What Can I Try Before Back Surgery for a Herniated Disc? | Mira Mesa, CA

Being told that surgery may be the next step for a herniated disc can make it feel like you've run out of options.

Sometimes that's true. Sometimes it isn't.

Dr. Cassidy James Boelk, DC sees patients who have already spent months trying physical therapy, medications, chiropractic care, injections or simply waiting for the problem to settle down. They may still have sciatica, numbness, difficulty sitting or walking, and they're trying to answer one question before making a bigger decision: Is there anything reasonable left to try before surgery?

Dr. Boelk has spent more than 22 years working with disc injuries, sciatica and Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression and has performed more than 100,000 spinal decompression treatments. The Spinal Decompression & Chiropractic Center of San Diego has seven DRX9000 systems and is the largest known Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression clinic in Southern California.

That doesn't mean Dr. Boelk believes every herniated disc can or should be treated without surgery. Some patients need a surgical opinion. Some aren't candidates for spinal decompression.

The point of the evaluation is to determine which situation you're dealing with.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “I Was So Hunched Over That I Had to Use a Cane Just to Move Forward”

“Now, I’m walking regularly, standing up straight—something I couldn’t do before.”

“Last year, I spent three months constantly going back and forth between doctor’s appointments and urgent care. The pain was unbearable—I was taking medication regularly just to get through the day. Getting out of bed was excruciating, and walking or standing felt like torture. Every step filled me with dread.

In December, my doctor finally ordered an MRI. That’s when I learned I had an extruded disc pressing on my L5 nerve, which affects the leg and foot. My doctor scheduled two follow-up appointments: one for pain management (spinal injections), and another to evaluate me for surgery.

Then I discovered spinal decompression therapy. I was thrilled to find a non-invasive alternative. I never ended up needing either of those appointments.

Now, I’m walking regularly, standing up straight—something I couldn’t do before. When I first sought help, I was so hunched over that I had to use a cane just to move forward. Because of the pain, I hadn’t exercised in months. But now, I’m doing a program called 75 hard which requires not one but 2 45-minute workouts per day, and I've even gotten back to lifting weights!

I’m so thankful I found this place. It’s conveniently located near my work, which makes it easy to fit sessions into my lunch break. Dr. Boelk and the staff are incredibly friendly and polite—it’s always a pleasure to come in.

The environment is so relaxing that I look forward to each visit. I truly thank God for leading me to this alternative. It’s made such a difference in my life.”

— Amanda, San Diego, CA

Amanda's MRI showed an extruded disc affecting the L5 nerve. She had already been scheduled for pain management and a surgical evaluation when she found the office. Her experience doesn't mean every patient with an extruded disc can avoid surgery, but it shows why finding out whether another appropriate option exists can be worthwhile.

Find Out What Your Options Are Before Making the Decision

If you're in Mira Mesa and trying to avoid back surgery, you don't need to decide that you want spinal decompression before scheduling an appointment.

The first decision is simply whether you want an experienced opinion about whether another non-surgical option may still make sense.

During your No-Charge Consultation, Dr. Boelk will personally:

• Listen to how your symptoms started and how they've progressed.

• Discuss where your pain, numbness, tingling or burning travels.

• Ask about weakness and changes in neurological function.

• Review what makes your symptoms better or worse.

• Discuss what the problem is preventing you from doing.

• Go over physical therapy, medications, injections, chiropractic care or other treatments you've already tried.

• Review your actual MRI images and report if you have them.

• Compare the MRI findings with the symptoms you're experiencing.

• Discuss whether additional examination or imaging may be appropriate.

• Determine whether Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression may be an option.

• Tell you if he doesn't believe you're an appropriate candidate.

• Answer your questions and explain what he believes makes sense as a next step.

Don't have an MRI? That's okay. You can still schedule the consultation.

There is no charge and no obligation to begin treatment.

Dr. Boelk personally performs these consultations while also treating his existing patients. Because of the time involved, the office can only set aside a limited number of No-Charge Consultation appointments during the clinic schedule.

Once those appointments are filled, new patients are scheduled into the next available openings.

Call 619-298-0800 and ask about the next available No-Charge Consultation with Dr. Cassidy James Boelk, DC.

If You've Already Tried Physical Therapy, What Happened?

Dr. Boelk sees plenty of patients who say, “I already tried physical therapy.”

That matters, but he wants to know more.

Did you become stronger but still have sciatica? Did you initially improve and then plateau? Did certain exercises consistently make the pain travel farther down the leg? Did you complete the program without any meaningful change at all?

The same questions apply to other treatments.

If you've had an epidural injection, did it provide no relief, temporary relief or substantial relief? If chiropractic care helped, what changed? If medications allow you to function but the symptoms return as soon as they wear off, that's useful information too.

Previous treatment isn't simply a list of things that “failed.” Your response can help Dr. Boelk understand how the problem is behaving.

What Is Your Herniated Disc Actually Preventing You From Doing?

Sometimes this is a better measure of the problem than asking whether today's pain is a 5 or a 7.

Can you put your shoes on normally? Sit through dinner? Drive for an hour? Walk around the grocery store? Exercise? Sleep through the night?

