Who Is a Good Candidate for Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression? Kearny Mesa, CA

One of the most common questions Dr. Cassidy James Boelk, DC hears from patients is whether they are actually a good candidate for Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression.

The answer depends on much more than simply having back pain or an MRI showing a bulging or herniated disc.

At The Spinal Decompression & Chiropractic Center of San Diego in Kearny Mesa, Dr. Boelk reviews the patient's symptoms, health history, examination findings, previous treatment and imaging when available. He wants to know where the pain travels, whether a nerve appears to be involved, whether there is numbness or tingling, whether strength has changed, and whether the condition is something that can safely and reasonably be treated with decompression.

Some patients are very good candidates. Others need additional imaging or another type of evaluation first. And some patients should not receive spinal decompression at all.

After more than 22 years working with Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression and more than 100,000 treatments performed, Dr. Boelk considers proper patient selection one of the most important parts of treatment.

What Conditions May Respond to Spinal Decompression?

Dr. Boelk commonly evaluates patients 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

• Spinal stenosis in selected cases

• Chronic lower-back or neck pain associated with disc problems

• Stable spondylolisthesis in selected cases

• Certain patients who continue to have symptoms after previous spinal surgery

Having one of these conditions doesn't automatically make someone a candidate.

For example, two patients may both have an L4-L5 disc herniation on MRI. One may have lower-back pain and sciatica that matches the location of the disc injury very well. The other may have symptoms that don't match the MRI at all.

Those patients need to be evaluated differently.

A Herniated Disc Can Affect Much More Than the Back

Amanda came to Dr. Boelk after spending months dealing with severe pain. Her MRI eventually showed an extruded disc pressing on her L5 nerve.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Amanda — San Diego, CA

“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 something important: a disc problem affecting a nerve. That type of information, combined with the symptoms and examination, helps Dr. Boelk determine whether a patient may be a candidate for decompression.

Find Out Whether You May Be a Candidate

Dr. Boelk offers a No-Charge, No-Obligation Consultation at his Kearny Mesa office.

Patients who already have an MRI should bring the actual images and report if possible. Previous X-rays, surgical reports and other relevant imaging can also be helpful.

Dr. Boelk will review:

• Where your pain starts and where it travels

• Numbness, tingling or burning

• Any weakness in the arm, hand, leg or foot

• How sitting, standing and walking affect the symptoms

• Whether driving is difficult

• Whether the condition interferes with sleep

• How and when the problem started

• Previous spinal injuries

• Previous spinal surgery

• Treatments already tried and how you responded

If you don't have an MRI, you can still schedule a consultation. Dr. Boelk can determine whether additional evaluation or imaging may be appropriate.

Not every patient is a candidate, and there is no obligation to begin treatment.

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

What Does Dr. Boelk Look for in a Good Candidate?

There isn't one finding that determines candidacy.

Dr. Boelk is looking at the entire clinical picture.

A patient with a lumbar disc herniation may have lower-back pain along with glute pain, sciatica, numbness, tingling or symptoms extending into the foot. If the location of the disc problem on MRI corresponds with those symptoms, that information can help identify the likely source.

The same applies to the neck. A cervical disc problem may cause neck pain, but it can also produce pain into the shoulder or arm, numbness or tingling into the hand, or weakness.

Dr. Boelk also wants to know what the patient has already tried.

Many patients have already gone through some combination of:

• Chiropractic care

• Physical therapy

• Home exercise programs

• Medication

• Massage

• Acupuncture

• Epidural steroid injections

• Rest or activity modification

Some treatments may have helped temporarily. Others may not have helped at all.

That history helps Dr. Boelk understand how the condition has behaved and what options may still be reasonable.

Do You Need a Severe Herniated Disc to Be a Candidate?

No.

The number of millimeters listed on an MRI isn't the whole story.

A smaller disc protrusion can cause significant symptoms if it is positioned where it irritates or compresses a nerve. Another patient can have several abnormal-looking discs without having severe symptoms.

This is one reason Dr. Boelk prefers to look at the actual MRI images when they are available rather than relying only on the written report.

He wants to see where the disc problem is located, how much space is available around the nerve and whether the imaging makes sense with what the patient is feeling.

In some cases, weight-bearing X-rays or flexion-extension views may also be useful because an MRI and an X-ray provide different information about the spine.

Are Patients With Sciatica Good Candidates?

Some are.

