Is Chiropractic Spinal Decompression Effective for Sciatica in Kearny Mesa, CA?

Sciatica can make even the simplest things difficult.

Sitting in your car, getting out of bed, walking through the grocery store, or trying to sleep can become frustrating when pain travels from your lower back into your buttock and down your leg.

Some people describe it as a sharp, electric pain. Others experience burning, tingling, numbness, or weakness.

If you've tried physical therapy, chiropractic adjustments, medications, or injections without getting the relief you hoped for, you may be wondering:

Can non-surgical spinal decompression help with sciatica?

For certain patients, it may be an option worth considering. But the first step is understanding what's causing the sciatic nerve pain.

At The Spinal Decompression & Chiropractic Center of San Diego, located in Kearny Mesa, Dr. Cassidy James Boelk, DC, has spent more than 22 years helping patients explore non-surgical treatment options for herniated discs, sciatica, and chronic spinal conditions.

Dr. Boelk, DC, is a Certified Spinal Decompression Doctor and Certified Pain-Free Performance Specialist. He has overseen more than 100,000 spinal decompression treatment sessions and operates a specialized facility with seven spinal decompression systems.

Start With a No-Charge, No-Obligation Consultation

Not sure whether spinal decompression is right for you?

The Spinal Decompression & Chiropractic Center of San Diego offers a limited number of no-charge, no-obligation consultations.

This is an opportunity to speak with the team about your condition before deciding whether to schedule a complete examination.

What Does the No-Charge Consultation Include?

• Discuss your symptoms. Explain where your pain is located, how long you've had it, and whether it travels into your buttock, leg, or foot.

• Review your treatment history. Talk about physical therapy, chiropractic care, injections, medications, or other treatments you've already tried.

• Discuss available imaging. If you have an MRI report or previous X-rays, bring them along so they can be discussed.

• Learn about the DRX9000. Understand how non-surgical spinal decompression works and what a typical treatment program involves.

• Discuss the next step. Find out whether a complete spinal decompression examination may be appropriate or whether another type of evaluation makes more sense.

The consultation is free and there's no obligation to begin treatment.

A complete physical examination, new X-rays, MRI, and spinal decompression treatments are not included in the no-charge consultation. Any recommended services and their costs are discussed separately.

Call 619-298-0800 to schedule your consultation.

www.SanDiegoBackCare.com

A Patient Who Was Struggling With Sciatica

★★★★★ Patient Experience — Michael Langsdale, San Diego, CA</text>

“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!”

This is one patient's experience. Results vary.

Why Does Sciatica Hurt So Much?

The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in your body. It begins from nerve roots in the lower spine and travels through the buttock and down the leg.

When one of those nerve roots becomes irritated or compressed, you may experience symptoms far from your lower back.

Common complaints include:

• Pain shooting down one leg

• Burning or tingling in the buttock, calf, or foot

• Numbness in the leg or toes

• Pain that gets worse with sitting

• Weakness in the leg or foot

• Difficulty finding a comfortable sleeping position

A herniated disc is one common cause of sciatica.

Two of the most frequently affected levels are L4-L5 and L5-S1.

However, not every case of sciatica comes from a disc problem. That's why it's important to identify the likely cause before choosing treatment.

How Can Spinal Decompression Help Sciatica?

Non-surgical spinal decompression is a specialized form of mechanical traction.

During treatment, a patient lies on a table while controlled pulling forces are applied to the spine.

The goal is to temporarily change the mechanical loading on spinal structures.

For some patients with disc-related sciatica, traction may help reduce symptoms and improve function.

However, not everyone responds to treatment, and research on lumbar traction has produced mixed findings.

Spinal decompression has not been proven to reliably reverse disc herniations or eliminate the need for surgery.

The most important question is whether the patient's condition makes traction a reasonable treatment option.

What Is the DRX9000?

The DRX9000 is a computerized spinal traction system that delivers controlled pulling forces through programmed treatment cycles.

Patients lie on a specialized table while the machine applies traction according to selected settings.

Treatment parameters can be adjusted based on the patient's condition, comfort, and response.

At The Spinal Decompression & Chiropractic Center of San Diego, the office has:

• 4 lumbar DRX9000 spinal decompression units

• 3 cervical spinal decompression units

• 7 spinal decompression systems in total

A typical treatment session lasts approximately 20 to 25 minutes.

The equipment is one part of the process. The doctor's experience, diagnosis, and treatment recommendations are just as important.

Another Patient's Experience With Sciatic Nerve Pain

★★★★★ Patient Experience — Abel T., San Diego, CA</text>

“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.”

 

How Does Dr. Boelk, DC, Decide Whether You're a Candidate?

This is one of the most important parts of the process.

Not everyone with sciatica needs spinal decompression, and some patients should not receive it.

Dr. Boelk, DC, considers the patient's medical history, symptoms, previous treatment, and available imaging.

When appropriate, the evaluation may include a physical and neurological examination, review of MRI findings, and standing spinal X-rays.

