L5-S1 Disc Herniation Treatment Without Surgery – La Jolla, CA

An L5-S1 disc herniation can cause much more than lower-back pain. In fact, some patients Dr. Cassidy James Boelk, DC sees from La Jolla are much more bothered by what is happening in their leg than in their back.

The pain may start in the lower back or buttock and travel down the leg. There may be burning, tingling, numbness, calf discomfort, or symptoms extending into the foot. Sitting through a meeting becomes difficult. Driving aggravates the leg. Sleep gets interrupted because finding a comfortable position is almost impossible.

Then an MRI identifies an L5-S1 disc herniation, and the obvious question becomes: Can this be treated without surgery?

Quite often, nonsurgical treatment is still an option. But Dr. Boelk does not make that decision based solely on the words “L5-S1 herniation” in a radiology report. He wants to see where the disc is herniated, whether a nerve is involved, how the symptoms match the MRI, whether there is weakness or numbness, and what has already been tried.

Dr. Boelk has spent more than 22 years working with herniated discs, bulging discs, sciatica, degenerative disc disease, stenosis, and other difficult spinal conditions. He has performed more than 100,000 spinal decompression treatments during that time. One thing that experience makes very clear is that two patients with an L5-S1 herniation can present very differently.

Brian Came In With a Herniated Disc and Severe Sciatica

Brian Perrotta came to Dr. Boelk with severe sciatica and a herniated disc. His experience is a good example of why the treatment needs to be tailored to the individual rather than treating every disc injury the same way.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 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

La Jolla Patients Can Start With a No-Charge Consultation

Patients who have been diagnosed with an L5-S1 disc herniation or are dealing with persistent sciatica can schedule a No-Charge, No-Obligation Consultation with Dr. Cassidy James Boelk, DC at his Kearny Mesa office.

Patients who already have an MRI should bring the actual images whenever possible, along with the radiology report. Dr. Boelk personally reviews available imaging and compares the findings with the patient's symptoms and history. Patients without an MRI can still schedule the consultation.

Dr. Boelk will want to know:

• Where the pain begins and where it travels

• Whether symptoms extend into the buttock, thigh, calf, ankle, or foot

• Whether there is numbness or tingling

• Whether either leg or foot feels weaker

• What happens during sitting and driving

• How long the patient can comfortably stand or walk

• Whether coughing or sneezing aggravates the pain

• Whether the problem interferes with sleep

• How and when the symptoms started

• What treatment has already been attempted

• Whether there has been previous spinal surgery or a significant injury

• What existing MRI or X-ray studies show

The consultation also gives patients an opportunity to ask questions about Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression, the DRX9000, rehabilitation, or other possible treatment options.

There is no obligation to start care. If Dr. Boelk believes additional imaging, another type of treatment, or a surgical opinion makes more sense, he will explain why.

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

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

Why Is L5-S1 Such a Common Place to Injure a Disc?

L5-S1 is located at the bottom of the lumbar spine, between the fifth lumbar vertebra and the sacrum. This area handles a lot of stress during normal life, especially with sitting, bending, lifting, twisting, sports, and repetitive physical activity.

The disc itself acts partly as a cushion between the vertebrae. When the outer fibers weaken or tear, the softer material inside the disc can push outward. Depending on the appearance and extent of the injury, an MRI may describe a bulge, protrusion, herniation, or extrusion.

The size of the herniation matters, but location can be just as important. A disc does not have to look enormous on an MRI to cause severe symptoms if it is irritating a nerve in the wrong place.

This is also why Dr. Boelk does not simply read the written MRI report and stop there. When imaging is available, he wants to look at the actual images and see whether the findings make sense with what the patient is describing.

What Does L5-S1 Pain Feel Like?

The symptoms can vary considerably.

Some patients primarily have lower-back pain and stiffness. Others feel a deep ache in one buttock. Once a nerve becomes irritated, symptoms may travel farther down the leg and can include:

• Sciatic pain

• Burning or electrical pain

• Numbness or tingling

• Calf tightness or discomfort

• Pain extending toward the ankle or foot

• Changes in sensation in the foot

• Leg or foot weakness

• Difficulty sitting for extended periods

• Increased symptoms during driving

One of the more confusing things about disc-related sciatica is that the lower back may not be the patient's biggest complaint. Someone can have relatively mild back pain while experiencing severe symptoms farther down the leg.

The location of the pain does not always tell the whole story about where the problem originates.

Why Does Sitting Sometimes Hurt More Than Walking?

This pattern is extremely common in patients with lumbar disc problems.

A patient may say that walking around La Jolla for half an hour is manageable, but driving home afterward causes the leg to start throbbing. Another may be comfortable while moving around the house but struggle after sitting at a computer.

Sitting changes the position of the pelvis and lower lumbar spine. If the disc or nerve is already irritated, staying in that position for long periods can make symptoms worse.

Driving adds constant low-level vibration and gives the patient fewer opportunities to change position.

Seat position can contribute as well. Sitting very low with the knees considerably higher than the hips tends to place the lower back in a more rounded position. For someone spending an hour or more in the car every day, that can mean a lot of time spent in a position that continually aggravates the same area.

Patients who notice this pattern may do better by changing position more frequently and breaking up longer periods of sitting whenever possible.

Don't Assume Every “Tight” Leg Needs More Stretching

Patients with sciatica often describe their hamstring or calf as extremely tight.

Naturally, they stretch it.

The problem is that what feels like muscle tightness is not always coming entirely from the muscle. An irritated sciatic nerve can create pulling, aching, burning, or tightness through the back of the leg.

Aggressive stretching can sometimes increase that irritation.

