L4-L5 Herniated Disc: Symptoms & Treatment Options In Chula Vista, CA

An L4-L5 herniated disc doesn't always feel like what people expect a back injury to feel like.

Yes, it can cause significant lower-back pain. But it can also cause pain into the glute or leg, sciatica, numbness, tingling, burning sensations, or weakness in the leg or foot. Some patients have trouble sitting or driving but can walk fairly well. Others have difficulty standing upright during a bad flare-up. Sleep can become difficult because there doesn't seem to be a comfortable position.

By the time many patients see Dr. Cassidy James Boelk, DC, they have already tried several things on their own. They have rested, stretched, taken medication, changed their chair, stopped exercising, started exercising again, or watched dozens of videos trying to figure out which exercise is supposed to “fix” a herniated disc.

Then an MRI shows a problem at L4-L5 and the next concern is often surgery.

An L4-L5 herniated disc does not automatically mean surgery is necessary. Many lumbar disc problems are treated conservatively. The important part is figuring out what is actually causing the symptoms and whether there are any neurological findings that change the treatment options.

Dr. Boelk has worked with disc injuries, sciatica and Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression for more than 22 years and has performed more than 100,000 spinal decompression treatments.

When Sciatica Starts Running Your Life

Brian Perrotta came to Dr. Boelk with a herniated disc and severe sciatica.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Brian Perrotta — San Diego, CA

“I highly recommend Dr. Cassidy Boelk, DC and the team at The Spinal Decompression and Chiropractic Center. I came in with severe sciatica and a herniated disc, and his treatments have made a world of difference. He and his staff are both professional and genuinely caring, creating a welcoming and supportive environment. The treatments were not only highly effective but also tailored to my specific needs. I’m grateful for the care I received and the significant improvement in my quality of life.”

— Brian Perrotta, San Diego, CA

Sciatica can become much more disruptive than patients expect. Sitting at work becomes difficult. Driving becomes uncomfortable. Sleep is interrupted. Exercise gets put on hold. Patients begin avoiding things because they know they will “pay for it” later with increased leg pain.

Getting a proper diagnosis becomes especially important when those symptoms aren't settling down.

No-Charge Consultation for Chula Vista Patients

Patients from Chula Vista can schedule a No-Charge, No-Obligation Consultation with Dr. Boelk at The Spinal Decompression & Chiropractic Center of San Diego.

If you already have an MRI, bring the actual images and report if possible. Bring previous X-rays or other relevant imaging as well.

Dr. Boelk will review:

• Where the pain starts and where it travels

• Whether symptoms are in one or both legs

• Numbness, tingling or burning

• Any weakness in the leg or foot

• Sitting and driving tolerance

• Standing and walking tolerance

• Whether pain is interrupting sleep

• How the problem started

• Previous spinal injuries or surgery

• Treatments already tried and the results

The MRI is then considered along with what the patient is actually experiencing.

If you don't have imaging, you can still schedule a consultation. Dr. Boelk can determine whether additional evaluation or imaging may be appropriate.

Not every patient is a candidate for Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression.

The Spinal Decompression & Chiropractic Center of San Diego
5095 Murphy Canyon Road, Suite 300
San Diego, CA 92123
Phone: 619-298-0800
www.SanDiegoBackCare.com
Live 24/7 Answering Service • Hablamos Español

What Is Happening at L4-L5?

L4-L5 is the disc between the fourth and fifth lumbar vertebrae. Because of its location in the lower lumbar spine, it is involved in a considerable amount of normal movement and loading.

When the outer portion of the disc becomes damaged, disc material can push outward. An MRI may describe this as a bulge, protrusion, herniation or extrusion.

The report may also mention:

• Annular fissure

• Degenerative disc changes

• Foraminal narrowing

• Spinal canal narrowing

• Nerve-root contact

• Nerve compression

Those findings can be important, but Dr. Boelk doesn't treat an MRI report. He treats the patient.

A disc finding becomes much more meaningful when its location corresponds with the patient's pain pattern, neurological symptoms and examination findings.

Why Can a Back Problem Cause Leg or Foot Symptoms?