Flexion and extension X-rays may be recommended to assess possible spinal instability.

The goal is to determine whether the symptoms are consistent with a condition that may respond to conservative treatment.

Patients with acute fractures, significant spinal instability, certain postoperative conditions involving hardware, or progressive neurological problems may not be appropriate candidates.

New bowel or bladder dysfunction, saddle anesthesia, or rapidly worsening weakness requires emergency medical evaluation.

Meet Dr. Cassidy James Boelk, DC

Dr. Boelk's interest in spinal decompression is both professional and personal.

At age 16, he sustained a fracture involving his lower back. Later, he experienced lumbar disc herniations and sciatica.

Those experiences influenced his decision to focus much of his career on disc-related spinal conditions and rehabilitation.

Today, he also trains other doctors through the Spinal Decompression Training Academy.

His Credentials and Experience

• Board-Certified Doctor of Chiropractic

• Certified Spinal Decompression Doctor

• Certified Pain-Free Performance Specialist

• Founder of the Spinal Decompression Training Academy

• Founding Member of the American Spinal Decompression Society

• Member of the International Disc Education Association

• California X-ray Radiology Licensed Doctor

• More than 22 years of clinical experience

• Experience overseeing more than 100,000 spinal decompression treatment sessions

• Extensive experience with lumbar and cervical spinal decompression

His focus is helping appropriate patients understand their options and work toward better function.

How Many Treatments Does Spinal Decompression Take?

There isn't one treatment plan that works for everyone.

At Dr. Boelk's practice, many patients receive recommendations for approximately 12 to 24 spinal decompression sessions, often scheduled three times per week.

Each DRX9000 session typically lasts 20 to 25 minutes.

Progress is reassessed during care.

If a patient isn't improving, the treatment plan should be reconsidered.

Some patients may also benefit from spinal stabilization exercises, strengthening, and other rehabilitation strategies.

Why Getting Stronger Is Important

Improving pain is only part of the goal.

Patients also need to regain confidence in everyday movements and activities.

Depending on the condition, rehabilitation may include walking, core stabilization, hip strengthening, and gradual resistance training.

Exercises such as modified curl-ups, bird dogs, and side planks may be appropriate for some patients.

The right exercises depend on the individual's symptoms and physical capabilities.

Dr. Boelk, DC, is also a Certified Pain-Free Performance Specialist and has extensive personal and clinical experience with spinal rehabilitation.

When Spinal Decompression Isn't the Right Choice

Sometimes the most helpful recommendation is to pursue another treatment.

Dr. Boelk, DC, has evaluated patients who were not appropriate candidates for spinal decompression and recommended other care.

<text>★★★★★ Patient Experience — Toni W., Lake Elsinore, CA</text>

“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.”

This experience highlights the importance of appropriate patient selection.

Frequently Asked Questions About Sciatica and Spinal Decompression

Can spinal decompression help with L5-S1 sciatica?

Some patients with L5-S1 disc-related symptoms may benefit from traction-based conservative care. However, results vary, and treatment isn't appropriate for everyone.

Is spinal decompression the same as a chiropractic adjustment?

No. Chiropractic adjustments involve controlled forces applied to joints. Spinal decompression uses mechanical traction.

Do I need an MRI before the consultation?

No. You can schedule a consultation without an MRI. If you already have imaging, bring the report or images for discussion.

Does insurance cover spinal decompression?

The practice offers spinal decompression as an elective, self-pay service. HSA and flexible spending account funds may be accepted.

Can spinal decompression prevent surgery?

Some patients improve with conservative treatment and don't require surgery. However, spinal decompression cannot be guaranteed to prevent surgery.

Looking for Sciatica Relief in Kearny Mesa, CA?

If you're dealing with pain traveling down your leg, numbness, tingling, or a herniated disc, you may be wondering whether spinal decompression is worth considering.

You don't have to make that decision based on advertisements or guesswork.

A no-charge consultation can help you understand the treatment and determine whether a complete examination may be appropriate.

The Spinal Decompression & Chiropractic Center of San Diego is located in Kearny Mesa and directed by Dr. Cassidy James Boelk, DC.

With more than 22 years of experience, seven spinal decompression systems, and extensive work with disc-related conditions, the practice provides a specialized setting for patients considering non-surgical spinal care.

Call 619-298-0800 to schedule your no-charge, no-obligation consultation.

Contact The Spinal Decompression & Chiropractic Center of San Diego

Dr. Cassidy James Boelk, DC
Certified Spinal Decompression Doctor
Certified Pain-Free Performance Specialist
Founder, Spinal Decompression Training Academy

Address: 5095 Murphy Canyon Road, Suite 300, San Diego, CA 92123

Phone: 619-298-0800
Website: www.SanDiegoBackCare.com
Email: frontdesk@sandiegobackcare.com

24/7 telephone answering available. Hablamos Español.

Find out whether non-surgical spinal decompression may be an appropriate option for your sciatica. Call 619-298-0800 today.