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Who Is a Good Candidate for Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression? Chula Vista, CA

Who Is a Good Candidate for Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression? Chula Vista, CA

A lot of patients considering spinal decompression have already been dealing with their problem for months—or even years.

They may have a herniated disc on MRI. They may have sciatica that makes sitting or driving miserable. They may have tried physical therapy, chiropractic treatment, medication, injections or home exercises without getting where they want to be.

The next question becomes: Is Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression actually appropriate for this particular problem?

Dr. Cassidy James Boelk, DC has been working with Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression for more than 22 years and has performed more than 100,000 decompression treatments. Patients from Chula Vista and throughout San Diego County come to his office for evaluation, but not everyone who comes in is accepted for treatment.

Dr. Boelk wants to understand what is causing the symptoms, whether the imaging supports it, whether the spine is stable and whether decompression can be performed safely.

What Conditions May Be Considered for Spinal Decompression?

Dr. Boelk commonly evaluates patients dealing with:

  • Herniated discs

  • Bulging or protruding discs

  • Sciatica

  • Lumbar radiculopathy

  • Cervical radiculopathy

  • Degenerative disc disease

  • Discogenic lower-back pain

  • Disc-related neck pain

  • Foraminal stenosis

  • Selected cases of spinal stenosis

  • Stable spondylolisthesis in selected cases

  • Chronic back or neck pain associated with disc problems

  • Certain cases involving previous spinal surgery

This does not mean everyone with one of these diagnoses should receive decompression.

The MRI is important, but Dr. Boelk also wants to know what the patient is experiencing.

When a Herniated Disc Starts Affecting the Leg

A lumbar disc problem may cause lower-back pain, but when a nearby nerve becomes irritated, the symptoms can extend well beyond the back.

Patients may describe:

  • Glute pain

  • Pain traveling down the leg

  • Burning

  • Tingling

  • Numbness

  • Calf or foot symptoms

  • Difficulty sitting

  • Pain while driving

  • Trouble sleeping

  • Weakness in the leg or foot

Brian Perrotta came to Dr. Boelk with severe sciatica and a herniated disc.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 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

Brian's experience highlights something important about spinal decompression: treatment should be tailored to the individual patient rather than treating everyone with the same protocol.

Find Out Whether You May Be a Candidate

Dr. Boelk offers a No-Charge, No-Obligation Consultation for Chula Vista patients who want to find out whether Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression may be an option.

If you have an MRI, bring the images and report. Previous X-rays and relevant surgical records can also be helpful.

During the consultation, Dr. Boelk will want to understand:

  • Where the pain starts

  • Where it travels

  • Whether there is numbness or tingling

  • Whether you experience burning or electrical pain

  • Any changes in strength

  • How sitting affects you

  • Whether driving increases the symptoms

  • How long you can comfortably walk or stand

  • Whether the problem interrupts your sleep

  • When the symptoms began

  • Previous spinal injuries or surgery

  • Treatments you have already tried

You do not need to have an MRI before scheduling a consultation. If additional imaging appears necessary, Dr. Boelk can discuss that with you.

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

Does Your MRI Match Your Symptoms?

This is one of the most useful questions when evaluating a spinal problem.

Imagine an MRI shows an L4-L5 disc herniation.

If the patient also has lower-back pain with numbness, tingling or pain extending into the leg in a pattern that makes sense for the affected nerve, the MRI finding may be very relevant.

But another patient can have an L4-L5 herniation and symptoms coming from somewhere else.

The same applies to L5-S1 and cervical disc injuries.

Dr. Boelk looks for a reasonable connection between what is visible on the imaging and what the patient is actually experiencing.

Don't Judge Your MRI by the Millimeters Alone

Patients often focus on the measurement of a disc bulge or herniation.

A report might describe a 3 mm, 4 mm or 5 mm protrusion, and it is easy to assume that a larger number automatically means a worse condition.

It isn't that simple.

The location of the disc material matters. The available space around the nerve matters. Other degenerative changes matter. Most importantly, the patient's symptoms and neurological findings matter.

A smaller disc problem in the wrong location can be very symptomatic.

That is why Dr. Boelk prefers to review the actual MRI images when available rather than relying only on one measurement from the written report.

Can Someone With Degenerative Disc Disease Be a Candidate?

Yes, some patients can.

Discs naturally change over time. They may lose hydration and height, and those changes can affect how the spinal segment moves and handles load.

Loss of disc height can also reduce the amount of space available around a nerve.

But degenerative disc disease is extremely common, and simply seeing degeneration on an MRI doesn't prove it is responsible for the patient's symptoms.

Dr. Boelk looks at the entire picture before deciding whether decompression makes sense.

What About Spinal Stenosis?

Spinal stenosis is another condition that needs individual evaluation.

Some patients have narrowing related partly to disc bulging, disc degeneration and reduced disc height. Other patients have more advanced structural changes.

Dr. Boelk considers:

  • Where the stenosis is located

  • How much narrowing is present

  • Whether a nerve appears affected

  • What is contributing to the narrowing

  • Whether the spine is stable

  • What symptoms the patient is experiencing

Some patients may be reasonable candidates for conservative decompression treatment. Others may need another approach.

What if You've Already Tried Physical Therapy or Chiropractic Care?

