Who Is a Good Candidate for Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression? La Jolla, CA

Patients with a herniated disc, sciatica or chronic back pain often reach a point where they start looking beyond the treatments they have already tried.

They may have gone through physical therapy. They may have tried chiropractic care, medications, injections, exercises or simply waited to see if the problem would settle down.

Eventually, many start researching Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression and ask the obvious question:

“Would spinal decompression actually make sense for my condition?”

For patients from La Jolla and throughout San Diego, that question cannot be answered simply by looking at the diagnosis on an MRI report.

Dr. Cassidy James Boelk, DC has worked with Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression for more than 22 years and has performed more than 100,000 decompression treatments. Before recommending treatment, he wants to understand what is actually happening with the patient.

Where does the pain go? Is there numbness or tingling? Does sitting make it worse? Is there weakness? Does the MRI finding match the symptoms? Has there been previous surgery? Is the spine stable enough to treat?

Those details help determine whether someone may be a good candidate.

Conditions Commonly Evaluated for Spinal Decompression

Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression may be considered for patients with conditions such as:

• Herniated discs

• Bulging or protruding discs

• Sciatica

• Lumbar radiculopathy

• Cervical radiculopathy

• Degenerative disc disease

• Discogenic back or neck pain

• Foraminal stenosis

• Selected cases of spinal stenosis

• Stable spondylolisthesis in selected cases

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

• Certain cases involving continued symptoms after previous spinal surgery

The diagnosis alone is not enough.

A patient can have a herniated disc without significant symptoms. Another person can have what appears to be a relatively modest disc protrusion and be unable to sit, sleep or walk comfortably because of where that disc is affecting a nerve.

Dr. Boelk looks at the imaging together with what the patient is actually experiencing.

When Back Pain Starts Interfering With Everyday Life

Ming T. came to Dr. Boelk after dealing with severe back pain that was affecting basic activities.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Ming T. — San Diego, CA

"I came in with extreme back pain, resulting in days were it was difficult to get out of bed. There were moments where I would be walking and then my back would lock up. I thought it was something I have dealt with in the past but this last the entire month of July. I finally dedicated myself to finding the long term solution.

I came to Dr. Boelk unsure about the process, but after he identified exactly what my ailment was, I felt confident that this was the long term solution I was looking for.

I instantly felt better and Dr. Boelk kept encouraging me to trust the process and understand it will take time to feel 100%. I am now pain free and honestly feel stronger, even a little taller. I highly recommend you visit Dr. Boelk."

— Ming T., San Diego, CA

Pain affecting normal activities is one reason patients seek an evaluation, but the severity of pain by itself doesn't determine whether someone should receive spinal decompression.

Dr. Boelk still needs to identify the likely source of the problem.

No-Charge Consultation for La Jolla Patients

Patients considering spinal decompression can schedule a No-Charge, No-Obligation Consultation with Dr. Boelk.

If you already have an MRI, bring the images and report. If you have previous X-rays, surgical reports or other relevant records, bring those as well.

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

• Where the pain is located

• Whether it travels into an arm or leg

• Numbness, tingling or burning

• Any noticeable weakness

• What happens when you sit or drive

• How long you can comfortably stand or walk

• Whether pain wakes you at night

• How and when the condition started

• Previous injuries or spinal surgery

• Treatments you have already tried

• What has helped and what hasn't

Patients who don't have imaging can still come in. Dr. Boelk can determine whether further evaluation or imaging may be appropriate.

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 a Herniated Disc Make Someone a Good Candidate?

It may, but Dr. Boelk doesn't make the decision from the words “herniated disc” alone.

Suppose an MRI shows an L4-L5 disc herniation.

Dr. Boelk wants to know whether the patient has lower-back pain, glute pain or symptoms extending into the leg. He will ask about numbness, tingling and weakness. He also wants to see exactly where the herniation is located and whether it could reasonably be affecting the nerve associated with those symptoms.

The same process applies to an L5-S1 herniation or a cervical disc injury.

The MRI provides part of the answer.

The patient provides the rest.

What if the MRI Shows Several Bad Discs?

This is common.

A lumbar MRI may show degeneration at several levels, multiple disc bulges, arthritis and narrowing around the nerves.

That doesn't necessarily mean every abnormality is causing pain.

Dr. Boelk tries to determine which findings are clinically important and which may simply be present on the imaging.

The size of a disc herniation is also not the only issue.

A relatively small protrusion in an unfortunate location can irritate a nerve. A larger herniation may produce a different pattern depending on where it extends and how much room exists around the nerve.

This is one reason patients should avoid trying to determine the severity of their condition based solely on the number of millimeters listed in an MRI report.

Sciatica and Spinal Decompression

Many patients considering spinal decompression aren't primarily complaining about their back.

They're complaining about their leg.

Sciatica may produce:

• Pain in the buttock

• Pain traveling down the thigh or leg

• Burning

• Tingling

• Numbness

• Calf discomfort

• Symptoms into the ankle or foot

• Difficulty sitting

• Difficulty driving

• Sleep disruption

• Weakness in more significant cases

A lumbar disc herniation or protrusion can irritate a nerve and produce this type of pattern.

But not every case of leg pain is coming from the same structure. Before considering decompression, Dr. Boelk wants to determine whether the patient's symptoms appear to be coming from the lumbar spine and whether the underlying condition is appropriate for treatment.

Degenerative Disc Disease

Degenerative disc disease is another common reason patients seek an evaluation.

Over time, spinal discs can lose hydration and height. In some patients, those changes contribute to altered spinal mechanics, discogenic pain or reduced space around a nerve.

Some patients with degenerative disc disease may be appropriate candidates for decompression.

