What Can I Try Before Back Surgery for a Herniated Disc? | San Diego, CA

If you've been told you have a herniated disc and surgery has been brought up, it's reasonable to want to know whether there are other options you can try first.

For some patients, the answer is yes.

That doesn't mean surgery is never necessary. There are situations where a surgical evaluation is absolutely appropriate, particularly when there is progressive neurological loss or other serious findings. But Dr. Cassidy James Boelk, DC also sees patients who have a herniated disc, persistent back or leg pain, and have been told surgery may be the next step even though they would strongly prefer to avoid it if a reasonable non-surgical option still exists.

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.

One of the most important things Dr. Boelk tells patients is that the decision shouldn't be based on the words “herniated disc” alone.

The real question is what the disc is doing, whether it explains your symptoms, how badly your function has been affected, what you've already tried and whether there are signs that make continued conservative care inappropriate.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “I Was One Step Away From Back Surgery”

“For the first time in 10 years, I am completely pain-free.”

“For the first time in 10 years, I am completely pain-free. My sciatca is gone, and I no longer have back pain.

Before finding Dr. Boelk, I tried chiropractic care, acupuncture, pain medications, and several other therapies that simply didn't work. I was one step away from back surgery when I discovered spinal decompression treatment at The Spinal Decompression & Chiropractic Center of San Diego.

The results have been incredible. Every visit was comfortable, relaxing, and completely pain-free. Dr. Boelk and Patty always took the time to explain everything and made me feel genuinely cared for throughout the process.

They are warm, welcoming, and truly dedicated to helping their patients.

Thank you, Dr. Boelk and Patty!”

— Toni H., San Diego, CA

Toni had been dealing with sciatica and back pain for years and had already tried several different approaches before finding Dr. Boelk. Her experience doesn't mean every person facing surgery can avoid it, but it does show why it can be worthwhile to find out whether another appropriate option exists before making that decision.

Before You Decide on Surgery, Find Out Whether You Have Another Option

If you're trying to avoid back surgery, you don't have to walk into Dr. Boelk's office already committed to spinal decompression.

That's what the No-Charge Consultation is for.

During your consultation, Dr. Boelk will personally:

• Listen to how your back or leg symptoms started and how they've changed.

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

• Ask about weakness or other neurological changes.

• Review what makes your symptoms better or worse.

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

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

• Compare what appears on your MRI with the symptoms you're actually experiencing.

• Discuss whether additional examination or imaging may be appropriate.

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

• Tell you if he does not 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 yet? That's okay. You can still schedule a consultation.

There is no charge and no obligation to begin treatment.

Dr. Boelk personally performs these consultations while continuing to treat the patients already under his care. 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 offered the next available openings.

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

What Can You Try Before Back Surgery?

There isn't one answer that applies to every herniated disc.

Depending on the severity of the injury, neurological findings, imaging and what you've already tried, non-surgical options may include modifying aggravating activities, appropriate exercise or rehabilitation, chiropractic care in selected cases, medications or injections through the appropriate medical provider, and Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression for patients who are good candidates.

The important part is matching the treatment to the problem.

For example, repeatedly stretching a nerve that's already highly irritated may not be helpful just because someone told you stretching is good for sciatica. Likewise, continuing the exact same treatment for months when your walking tolerance, strength or neurological symptoms are getting worse doesn't make sense simply because it is “conservative care.”

Dr. Boelk wants to know what you've tried and what actually happened.

Did physical therapy help temporarily? Did an epidural reduce the leg pain for a few weeks and then wear off? Did an exercise consistently make the symptoms travel farther down your leg? Are you improving, staying the same or gradually losing function?

Those answers help determine what should happen next.

Your MRI Is Important, but It Isn't the Whole Decision

A herniated disc can look significant on an MRI. That doesn't automatically tell you how the patient standing in front of Dr. Boelk is functioning.

This is one reason Dr. Boelk prefers to review the actual MRI images rather than relying only on the written radiology report.

He wants to see where the disc is herniated, what structures may be affected and whether the imaging makes sense when compared with your symptoms.

If you have pain traveling down the right leg into a particular part of the foot, for example, does the level and location of the disc injury reasonably correspond with that neurological pattern?

