L5-S1 Disc Herniation Treatment Without Surgery – Mira Mesa, CA

An L5-S1 disc herniation can start with lower-back pain, but once a nerve becomes irritated, the symptoms can change considerably. Pain may begin traveling into the buttock or leg. The calf may cramp or feel unusually tight. There can be numbness, tingling, burning, or weakness, and sitting or driving may become much harder than walking.

Dr. Cassidy James Boelk, DC sees this type of problem regularly at The Spinal Decompression & Chiropractic Center of San Diego, located in Kearny Mesa near Mira Mesa. Many patients arrive after an MRI has already identified an L5-S1 herniation, protrusion, extrusion, or another lower lumbar disc problem. By that point, some have tried medication or physical therapy, some have had injections, and others have been told surgery may eventually be necessary.

The question they usually want answered is whether there is anything else they can do first.

In many cases there may be nonsurgical options, but Dr. Boelk does not determine that simply by seeing “L5-S1 disc herniation” on an MRI report. He wants to know where the disc is herniated, whether it is affecting a nerve, where the patient's symptoms are traveling, whether there is numbness or weakness, how the spine is functioning, and what treatment has already been tried.

Two people can have similar MRI findings and feel completely different. One may have manageable lower-back pain, while the other cannot sleep because of sciatica running all the way into the foot.

Michael Wasn't Sure His Sciatica Would Ever Get Better

Michael Langsdale had already tried other decompression equipment before coming to Dr. Boelk. By the time he reached the office, his sciatica was affecting his sleep and he was not sure whether he was ever going to get back to normal.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Michael Langsdale — San Diego, CA

“I have had an outstanding experience with Dr. Boelk and his staff at The Spinal Decompression & Chiropractic Center of San Diego.

They follow a very structured treatment protocol and utilize the best spinal decompression equipment available. I've been treated elsewhere using lower-quality decompression systems and never experienced meaningful improvement.

Dr. Boelk is attentive, professional, and genuinely cares about every patient. You can see it in the way he interacts with everyone who walks through the door.

After about 12 treatments, my sciatica was gone and I was nearly back to normal. Honestly, I wasn't sure I would ever heal. What surprised me most was that after my very first treatment, I experienced significant relief and was able to sleep mostly pain-free for the first time in months.

The improvement has allowed me to get back to hiking, traveling, and enjoying life again.

This treatment was one of the best investments I've ever made.

Thank you, Dr. Boelk and your entire team.”

— Michael Langsdale, San Diego, CA

Michael's experience is his individual experience, but it also illustrates something Dr. Boelk hears frequently from patients with sciatica: the problem starts affecting much more than the back. Sleep, exercise, work, driving, travel, and normal daily activity can all become difficult.

Mira Mesa Patients Can Start With a No-Charge Consultation

Patients from Mira Mesa who have an L5-S1 disc herniation, persistent sciatica, or another disc-related problem can schedule a No-Charge, No-Obligation Consultation with Dr. Cassidy James Boelk, DC.

If an MRI has already been performed, patients should bring the actual images whenever possible along with the report. Dr. Boelk personally reviews available MRI studies and compares the findings with what the patient is experiencing. Patients who do not have an MRI can still schedule a consultation.

Dr. Boelk will want to know:

• Where the pain begins and where it travels

• Whether symptoms reach the buttock, thigh, calf, ankle, or foot

• Whether there is numbness or tingling

• Whether either leg or foot feels weaker than normal

• What happens when sitting or driving

• How walking and standing affect the symptoms

• Whether coughing or sneezing increases the pain

• Whether the condition interferes with sleep

• How long the problem has been present

• What treatment has already been tried and how the patient responded

• Whether there has been previous spinal surgery or another significant back injury

• What existing MRI or X-ray studies show

The consultation is also a chance to ask questions. If Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression appears reasonable, Dr. Boelk can explain why. If he believes additional imaging, another type of treatment, or a surgical opinion makes more sense, he will discuss that instead.

There is no obligation to start treatment.

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 Can an L5-S1 Herniation Cause Pain All the Way Down the Leg?

