Is Chiropractic Spinal Decompression Effective for Sciatica in La Jolla, CA?

Sciatica can turn an ordinary day into a painful one.

You sit down for dinner, and pain starts shooting through your buttock. You get out of the car, and your leg feels tight or numb. You lie down to sleep, but can't find a comfortable position.

For some people, the pain comes and goes. For others, it becomes a constant problem.

If you're living in La Jolla and dealing with sciatica, you've probably wondered whether there's a way to get relief without medications, injections, or surgery.

One treatment you may have come across is non-surgical spinal decompression.

But does it actually help?

For certain patients with disc-related sciatica, spinal decompression may be worth considering. The key is identifying what's causing the nerve pain and whether you're a good candidate.

At The Spinal Decompression & Chiropractic Center of San Diego, located in Kearny Mesa, Dr. Cassidy James Boelk, DC, has spent more than 22 years evaluating and treating patients with 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 founded the Spinal Decompression Training Academy, where he teaches other doctors about decompression techniques and patient selection.

His practice features seven spinal decompression systems, including four lumbar DRX9000 units and three cervical decompression units.

Start With a No-Charge Consultation

Before committing to treatment, patients can schedule a no-charge, no-obligation spinal decompression consultation.

It's an opportunity to discuss your symptoms, ask questions, and learn whether a complete spinal decompression examination may be appropriate.

What Happens During the Consultation?

• Talk about your pain. Where does it start? Does it travel into your buttock, leg, or foot? What makes it worse?

• Discuss previous treatments. Physical therapy, chiropractic care, injections, medications, or other approaches you've tried.

• Discuss your MRI or X-rays. If you already have imaging, bring it along for discussion.

• Learn about the DRX9000. Find out how spinal decompression works and what a treatment program typically involves.

• Understand your options. Discuss whether a full examination may be appropriate or whether another type of evaluation makes more sense.

There's no charge for the consultation and no obligation to begin treatment.

A complete physical examination, new X-rays, MRI, and spinal decompression treatments are not included. Any recommended services and costs are discussed separately.

Call 619-298-0800 to schedule.

www.SanDiegoBackCare.com

A Patient Who Was Looking for an Alternative to Surgery

★★★★★ Patient Experience — Calder Pearce, San Diego, CA

“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.”

Why Does Sciatica Cause Pain Down the Leg?

Sciatica is a term used to describe pain that travels along the path of the sciatic nerve.

The nerve roots that contribute to the sciatic nerve begin in the lower spine.

When one of those nerve roots becomes irritated or compressed, symptoms can travel through the buttock and down the leg.

Some patients experience:

• Sharp or shooting leg pain

• Burning sensations

• Numbness or tingling

• Weakness in the leg or foot

• Pain that gets worse with sitting

• Difficulty sleeping comfortably

One common cause is a herniated lumbar disc.

Two frequently affected levels are L4-L5 and L5-S1.

A disc herniation at L4-L5 may irritate the L5 nerve root, while a herniation at L5-S1 may affect the S1 nerve root.

But not every case of sciatica is caused by a disc problem.

That's why identifying the source of symptoms matters before choosing treatment.

How Does Spinal Decompression Work?

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

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

The treatment is designed to temporarily change mechanical loading across spinal structures.

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

However, spinal decompression isn't appropriate for everyone.

The decision to recommend treatment should depend on the patient's diagnosis, symptoms, examination findings, and available imaging.

Why Dr. Boelk Uses the DRX9000

The DRX9000 is a computerized, motorized traction system.

It applies controlled pulling forces through programmed treatment cycles.

The doctor can adjust treatment parameters 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. Proper evaluation and patient selection are equally important.

Another Patient's Experience With Sciatica

★★★★★ Patient Experience — Michael Langsdale, San Diego, CA

“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!”

What Does the Research Say About Spinal Decompression for Sciatica?

Research on lumbar traction has produced mixed findings.

Some studies suggest mechanical traction may provide short-term improvements in pain or disability for selected patients with lumbar radiculopathy.

Other studies have found limited additional benefit when traction is combined with exercise or other conservative treatments.

There is not enough evidence to conclude that spinal decompression reliably reverses herniated discs or eliminates the need for surgery.

For certain patients, however, traction may be considered as part of a broader conservative treatment program.

The important question is whether the patient's symptoms and examination findings support trying this approach.

Meet Dr. Cassidy James Boelk, DC

Dr. Boelk's interest in spinal rehabilitation is personal.