The nerves in the lower spine continue into the lower extremities. When a lumbar disc herniation irritates or compresses a nearby nerve, the symptoms can be felt farther away from the back.

Patients may experience:

• Lower-back pain

• Glute pain

• Sciatic pain into the leg

• Burning or electrical pain

• Numbness

• Pins-and-needles sensations

• Changes in sensation in the lower leg or foot

• Leg or foot weakness

This is also why some patients with an L4-L5 disc problem have surprisingly little back pain.

Their biggest complaint may be the leg.

Where those symptoms travel helps Dr. Boelk determine whether what is showing up on the MRI makes sense clinically.

What Can You Do at Home While the Back Is Irritated?

There is no universal exercise program for an L4-L5 herniation, especially when a nerve is involved. A few simple changes, however, may help avoid repeatedly aggravating the area.

Don't stay in a painful sitting position for hours

If sitting clearly causes the leg symptoms to build, take breaks before the pain becomes severe.

Get up periodically and walk around if walking is comfortable.

For someone who works at a desk all day, several short movement breaks can be much more manageable than trying to undo eight hours of sitting at the end of the day.

Pay attention to your car seat

For Chula Vista patients commuting north for work, driving time can add up quickly.

If the seat is very low, the knees are significantly above the hips and the lower back is rounded, try adjusting the seat to a more supported position.

Small changes in seat height, distance from the pedals and back support can sometimes make a noticeable difference in how the lower back feels during a longer drive.

Be careful with aggressive hamstring stretching

Leg tightness doesn't always mean the hamstring needs more stretching.

Sciatic nerve irritation can create a very strong pulling or tight sensation through the back of the leg.

If stretching increases tingling, burning or pain farther down the leg, stop forcing it.

Use comfortable movement

If short walks feel good, walk.

If a particular exercise clearly makes the leg symptoms worse, don't keep doing it simply because it is labeled a “herniated disc exercise.”

The response matters.

Pay attention to changes in strength

Pain tends to get most of the attention, but weakness is important.

If one leg is becoming noticeably weaker, the foot isn't moving normally, or you are beginning to stumble or have difficulty with movements that were previously easy, get it evaluated.

Can L4-L5 Get Better Without Surgery?

Many patients with lumbar disc herniations are treated without surgery.

Depending on the individual case, treatment options can include:

• Activity modification

• Medication

• Physical therapy

• Rehabilitation and strengthening

• Epidural steroid injections

• Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression

Sometimes a combination of approaches is appropriate.

Surgery also has a legitimate role when it is medically necessary, particularly when there are significant or progressing neurological findings or when the structural problem is not appropriate for conservative treatment.

Dr. Boelk's approach isn't to tell every patient to avoid surgery. It is to determine whether there is a reasonable nonsurgical option before assuming surgery is the only choice.

Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression With the DRX9000

The Spinal Decompression & Chiropractic Center of San Diego uses the DRX9000 exclusively for lumbar Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression.

The office has four lumbar DRX9000 systems and three cervical DRX9000C systems.

The DRX9000 uses controlled decompression and relaxation cycles directed toward the lumbar spine. Dr. Boelk adjusts treatment based on factors such as the disc level, patient size, positioning, treatment angle, starting force, symptoms, tolerance and response.

There isn't one setting used for everyone with an L4-L5 herniation.

The machine matters, but so does the person operating it. After more than two decades of working with spinal decompression, Dr. Boelk places a great deal of emphasis on proper patient selection, the treatment protocol, monitoring progress and eventually rebuilding function through appropriate rehabilitation.

One Patient Traveled From Las Vegas

Ira Smith had dealt with lower-back problems from a young age. When his back flared again, the things that had previously helped him were no longer giving him relief, and he was experiencing sciatic pain into his leg and foot.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Ira Smith — Las Vegas, Nevada

“My name is Ira Smith. I live in Las Vegas and found out about Dr. Boelk’s program here in San Diego and decided to start treatments with him. I’ve had lower back problems since I was very young. I had aggravated my lower back pretty bad again and usually I could do exercises, chiropractic treatment, rest and this time those things would no longer relieve my pain. I would get the sciatic pain shooting down into my leg and foot and would be pretty bad.

