WHY DOES MY MRI NOT MATCH MY PAIN? – SAN DIEGO, CA

"My MRI Doesn't Look That Bad, So Why Am I Hurting So Much?"

If you've recently been told:

✔ "Your MRI looks normal."

✔ "Your MRI doesn't explain your symptoms."

✔ "Your MRI isn't bad enough to be causing this much pain."

✔ "The MRI doesn't show anything serious."

you may be wondering:

Why Does My Back Hurt So Much?

Can An MRI Miss Something?

Why Do I Have Severe Sciatica If My MRI Looks Mild?

Why Doesn't My MRI Match My Symptoms?

You're not alone.

Every week patients from San Diego, Kearny Mesa, Clairemont, Mission Valley, Mira Mesa, Scripps Ranch, Poway, Rancho Bernardo and throughout Southern California come to our office asking these exact questions.

The truth is:

An MRI is an important tool.

But it is only one piece of the puzzle.

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LOOKING FOR ANSWERS?

Your No-Charge Consultation with Dr. Cassidy James Boelk, DC may include:

✔ Review Of Symptoms

✔ MRI Review (If Available)

✔ Review Of Previous Treatments

✔ Discussion Of Potential Treatment Options

✔ Determination Of Whether You May Be A Candidate

Please Note:

⚠️ Not Every Patient Is A Candidate

⚠️ Not Every Patient Can Avoid Surgery

⚠️ Not Every Patient Qualifies For Care

⚠️ Dr. Boelk Will Always Be Honest About Whether He Believes He Can Help

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"I WAS ONE STEP AWAY FROM BACK SURGERY"

Toni H. – San Diego, CA

"For the first time in 10 years, I am totally pain free. My sciatica is gone and I have no more back pain. I was one step before back surgery until I discovered Dr. Boelk's therapy and his procedure, and it's a miracle."

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WHAT MOST PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE ABOUT MRIs

Many patients assume:

MRI = Pain Level

Unfortunately, that's often not true.

Over the past 22 years, Dr. Boelk has evaluated patients with:

✔ Large Disc Herniations With Minimal Pain

✔ Small Disc Bulges With Severe Pain

✔ Severe Sciatica Despite Mild MRI Findings

✔ Alarming MRI Findings With Surprisingly Few Symptoms

This is why treatment decisions should never be based solely on imaging.

The MRI matters.

But the patient matters more.

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BEFORE I EVER LOOK AT AN MRI, I LOOK AT THIS

One of the first things Dr. Boelk evaluates is how a patient moves.

Questions he often asks himself include:

✔ How Are They Walking?

✔ Are They Leaning To One Side?

✔ Are They Taking Short Steps?

✔ Do They Sit Down Carefully?

✔ Do They Shift Positions Constantly?

✔ Do They Need Their Hands To Stand Up?

✔ Are They Guarding Certain Movements?

The body often tells a story before the MRI ever does.

Movement patterns, posture, neurological findings, orthopedic testing, symptom patterns and history often provide critical information that imaging alone cannot.

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WHY TWO PEOPLE WITH THE SAME MRI MAY FEEL COMPLETELY DIFFERENT

Imagine two people with nearly identical MRI reports.

One is golfing.

Traveling.

Working.

Sleeping.

Living life normally.

The other can't:

❌ Sit

❌ Drive

❌ Sleep

❌ Exercise

❌ Work Comfortably

Why?

Because pain is influenced by much more than what appears on an MRI.

Other factors may include:

✔ Nerve Irritation

✔ Inflammation

✔ Mechanical Stress

✔ Movement Patterns

✔ Muscle Guarding

✔ Functional Limitations

✔ Activity Levels

This is why a proper evaluation is so important.

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"I WAS ON TRACK FOR MULTIPLE SHOTS"

Joshua T. – San Diego, CA

"Dr. Boelk has been a life saver. I had constant lower back and sciatica pain for over eight months. No pills helped and I was on track for multiple shots, but with the treatment given I found relief and got down to zero pain."

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DOES A NORMAL MRI MEAN NOTHING IS WRONG?

Absolutely not.

Many patients become frustrated when they're told:

"Your MRI looks fine."

Yet they're still experiencing:

✔ Sciatica

✔ Burning Leg Pain

✔ Numbness

✔ Tingling

✔ Neck Pain

✔ Arm Pain

✔ Chronic Low Back Pain

Symptoms are real.

The key is determining what is actually causing them.

This requires a comprehensive evaluation—not just reading an MRI report.

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WHY PATIENTS SEEK OUT DR. CASSIDY JAMES BOELK, DC

✔ Certified Spinal Decompression Doctor

✔ Certified Pain-Free Performance Specialist

✔ California X-Ray Radiology Licensed Doctor

✔ Founder, Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Training Academy

✔ Founding Member, American Spinal Decompression Society

✔ More Than 22 Years Clinical Experience

✔ More Than 100,000 Spinal Decompression Treatments Performed

✔ 7 DRX9000 Spinal Decompression Systems

✔ Largest Provider Of Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression In California

✔ Patients Travel From Across The United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe And Beyond

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NOT EVERY PATIENT IS A CANDIDATE

Jeff J. – Tucson, AZ

"I met with the doctor and after an honest and forthright conversation, we both determined that surgery was my only option to correct my back issues."

Not every patient qualifies.

If Dr. Boelk believes surgery is necessary, he will tell you.

If he believes you are not a candidate, he will tell you.

And that's exactly how it should be.

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LOOKING FOR A SECOND OPINION ON YOUR MRI?

The Spinal Decompression & Chiropractic Center Of San Diego is conveniently located in Kearny Mesa at:

5095 Murphy Canyon Road, Suite 300

San Diego, CA 92123

📞 619-298-0800

🌐 www.SanDiegoBackCare.com

If you've been told your MRI doesn't match your symptoms, schedule a No-Charge Consultation to determine whether you may be a candidate for care.

Remember:

We treat patients, not pictures.