L5-S1 is the lowest disc in the lumbar spine. It sits between the fifth lumbar vertebra and the sacrum and handles a significant amount of mechanical stress during sitting, bending, lifting, twisting, exercise, and everyday movement.

When the outer fibers of the disc weaken or tear, disc material can push outward. An MRI may describe this as a bulge, protrusion, herniation, or extrusion depending on what has happened to the disc.

If the problem remains primarily around the disc, the patient may notice lower-back pain and stiffness. If a nearby spinal nerve becomes irritated or compressed, the symptoms can begin traveling away from the spine.

That is where sciatica comes into the picture.

A patient may experience some combination of:

• Lower-back pain or stiffness

• Pain on one side of the lower back

• Buttock pain

• Pain traveling down the leg

• Burning or electrical sensations

• Numbness or tingling

• Calf pain or cramping

• Symptoms extending toward the ankle or foot

• Weakness in the leg or foot

• Difficulty sitting or driving

• Trouble sleeping because of leg pain

Not everyone with an L5-S1 herniation has all of these symptoms. Some patients actually have very little back pain and come in primarily because of what is happening in the leg.

The MRI and the Symptoms Need to Make Sense Together

Dr. Boelk has spent more than 22 years working with disc injuries, and one thing he does not do is treat an MRI report by itself.

A patient can have significant degenerative changes and multiple disc bulges on an MRI yet have surprisingly little pain. Another patient can have a more localized disc herniation that is positioned in exactly the wrong place and develop severe sciatica.

The written radiology report is useful, but when the actual MRI is available, Dr. Boelk wants to look at it himself.

If the location of the disc problem corresponds with the patient's pain, numbness, weakness, and other neurological findings, that helps build a clearer picture. If the MRI and symptoms do not seem to match, that deserves attention as well.

The diagnosis should make sense clinically, not just on paper.

Why Sitting and Driving Can Become Miserable

Some L5-S1 patients notice a very specific pattern: standing or walking is tolerable, but sitting is not.

They may feel reasonably good while moving around and then develop significant leg pain 15 or 20 minutes into a drive. Others can sit for a while but have a difficult time getting upright afterward.

Sitting changes the mechanics of the lower lumbar spine. For someone with an already irritated disc or nerve, remaining in that position for hours can continue aggravating the same area. Driving adds vibration while limiting how often the person can move around.

Seat position is worth looking at too. Sitting very low with the knees considerably higher than the hips can leave the lower back rounded for long periods. If someone commutes every day or spends hours behind a desk, those hours add up quickly.

Changing position more frequently, getting up and walking periodically, and adjusting the driving position may help reduce some of that repeated irritation.

Be Careful About Stretching Sciatica Too Aggressively

Patients often describe the painful leg as “tight,” especially through the hamstring and calf.

The natural reaction is to stretch it.

But a tight feeling in the back of the leg does not always mean the hamstring simply needs more flexibility. An irritated sciatic nerve can create a pulling, burning, aching, or tight sensation along the same general pathway.

If repeatedly stretching the leg causes pain to travel farther toward the foot, increases tingling or numbness, or produces a noticeable flare-up afterward, continuing to pull harder may be making the situation worse.

That is something worth discussing during the evaluation.

What Are the Nonsurgical Treatment Options?

There is no single treatment plan that fits every L5-S1 herniation.

A recent disc injury that is already improving may respond well to time, appropriate activity modification, and a gradual return to normal movement. Medication may help control pain and inflammation during a more acute episode.

Physical therapy and rehabilitation can play an important role in rebuilding strength, movement, and spinal stability. Some patients benefit from epidural steroid injections when inflammation around a nerve is contributing to significant symptoms.

For selected patients, Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression is another conservative option.

These approaches do not necessarily have to compete with one another. What matters is whether the patient is progressing and whether the treatment makes sense for that particular stage of the condition.

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.

Treatment involves controlled decompression and relaxation cycles directed toward a specific region of the lumbar spine. Dr. Boelk does not use identical settings simply because two patients both have an L5-S1 diagnosis.

Treatment may be adjusted according to the patient's:

• MRI findings

• Disc level

• Location of symptoms

• Body size

• Positioning

• Treatment angle

• Starting force

• Treatment cycles

• Tolerance

• Response to previous sessions

The DRX9000 is an important part of treatment, but it is still a piece of equipment. It cannot determine whether a patient's symptoms match the MRI, decide whether someone is safe to treat, or recognize when another medical opinion is more appropriate.