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

Those experiences helped shape his interest in conservative spinal care.

Today, he specializes in evaluating patients with disc-related spinal conditions and teaching other doctors about spinal decompression.

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 clinical approach focuses on helping appropriate patients understand their options and improve their ability to function.

How Does Dr. Boelk Determine Whether You're a Candidate?

Before recommending spinal decompression, Dr. Boelk, DC, considers the patient's medical history, symptoms, previous treatments, and available imaging.

When appropriate, an examination may include neurological testing, assessment of spinal movement, and review of MRI findings.

Standing weight-bearing spinal X-rays or flexion and extension X-rays may also be recommended when clinically indicated.

Not everyone with sciatica is a candidate.

Certain conditions, including acute fractures, significant instability, progressive neurological weakness, severe osteoporosis, and some postoperative conditions involving spinal hardware, may make spinal decompression inappropriate.

Patients experiencing new bowel or bladder dysfunction, saddle anesthesia, or rapidly worsening weakness need emergency medical evaluation.

An Honest Evaluation Matters

One of the most important things a doctor can do is recognize when a patient needs another type of care.

★★★★★ Patient Experience — Jan H., San Marcos, CA

“I decided to see Dr. Boelk after a pretty gnarly motocoss neck injury. At the Hospital I was at, I felt I was getting pressured into a surgery which I refused. A friend of a friend referred him after Dr. Boelk successfully treated his broken back.

Dr. Boelk is a compassionate individual who truly cares about his patients. He looked at my MRI images, explained what he saw and potential routes for recovery. He could not treat me as I have to wait until the fracture in my neck heals, but the level of professionalism, compassion, caring and knowledge displayed by him was exceptional.

He also recommended to seek an additional opinion form another neurosurgeon. My experience was that he really cares and he's not someone who would take advantage of the situation someone's in (unlike some other doctors). I will definitely be back and already recommended him to others as well! Thank you Dr. Boelk!”

How Long Does Spinal Decompression Treatment Take?

There isn't one treatment schedule that's appropriate for everyone.

At Dr. Boelk's practice, many programs involve approximately 12 to 24 sessions, commonly scheduled three times per week.

A typical DRX9000 session lasts 20 to 25 minutes.

Progress is reassessed periodically.

If meaningful improvement isn't occurring, the treatment plan should be reconsidered.

Rehabilitation and spinal stabilization exercises may also be recommended.

Why Rehabilitation Matters

For many patients, reducing pain is only the beginning.

Getting stronger and improving movement tolerance can help patients return to normal activities.

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

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

The goal is to help patients improve function and return to activities they enjoy.

Spinal Decompression for La Jolla Residents

Residents of La Jolla, including neighborhoods around UTC, La Jolla Village, Bird Rock, and surrounding areas, can access specialized spinal decompression care at The Spinal Decompression & Chiropractic Center of San Diego in Kearny Mesa.

The office is located at:

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

Patients traveling from La Jolla can reach the Kearny Mesa area using Interstate 5, State Route 52, Interstate 805, and connecting roads, depending on their starting location.

The practice is located in Kearny Mesa, not La Jolla.

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 treatment. The appropriate approach depends on the clinical findings.

Is spinal decompression painful?

Treatment tolerance varies. Patients should communicate discomfort or worsening symptoms to their provider.

Do I need an MRI?

Not necessarily. MRI recommendations depend on symptoms, examination findings, and clinical circumstances.

Can spinal decompression help me avoid surgery?

Some patients improve with conservative care and do not require surgery. However, spinal decompression cannot be guaranteed to prevent surgery.

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.

Schedule a No-Charge Spinal Decompression Consultation

If you're living with sciatica, a herniated disc, or persistent lower back pain, you may be wondering whether spinal decompression is worth considering.

Dr. Cassidy James Boelk, DC, offers a limited number of no-charge, no-obligation spinal decompression consultations at The Spinal Decompression & Chiropractic Center of San Diego.

You can discuss your symptoms, previous treatments, and available imaging while learning about the DRX9000 system.

The consultation is provided at no charge. Any recommended examination, imaging, or treatment is discussed separately.

Call 619-298-0800 to schedule your consultation.

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

Office 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.

Located in Kearny Mesa, serving La Jolla, UTC, University City, Clairemont, Mission Valley, and surrounding San Diego communities.

Call 619-298-0800 to find out whether spinal decompression may be appropriate for your sciatica.