That doesn't automatically mean you have exhausted your conservative options.

Many patients coming to Dr. Boelk have previously tried:

  • Physical therapy

  • Chiropractic adjustments

  • Home rehabilitation

  • Stretching

  • Massage

  • Acupuncture

  • Anti-inflammatory medications

  • Pain medication

  • Epidural steroid injections

  • Activity modification

Tell Dr. Boelk what helped, even if the relief was temporary.

Also tell him what made things worse.

For example, if repeatedly stretching the hamstring causes burning or tingling to travel farther into the calf or foot, that is useful information. What feels like a “tight hamstring” can sometimes actually involve an irritated nerve.

A Few Things You Can Do While You're Figuring Out the Problem

With back pain or sciatica, more exercise isn't automatically better.

If sitting is a major trigger, try breaking up long periods in the chair when possible.

If driving aggravates your symptoms, pay attention to your seat position. Sitting very low with the knees high and the lower back rounded may aggravate some disc-related conditions.

Short, comfortable walks may be useful if walking doesn't increase symptoms farther down the leg.

For sleep, some people are more comfortable on their side with a pillow between the knees or on their back with support beneath the knees.

Most importantly, pay attention to whether symptoms are changing.

Increasing numbness or developing weakness deserves more attention than simply having a sore back after activity.

How Does the DRX9000 Fit Into Treatment?

The Spinal Decompression & Chiropractic Center of San Diego uses the DRX9000 exclusively.

The office has seven systems:

  • Four lumbar DRX9000 systems

  • Three cervical systems

A decompression session involves controlled cycles of decompression and relaxation.

But there isn't a generic setting that Dr. Boelk uses for everyone with a herniated disc.

The protocol can be individualized based on the disc level, angle, positioning, starting force, patient's size, symptoms, tolerance and response to treatment.

How treatment is introduced and progressed matters.

So does what happens away from the decompression table, including activity modification and rehabilitation when appropriate.

Patients Have Traveled From Outside San Diego for Treatment

Mercedes Bautista traveled from El Centro after learning she had a bulging disc and degenerative changes.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Mercedes Bautista — El Centro, CA

“Hi my name is Mercedes Bautista. I found out about this treatment on the internet and I came because I was searching for a doctor for my friend. I have always had low back problems, so Dr. Boelk suggested that I have an MRI done. I decided to go ahead and do it and what I found out was astonishing. Dr. Boelk told me I had a bulging disc and that my discs were dehydrated. I went home very surprised and even scared.

That night with my husband I cried. My husband and I both talked about it and decided that the finances were worth getting my back fixed. The next thing we had to figure out was how I was going to get here, because I live in El Centro.

So we decided we were going to rent a car and I travel here 4 times a week. The girls here are wonderful and very awesome. They make you feel like family, it’s an extremely relaxing environment. I feel better and I have recommended this treatment to my family and friends. Thank You!”

— Mercedes Bautista, Age 42, El Centro, CA

Who May Not Be a Candidate?

There are conditions where spinal decompression may be inappropriate or where additional medical evaluation should occur first.

These can include:

  • Unstable spondylolisthesis

  • An unhealed spinal fracture

  • Significant osteoporosis

  • Abdominal aortic aneurysm

  • Pregnancy for lumbar decompression

  • Certain malignancies

  • Certain surgical hardware at the treatment level

  • Progressive neurological weakness

  • Cauda equina syndrome

  • Other medical or structural conditions that could make treatment unsafe

Previous spinal surgery also needs to be looked at carefully.

A patient who has undergone a discectomy is different from someone with a multilevel fusion and extensive hardware. Dr. Boelk needs to know what procedure was performed, what level was involved and where the patient's current problem is located.

Not Being a Candidate Is Sometimes the Most Important Answer

Jan H. came to Dr. Boelk following a significant motocross neck injury.

Dr. Boelk reviewed his MRI but did not treat him because his fracture still needed to heal.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 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

Sometimes the best result of an evaluation is finding out that spinal decompression should not be the next step.

Don't Ignore Significant Neurological Changes

Back pain and sciatica are common. Certain neurological symptoms are different.

Seek prompt medical attention for:

  • New bowel or bladder dysfunction

  • Difficulty urinating

  • Numbness around the groin or saddle region

  • Rapidly progressing weakness

  • Sudden loss of control of a leg or foot

A patient experiencing these symptoms should not simply wait for a routine decompression appointment.

Dr. Boelk's Experience With Spinal Decompression

Dr. Cassidy James Boelk's background includes:

  • 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, 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 radiography credentials

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

That experience has contributed to his focus on disc injuries and Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression throughout his career.

Are You a Candidate for Spinal Decompression?

If you live in Chula Vista and have a herniated disc, bulging disc, sciatica, degenerative disc disease, stenosis or persistent back or neck pain, you don't have to determine candidacy on your own.

Bring your MRI, X-rays and reports if you already have them.

If you don't have imaging, you can still schedule a consultation.

Dr. Boelk offers a No-Charge, No-Obligation Consultation to review your symptoms, discuss your history and determine whether Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression may be appropriate.

Not every patient is a candidate. If Dr. Boelk doesn't believe decompression is appropriate for your condition, he will tell you.

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.

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(619) 298-0800