If a stretch causes pain to shoot farther down the leg, increases numbness or tingling, or consistently leaves the patient worse afterward, Dr. Boelk would want to know about it. Continuing to stretch harder is not necessarily going to solve the problem.

Can an L5-S1 Herniation Improve Without Surgery?

Many can.

A recent disc injury that is already improving may respond to time, activity modification, and gradual rehabilitation. Medication can help some patients through a painful acute episode. Physical therapy may be used to restore movement, strength, and spinal stability.

Epidural steroid injections are another option for certain patients when inflammation around a spinal nerve is contributing to significant pain.

For selected disc conditions, Dr. Boelk may also consider Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression.

These treatments are not necessarily competing with one another. A patient may need different things at different stages of recovery. What matters is whether the treatment being used makes sense for that patient's condition and whether the patient is actually progressing.

Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression and the DRX9000

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

The DRX9000 uses controlled decompression and relaxation cycles directed toward the lumbar spine. Treatment is individualized according to the patient's condition rather than using identical settings for everyone who has an L5-S1 diagnosis.

Dr. Boelk may consider:

• MRI findings

• Disc level

• Location of the patient's symptoms

• Treatment angle

• Patient positioning

• Body size

• Starting force

• Treatment cycles

• Patient tolerance

• Response to previous sessions

As treatment progresses, those parameters can be changed.

The equipment is only part of the equation. The doctor still has to determine whether the patient belongs on the machine in the first place.

Lynn Traveled From Alaska After Pain Was Radiating Down Her Legs

Dr. Boelk sees patients from throughout San Diego County, but some travel much farther. Lynn C. came from Alaska after reaching the point where pain radiating down her legs was interfering with walking and sleep.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Lynn C. — Alaska

“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. So, I just want to thank Dr. Boelk and the clinic, you guys are wonderful, and you have created such a wonderful, friendly, kind and truly caring atmosphere. I highly encourage anybody that might be considering spinal decompression therapy, it really makes a difference.”

— Lynn C., Alaska

Pain Relief Should Eventually Lead Back to Function

When someone first arrives with severe sciatica, it is understandable that the immediate goal is simply getting through the day with less pain.

That is not where recovery should end.

As the patient becomes able to tolerate more activity, rehabilitation can become increasingly important. Strength, movement, spinal stability, and gradually increasing activity all matter if the goal is returning to normal life.

Dr. Boelk understands that part of the process personally. He suffered an L5 compression fracture as a teenager and later dealt with additional disc injuries and sciatica. He has spent thousands of hours over the years working with spinal rehabilitation, exercise, and return to activity both personally and professionally.

The end goal is different for every patient. One person wants to sit through a workday without sciatica. Another wants to travel. Someone else wants to get back to the gym, surfing, golf, running, or a physically demanding job.

Why Patients Seek Out Dr. Cassidy James Boelk, DC

Dr. Boelk's practice has focused heavily on difficult disc conditions and Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression for more than two decades.

His experience and credentials include:

• 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 of the Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Training Academy

• Trains other doctors in spinal decompression protocols and techniques

• Founding Member of the American Spinal Decompression Society

• Member of the International Disc Education Association

• California X-Ray Radiation Supervisor & Operator

• Seven DRX9000 spinal decompression systems

• Exclusively uses DRX9000 technology for Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression

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

Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression is one of the primary focuses of the practice, and patients have sought Dr. Boelk's opinion from throughout California, other states, and other countries.

Not Everyone With an L5-S1 Herniation Is a Candidate

Knowing who should not be treated is just as important as knowing who may benefit.

There are situations where Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression may be inappropriate or need to be delayed. These can include certain cases involving unstable spondylolisthesis, an unhealed spinal fracture, significant osteoporosis, abdominal aortic aneurysm, pregnancy for lumbar treatment, certain malignancies, certain surgical hardware, progressive neurological weakness, cauda equina syndrome, and other conditions that could make treatment unsafe.

Jan H. came to Dr. Boelk after a significant motocross neck injury. In her case, Dr. Boelk reviewed the MRI but would not treat her while the fracture was healing.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 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!”

— Jan H., San Marcos, CA

That is an important part of the consultation. Finding a disc problem does not automatically mean finding a reason to treat it with decompression.

When L5-S1 Symptoms Need Immediate Medical Attention

Most L5-S1 herniations do not require emergency surgery, but certain neurological changes should be evaluated promptly.

These include:

• New bowel or bladder dysfunction

• Difficulty beginning urination

• Numbness around the groin or saddle area

• Rapidly progressing leg weakness

• Sudden difficulty controlling a leg or foot

• Other significant, rapidly worsening neurological symptoms

These are not symptoms to simply monitor while trying different exercises or waiting for a routine decompression appointment.

What Should a La Jolla Patient With an L5-S1 Herniation Do Next?

The answer depends on what the disc is actually doing.

Someone with an L5-S1 herniation who is steadily improving and has no significant neurological findings may have very different needs from someone who has been dealing with severe sciatica for six months and has already tried medication, physical therapy, chiropractic care, or injections.

That is why Dr. Boelk starts by looking at the whole picture: the symptoms, the MRI when available, neurological involvement, previous treatment, previous injuries or surgery, and how the condition is affecting everyday life.

From there, he can discuss whether continued conservative treatment makes sense and whether Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression is one of the options worth considering.

Schedule a No-Charge, No-Obligation Consultation

Patients from La Jolla with an L5-S1 disc herniation, bulging disc, disc protrusion, extrusion, sciatica, or another lumbar disc condition can schedule a No-Charge, No-Obligation Consultation with Dr. Cassidy James Boelk, DC.

Patients who already have MRI images, X-rays, or reports should bring them. Patients without imaging can still schedule.

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 with Dr. Cassidy James Boelk, DC.