The MRI is one piece of the puzzle. Your history, symptoms, examination and neurological function are other pieces.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “I Had an Extruded Disc Pressing on My L5 Nerve”

“I never ended up needing either of those appointments.”

“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 case involved an extruded disc affecting the L5 nerve, severe difficulty standing and walking, and appointments for both injections and a surgical evaluation. Her experience after spinal decompression was dramatically different.

Again, that doesn't mean someone should cancel a surgical consultation because Amanda improved. It means that when surgery is not urgently required, finding out whether you're an appropriate candidate for a non-surgical approach may be worth considering.

When Should You Not Keep Trying to Avoid Surgery?

This is just as important as discussing alternatives.

Dr. Boelk doesn't believe the goal should be “avoid surgery at all costs.” The goal is to choose the safest and most appropriate treatment for the condition you actually have.

Symptoms that can require prompt medical or surgical evaluation include:

• Rapidly progressing weakness.

• Significant loss of neurological function.

• New bowel or bladder dysfunction.

• Difficulty initiating or controlling urination.

• Numbness around the groin, inner thighs or saddle region.

• Other findings suggesting significant neurological compromise.

There are also structural problems that may simply not be appropriate for Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression.

If Dr. Boelk believes you need a surgical opinion, he'll tell you.

★ Sometimes Surgery Really Is the Appropriate Option

“We both determined that surgery was my only option to correct my back issues.”

“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

Jeff traveled from Tucson looking for another option. After meeting with Dr. Boelk, the conclusion was that surgery was the appropriate direction for his condition.

That review is important because it demonstrates something patients considering an alternative to surgery should know: being evaluated for spinal decompression doesn't mean you're automatically going to be accepted for treatment.

Sometimes the answer is no.

What About Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression?

For an appropriate patient, Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression may be one option to consider before surgery.

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

The Spinal Decompression & Chiropractic Center of San Diego uses the DRX9000 exclusively for Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression. With seven DRX9000 systems, the clinic is the largest known Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression clinic in Southern California.

But the equipment isn't the most important part of the decision.

The question is whether you're actually a candidate.

Dr. Boelk considers your symptoms, neurological findings, imaging, spinal stability, bone health, previous surgeries and how you've responded to other treatments before recommending decompression.

Some patients should not receive it. Depending on the individual situation, contraindications or concerns may include significant osteoporosis, an unhealed fracture, unstable spondylolisthesis, abdominal aortic aneurysm, pregnancy for lumbar decompression, certain malignancies, metal fusion or hardware at the level requiring treatment, and other conditions that make decompression unsafe or inappropriate.

Why Experience Matters When You're Trying to Avoid Surgery

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

His 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's interest in these injuries is also personal. He suffered an L5 compression fracture at age 16 and later dealt with disc injuries and sciatica himself.

For a patient trying to avoid surgery, the goal isn't to find someone who will simply tell you what you want to hear. It's to find someone with enough experience to tell you whether a non-surgical option still makes sense—and to tell you when it doesn't.

Are You Trying Treatments, or Are You Actually Getting Better?

This is a distinction worth making.

Some patients have been “treating” their back for months, but when Dr. Boelk asks what has actually changed, they realize they're walking less, exercising less, sleeping worse or relying on more medication than they were several months ago.

Treatment and improvement aren't necessarily the same thing.

Ask yourself:

• Can you walk farther than you could a month ago?

• Is the leg pain traveling less distance?

• Is numbness becoming less frequent?

• Are you sleeping better?

• Are you returning to activities you've had to stop?

• Is your strength stable or improving?

• Are you becoming less dependent on medications or other temporary relief?

If you're clearly improving, that's meaningful.

If you're steadily losing function despite everything you've tried, simply repeating the same approach may not be the best strategy.

Before You Decide What to Do Next

If you've been told you have a herniated disc and you're trying to avoid surgery, you don't need someone to promise that surgery will never be necessary.

You need to know whether you still have a reasonable non-surgical option.

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

Bring your MRI images and report if you have them. Explain what you've already tried, what helped, what didn't and what you're currently unable to do because of the problem.

Dr. Boelk will tell you whether he believes you're a candidate for his care. If he doesn't, he'll tell you that too.

There is no charge and no obligation to start treatment.

Because Dr. Boelk personally performs these consultations while also caring for 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 with Dr. Cassidy James Boelk, DC.

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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