Boelk doesn't believe Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression is appropriate for your condition, he'll tell you and discuss appropriate next steps.
Ready to Find Out If You're a Candidate?
📞 Call 619-298-0800
🌐 SanDiegoBackCare.com
📍 The Spinal Decompression & Chiropractic Center of San Diego
5095 Murphy Canyon Road, Suite 300
San Diego, CA 92123
Hablamos Español.