Others may have degeneration on MRI that has very little to do with their current symptoms.

Dr. Boelk doesn't treat the MRI report. He evaluates the person sitting in front of him.

What About Spinal Stenosis?

Some patients with spinal stenosis may also be candidates, but these cases need to be evaluated individually.

Stenosis means there is narrowing. That narrowing can occur within the spinal canal or around the openings where nerves exit the spine.

Disc degeneration, disc bulging and loss of disc height can sometimes contribute to that narrowing.

The amount of stenosis, its location, the patient's symptoms, spinal stability and other findings all matter when determining whether decompression is reasonable.

What if You've Already Tried Other Treatments?

Many patients who come to Dr. Boelk aren't starting with spinal decompression as their first attempt at getting better.

They may have already tried:

• Physical therapy

• Chiropractic treatment

• Home exercises

• Stretching

• Massage

• Acupuncture

• Anti-inflammatory medication

• Pain medication

• Epidural steroid injections

• Activity modification

Sometimes these approaches helped temporarily. Sometimes they didn't.

That information is useful.

It helps Dr. Boelk understand how long the problem has been present, how it has responded to previous care and whether another conservative approach may make sense.

Patients Have Traveled Long Distances for an Evaluation

Ira Smith traveled from Las Vegas after years of lower-back problems and later developing significant sciatic pain.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Ira Smith — Las Vegas, Nevada

“My name is Ira Smith. I live in Las Vegas and found out about Dr. Boelk’s program here in San Diego and decided to start treatments with him. I’ve had lower back problems since I was very young. I had aggravated my lower back pretty bad again and usually I could do exercises, chiropractic treatment, rest and this time those things would no longer relieve my pain. I would get the sciatic pain shooting down into my leg and foot and would be pretty bad.

I found out thru my MRI’s that Dr. Boelk went over with me that I had 5 protruding discs. I did not want to get surgery as I have heard and seen that they don’t always work very well at all. I am 2/3 of the way done with Dr. Boelk’s program and I have zero pain. I pretty much go thru my activities with no pain. As I follow the program it has been absolutely fantastic! I have been thru physical therapy, chiropractic programs, I went to the hospital and they told me I have 1 bad disc, but I found out I had 4 more bad discs as well. The treatment has relieved the pain and is not painful at all. This can be the starting point for anyone with back pain to get their life back.

This is the place to start. If your skeptical, what’s your health worth? The cost of this has been way less than the cost of all my other therapies that I have gone thru. This is less money than all those things, less pain and gives you a great quality of life. This is new and modern and it fixes the problem. Use Dr. Boelk’s program to change your life and it will change your life! This is the place to start. -Thank You”

— Ira Smith, Age 49, Las Vegas, Nevada

What Does Treatment With the DRX9000 Involve?

The Spinal Decompression & Chiropractic Center of San Diego exclusively uses the DRX9000 for Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression.

The office has seven DRX9000 systems:

• Four lumbar decompression systems

• Three cervical decompression systems

Treatment is not simply a matter of putting someone on a machine and pressing a button.

Dr. Boelk can modify the protocol based on factors such as the spinal level being addressed, positioning, angle, starting force, body size, symptoms, treatment cycles, tolerance and how the patient responds.

There is no universal “L4-L5 setting” or “sciatica setting” that is appropriate for every patient.

Proper evaluation, patient selection, treatment setup, progression and rehabilitation all matter.

Who Should NOT Receive Spinal Decompression?

There are patients Dr. Boelk will not treat with spinal decompression.

Conditions that may make someone inappropriate for treatment or require additional medical evaluation 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 may make decompression unsafe

Previous surgery requires particular attention. Some patients with a surgical history can potentially be considered, while others cannot.

Sometimes the Right Recommendation Is Not Spinal Decompression

Toni W. traveled from Lake Elsinore for an evaluation but had extensive surgical hardware in her back.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Toni W. — Lake Elsinore, CA

“Very nice Dr. and Honest ! I would definitely recommend anyone who hasn't had metal put in there back in a surgery to go to him and give his program a shot. I believe it would definitely help. Just not in my personal case. As I have a lot of hardware in my back. But I'm glad I took the time to meet with him. It was very informative all around.”

— Toni W., Lake Elsinore, CA

That is an important part of the consultation process.

A patient shouldn't be placed into a treatment program simply because he or she scheduled an appointment.

If Dr. Boelk doesn't believe someone is an appropriate candidate, he tells the patient.

Know the Neurological Warning Signs

There are also symptoms where a routine decompression consultation should not be the first priority.

Seek prompt medical attention for symptoms including:

• New loss of bowel or bladder control

• Difficulty urinating

• Numbness around the groin or saddle area

• Rapidly progressing weakness

• Sudden loss of control of the leg or foot

These symptoms can indicate a more serious neurological problem and should not be ignored.

More Than Two Decades Focused on 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 from the patient's side of the table.

He suffered an L5 compression fracture at age 16 and later dealt with disc injuries and sciatica himself. His own recovery involved thousands of hours of rehabilitation and has influenced how he approaches patients dealing with persistent spinal problems.

Are You a Candidate for Spinal Decompression?

The best way to answer that question is not by guessing from symptoms or reading an MRI report online.

If you're in La Jolla or the surrounding San Diego area and have been dealing with a herniated disc, bulging disc, sciatica, degenerative disc disease, stenosis or persistent back or neck pain, Dr. Boelk can review your situation and discuss whether Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression may be appropriate.

Bring any MRI images, X-rays and reports you already have.

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

The consultation is No-Charge and No-Obligation.

And if Dr. Boelk doesn't believe you're a candidate for decompression, he'll 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.