Maybe you've stopped playing golf, surfing or going to the gym because every attempt causes another flare-up.

Those changes matter.

If you've been receiving treatment for three months but can do less today than you could when you started, Dr. Boelk wants to know that.

Why the Actual MRI Images Matter

The phrase “herniated disc” doesn't tell Dr. Boelk enough.

He wants to know which disc is involved, where the herniation is located and whether it could reasonably explain the symptoms you're experiencing.

A patient may have several findings on the same MRI: an L4-L5 disc herniation, L5-S1 degeneration, foraminal narrowing, facet changes and possibly spinal stenosis.

Which finding is actually important?

Dr. Boelk prefers to review the actual MRI images whenever they're available rather than relying only on the written radiology report. He then compares the imaging with the patient's history, symptoms and neurological findings.

The MRI is important, but it needs to match the person.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “I Can Do Things Now With Little to No Limitations”

“My husband and I have returned to enjoying life.”

“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

Rosa had been dealing with leg numbness and low-back pain for four years and had already tried other approaches before traveling from Calexico for care.

Her review brings the conversation back to function. Grocery shopping and taking a bath sound like simple things until a spinal problem makes them difficult.

Could Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Be Worth Trying?

For some patients with a herniated disc, yes.

Dr. Boelk evaluates patients with disc bulges, disc herniations, degenerative disc disease, disc-related sciatica, foraminal narrowing and selected cases of spinal stenosis.

The clinic uses the DRX9000 exclusively for Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression.

But having one of those diagnoses does not automatically mean someone should receive decompression.

Dr. Boelk considers:

• The location and nature of the disc injury.

• Whether the MRI findings correspond with the symptoms.

• Pain, numbness, tingling or burning into the leg.

• Neurological findings.

• Whether weakness is present or progressing.

• Spinal stability.

• Bone health.

• Previous spinal surgery.

• Treatments you've already tried.

• How you've responded to those treatments.

• Other medical factors that may affect treatment safety.

The purpose isn't to find a reason to put every patient on a DRX9000.

It's to determine whether you're actually an appropriate candidate.

When Should Surgery Still Be Considered?

Dr. Boelk doesn't believe “avoiding surgery” should become more important than protecting neurological function.

If you're developing rapidly progressing weakness, significant neurological loss, new bowel or bladder dysfunction, difficulty urinating, or numbness involving the groin or saddle region, prompt medical evaluation is important.

There are also structural conditions where spinal decompression may not be appropriate and a surgical opinion may make more sense.

Sometimes another non-surgical option is reasonable.

Sometimes it isn't.

That's one of the reasons the consultation comes first.

★ “He Could Not Treat Me”

“He looked at my MRI images, explained what he saw and potential routes for recovery.”

“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

Jan came to Dr. Boelk after a significant neck injury. Instead of starting treatment, Dr. Boelk told him the fracture needed to heal and recommended another neurosurgical opinion.

That is what candidacy screening is supposed to do.

22+ Years and More Than 100,000 Spinal Decompression Treatments

Dr. Cassidy James Boelk, DC has more than 22 years of experience with Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression and has performed more than 100,000 spinal decompression treatments.

The Spinal Decompression & Chiropractic Center of San Diego has seven DRX9000 systems and is the largest known Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression clinic in Southern California.

Dr. Boelk's professional background includes:

• Doctor of Chiropractic

• Certified Spinal Decompression Doctor

• Certified Pain-Free Performance Specialist (PPSC)

• 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 Radiation Supervisor & Operator

Dr. Boelk also understands spinal injury personally. He suffered an L5 compression fracture at age 16 and later dealt with disc injuries and sciatica himself.

Don't Judge Progress Only by Today's Pain

Herniated disc symptoms can fluctuate. You can have a good day followed by a terrible one, which makes it difficult to know whether you're actually getting better.

Look at the bigger trend.

Where were you three or six months ago compared with today?

Are you walking farther? Sleeping better? Exercising again? Is the leg pain becoming less frequent? Is the numbness decreasing? Are you getting back to things you stopped doing?

Or are you gradually adapting your life around the problem?

Maybe you're driving less because sitting hurts. You're skipping workouts. You're avoiding vacations because you're worried about the flight. You're parking closer because walking triggers your leg.

Those changes can happen gradually enough that they start to feel normal.

They shouldn't automatically be ignored.

Before You Make the Decision About Surgery

If you're trying to avoid back surgery, you don't need someone who automatically tells every patient that surgery is unnecessary.

You need to know whether you still have a reasonable alternative.

That's what the No-Charge Consultation is designed to help determine.

Bring your MRI images and report if you have them. Tell Dr. Boelk what you've already tried, what has changed and what the problem is preventing you from doing.

If Dr. Boelk believes you're a candidate for Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression, he'll explain why.

If he doesn't believe his treatment is appropriate for you, he'll tell you.

There is no charge and no obligation to start treatment.

Because Dr. Boelk personally performs these consultations while also treating his existing patients, only a limited number can be set aside in the clinic schedule.

Call 619-298-0800 to ask about the next available No-Charge Consultation.

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

619-298-0800
SanDiegoBackCare.com

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