Sciatica is one of the most common reasons patients come to the Kearny Mesa office.

Symptoms may include:

• Glute pain

• Pain traveling down one leg

• Burning or electrical pain

• Numbness or tingling

• Calf or foot symptoms

• Difficulty sitting

• Increased pain while driving

• Difficulty sleeping

• Weakness in the leg or foot

When a lumbar disc problem is irritating or compressing a nerve and producing those symptoms, decompression may be considered.

But sciatica itself isn't enough to determine candidacy.

Dr. Boelk first wants to determine what is causing the sciatic symptoms.

What About Degenerative Disc Disease or Spinal Stenosis?

Patients with degenerative disc disease may also be candidates for spinal decompression.

As discs lose hydration and height over time, the mechanics of the spinal segment can change. In some patients, those changes can contribute to narrowing around the nerves and chronic back or leg symptoms.

Spinal stenosis requires an individual evaluation as well.

Some cases involve disc changes that contribute to narrowing around a nerve and may be appropriate for conservative treatment. Other cases are more advanced or involve structural problems that make decompression inappropriate.

The word “stenosis” on an MRI report by itself isn't enough to make that decision.

What About Previous Back Surgery?

This depends on the surgery.

A history of spinal surgery doesn't automatically eliminate someone from consideration, but Dr. Boelk needs considerably more information before recommending decompression.

He will want to know:

• What surgery was performed

• Which level was treated

• Whether the spine was fused

• Whether hardware is present

• Where the hardware is located

• Where the current symptoms are coming from

• What the current imaging shows

Certain surgical hardware at the level that would need to be treated may make decompression inappropriate.

Patients Travel to Kearny Mesa for Spinal Decompression

Lynn C. traveled from Alaska to San Diego after dealing with pain radiating into her legs, difficulty sleeping and problems walking.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Lynn C. — Alaska

“My name is Lynn. I am from Alaska, and I just want to say it was totally worth taking a trip to go to the Spinal Decompression & Chiropractic Center of San Diego. I was having pain radiating down my legs, I couldn’t sleep, I could barely walk.

After treatment I am back to shoveling snow, teaching school, taking walks. So, I just want to thank Dr. Boelk and the clinic, you guys are wonderful, and you have created such a wonderful, friendly, kind and truly caring atmosphere. I highly encourage anybody that might be considering spinal decompression therapy, it really makes a difference.”

— Lynn C., Alaska

Dr. Boelk's Kearny Mesa practice has treated patients from throughout San Diego County as well as patients who have traveled from other parts of California, other states and other countries.

Who Is NOT a Candidate for Spinal Decompression?

Knowing when not to treat someone is extremely important.

Conditions that may make spinal decompression inappropriate or require additional evaluation 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 conditions that could make treatment unsafe

There are also situations where Dr. Boelk may want additional imaging or clearance from another doctor before deciding whether treatment is appropriate.

Sometimes the Answer Is No

Jan H. came to Dr. Boelk after a serious motocross neck injury. His MRI was reviewed, but because he had a fracture that still needed to heal, Dr. Boelk did not treat him and also recommended another neurosurgical opinion.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 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

This is an important part of how Dr. Boelk approaches spinal decompression. If the condition needs to heal first, requires another specialist, or simply isn't appropriate for decompression, the patient should know that before starting treatment.

Symptoms That Need Prompt Medical Attention

Most patients with chronic back pain, neck pain or sciatica can be evaluated normally. Certain neurological symptoms should be handled more urgently.

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

Progressive weakness should also be evaluated even if bowel and bladder function are normal.

Why Experience With Spinal Decompression Matters

Dr. Boelk has focused heavily on spinal decompression, disc injuries and sciatica for more than two decades.

His 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

The Kearny Mesa office uses the DRX9000 exclusively and has seven systems—four lumbar and three cervical.

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

His approach is not to see how many patients can be put on a decompression table. It is to determine who is appropriate for treatment and then develop the protocol around that particular patient.

Find Out if You Are a Candidate

If you have been diagnosed with a herniated disc, bulging disc, sciatica, degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis or another spinal condition and want to know whether Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression may be an option, Dr. Boelk offers a No-Charge, No-Obligation Consultation.

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

If you don't have imaging, that's okay. Dr. Boelk can determine whether additional evaluation or imaging may be appropriate.

Not every patient is a candidate. If Dr. Boelk doesn't believe decompression is appropriate, 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.