I found out thru my MRI’s that Dr. Boelk went over with me that I had 5 protruding discs. I did not want to get surgery as I have heard and seen that they don’t always work very well at all. I am 2/3 of the way done with Dr. Boelk’s program and I have zero pain. I pretty much go thru my activities with no pain. As I follow the program it has been absolutely fantastic! I have been thru physical therapy, chiropractic programs, I went to the hospital and they told me I have 1 bad disc, but I found out I had 4 more bad discs as well. The treatment has relieved the pain and is not painful at all. This can be the starting point for anyone with back pain to get their life back.

This is the place to start. If your skeptical, what’s your health worth? The cost of this has been way less than the cost of all my other therapies that I have gone thru. This is less money than all those things, less pain and gives you a great quality of life. This is new and modern and it fixes the problem. Use Dr. Boelk’s program to change your life and it will change your life! This is the place to start. -Thank You”

— Ira Smith, Age 49, Las Vegas, Nevada

Ira's story also shows why Dr. Boelk prefers to review the patient's imaging rather than simply being told, “I have a bad disc.”

There may be more than one level involved, and not every abnormality seen on an MRI is necessarily responsible for the patient's symptoms.

Why Patients Seek Out Dr. Cassidy James Boelk, DC

Dr. Boelk's background includes:

• Doctor of Chiropractic

• Certified Spinal Decompression Doctor

• Certified Pain-Free Performance Specialist

• More than 22 years of clinical experience

• More than 100,000 spinal decompression treatments performed

• 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 radiography credentials

• Seven DRX9000 spinal decompression systems

Dr. Boelk also has his own history with spinal injury. He suffered an L5 compression fracture at 16 and later experienced disc injuries and sciatica.

That experience has helped shape the way he looks at recovery. Reducing pain is important, but patients ultimately want their normal lives back. They want to sleep, drive, work, exercise, travel and do the activities they enjoy without constantly thinking about their back.

Not Every Patient Who Comes In Gets Treated

Toni W. traveled from Lake Elsinore to meet with Dr. Boelk. Because she had extensive hardware in her back from previous surgery, she was not accepted for the decompression program.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Toni W. — Lake Elsinore, CA

“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

Some conditions that may make lumbar decompression inappropriate or require additional evaluation include:

• Unstable spondylolisthesis

• Unhealed spinal fracture

• Significant osteoporosis

• Abdominal aortic aneurysm

• Pregnancy for lumbar treatment

• Certain malignancies

• Certain surgical hardware at the treatment level

• Progressive neurological weakness

• Cauda equina syndrome

• Other conditions that could make decompression unsafe

If Dr. Boelk does not believe decompression is appropriate, he tells the patient and discusses what the next step should be.

When Back or Leg Symptoms Need Immediate Attention

Most disc problems and episodes of sciatica are not medical emergencies. There are certain symptoms that should not wait for a routine appointment.

Seek prompt medical attention for:

• New bowel or bladder dysfunction

• Difficulty urinating

• Numbness around the groin or saddle region

• Rapidly progressing leg weakness

• Sudden loss of control of the leg or foot

Progressively increasing weakness should also be evaluated even when bowel or bladder symptoms are not present.

L4-L5 Herniated Disc Evaluation for Chula Vista Patients

If an L4-L5 herniated disc is affecting your sleep, sitting, driving, walking, work or ability to exercise, the next step is understanding exactly what is going on and what options make sense.

Patients can bring their MRI images, X-rays and reports to a No-Charge, No-Obligation Consultation with Dr. Cassidy James Boelk, DC.

If you don't have imaging, you can still schedule a consultation.

Dr. Boelk will review your symptoms, history, available imaging and previous treatment and determine whether Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression may be appropriate.

Not every patient is a candidate.

The Spinal Decompression & Chiropractic Center of San Diego
5095 Murphy Canyon Road, Suite 300
San Diego, CA 92123

Phone: 619-298-0800
www.SanDiegoBackCare.com

Live 24/7 Answering Service • Hablamos Español

Call 619-298-0800 to schedule a No-Charge, No-Obligation Consultation.