Those decisions come before treatment.

Rosa Traveled More Than 300 Miles From Calexico

Some patients travel considerable distances to see Dr. Boelk. Rosa Algravez had been dealing with leg numbness and lower-back pain for four years and had already tried several other approaches.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rosa Algravez — Calexico, CA

“Hi my name is Rosa Algravez. I have suffered from leg numbness and low back pain for 4 years. I haven’t been able to do groceries or even take baths without pain. I looked for relief with various doctors with no luck. I have done treatments ranging from chiropractic to acupuncture. My husband found Dr. Boelk in the newspaper and we decided since we had tried everything else that we were going to give this a try. After my first few treatments, I feel as though I have returned to 100%. Life for me is completely different.

My husband and I have returned to enjoying life. We travel 300+ miles everyday from Calexico. I can do things now with little to no limitations. The staff makes you feel welcomed and it’s a very family environment. The payments are easy and I would recommend this to anyone suffering with low back pain. Thank You”

— Rosa Algravez, Age 58, Calexico, CA

Rehabilitation Is About Getting Back to Normal Life

Reducing severe pain is obviously important, but Dr. Boelk does not look at that as the only goal.

As symptoms settle and the patient is able to tolerate more activity, rehabilitation can become an important part of the process. Strength, movement, spinal stability, and gradually increasing physical activity all matter.

The endpoint is different for every patient. Someone may simply want to drive to work without sciatica. Another patient wants to return to weight training. Others want to surf, golf, hike, run, travel, or get back to a physically demanding occupation.

Dr. Boelk's interest in this part of treatment is also personal. 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 and return to activity, both for his own injuries and for his patients.

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 has four lumbar DRX9000 systems and three cervical DRX9000C systems. Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression is one of the primary focuses of the practice rather than an occasional service.

Not Every L5-S1 Patient Should Be Treated With Decompression

Dr. Boelk does not accept every patient for treatment.

Certain spinal fractures, unstable spondylolisthesis, significant osteoporosis, abdominal aortic aneurysm, pregnancy for lumbar treatment, certain malignancies, certain surgical hardware, progressive neurological weakness, cauda equina syndrome, and other medical or spinal conditions can make decompression inappropriate.

Sometimes additional imaging is needed. Sometimes another specialist should be involved.

And sometimes surgery is the better option.

Jeff J. traveled from Tucson after finding Dr. Boelk's practice through social media. His consultation did not end with a recommendation for spinal decompression.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Jeff J. — Tucson, AZ

“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

The consultation should help determine what makes sense for the patient, even when the answer is something other than treatment at Dr. Boelk's office.

When L5-S1 Symptoms Need Urgent Medical Evaluation

Most L5-S1 disc herniations are not emergencies. Certain neurological symptoms are different and should be evaluated promptly.

These include:

• New bowel or bladder dysfunction

• Difficulty beginning urination

• Numbness around the groin, inner thighs, or saddle area

• Rapidly progressing weakness

• Sudden difficulty controlling a leg or foot

• Other significant and rapidly worsening neurological symptoms

Those symptoms should not be treated as ordinary sciatica or something to simply watch for a few weeks.

Can an L5-S1 Disc Herniation Be Treated Without Surgery?

For many patients, the answer is yes. There are several conservative treatment options available, and surgery is not automatically required simply because an MRI shows an L5-S1 herniation.

The better question is whether that particular patient can reasonably and safely continue with conservative treatment.

That depends on the MRI, the symptoms, neurological findings, spinal stability, previous treatment, previous surgery, overall health, and whether the condition is improving or getting worse.

For some patients, Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression may be one of the options worth considering. For others, it will not be.

That is what the evaluation is intended to determine.

Schedule a No-Charge, No-Obligation Consultation

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

Bring existing MRI images, X-rays, and reports if available. An MRI is not required simply to schedule the 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

Call 619-298-0800 to schedule a No-Charge, No-Obligation Consultation with Dr. Cassidy James Boelk, DC.