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

A patient can have a herniated disc and be a good candidate for Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression.

Another patient can have almost the same diagnosis and not be a candidate at all.

That is why Dr. Cassidy James Boelk, DC does not determine candidacy from an MRI report alone.

Patients from Poway and throughout San Diego County come to The Spinal Decompression & Chiropractic Center of San Diego with herniated discs, sciatica, degenerative disc disease, stenosis and chronic back or neck pain. Before recommending decompression, Dr. Boelk wants to understand the entire problem—not just the name of the diagnosis.

After more than 22 years working with Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression and more than 100,000 treatments performed, patient selection remains one of the most important parts of his approach.

What Problems May Be Appropriate for 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

• Selected cases of spinal stenosis

• Stable spondylolisthesis in selected cases

• Chronic back or neck pain related to disc problems

• Certain patients with symptoms following previous spinal surgery

A diagnosis on this list doesn't guarantee that decompression is appropriate.

The next question is whether the patient's symptoms, examination and imaging point toward a condition that may reasonably respond to this type of treatment.

When Sciatica Is Taking Over Your Day

For many patients, the back isn't even the worst part.

Pain may start in the lower back or glute and then travel down the leg. There may be burning, tingling or numbness. Sitting in the car can become difficult. Sleep may be interrupted. Walking or standing may become limited.

Abel T. described dealing with severe back pain and sciatic symptoms following an accident.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Abel T. — San Diego, CA

“I had really bad back problems to the point I couldn’t sleep, also had pain radiating along the sciatic nerve which ran down one leg from the lower back—caused by an accident.

I came in and talked to Dr. Cassidy about my back problems. He evaluated me and mentioned I was a good candidate for this treatment. After the first 2 decompression sessions my sciatic pain was gone and we were able to work on the root of the problem. I did a total of 24 sessions, after which I was able to start rehabilitation training to strengthen my core.

The office is super nice and the staff’s customer service is above and beyond.

Back and neck issues are horrible to live with—trust me, I know firsthand. I gained weight, took pain killers, went into depression, and had major anxiety. I’m over it now—feeling better, walking, sleeping well, and starting to have a better social life as well.

The experience for me has been nothing but excellent. Dr. Cassidy Boelk is hands down amazing—super glad I came here.”

— Abel T., San Diego, CA

Abel's experience also illustrates an important point: the evaluation came before the recommendation.

Sciatica can have different causes. Dr. Boelk first wants to understand why the nerve is irritated and whether that underlying problem is appropriate for decompression.

No-Charge Consultation for Poway Patients

Dr. Boelk offers a No-Charge, No-Obligation Consultation for patients considering Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression.

If you already have an MRI, bring the actual images and report if possible. Previous X-rays or other relevant imaging can also be useful.

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

• Where your pain begins

• Where the pain travels

• Whether you have numbness or tingling

• Whether you experience burning or electrical pain

• Whether you have noticed weakness

• What happens when you sit for an extended period

• Whether driving aggravates the problem

• How well you can walk or stand

• Whether pain interferes with sleep

• When and how the problem started

• Previous injuries or spinal surgery

• What treatments you have already tried

Patients do not need to have an MRI before scheduling a consultation. If additional evaluation or 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 a Bulging or Herniated Disc Make You a Candidate?

It can, but there is more to it.

Dr. Boelk wants to see whether the disc problem makes sense with the patient's symptoms.

An L4-L5 or L5-S1 disc problem, for example, may be associated with lower-back pain, glute pain, sciatica, numbness, tingling or symptoms extending toward the foot.

But an MRI may also show disc abnormalities that aren't producing symptoms.

This is why treating an MRI report instead of treating the patient can be misleading.

Dr. Boelk looks at the location of the disc problem, the surrounding nerve structures and whether the findings fit what the patient is experiencing.

The Size of the Disc Herniation Isn't Everything

Patients sometimes become very focused on the measurement written in the MRI report.

A disc protrusion may be described as 3 mm, 4 mm, 5 mm or larger.

That number provides useful information, but it doesn't tell the whole story.

Location matters.

A smaller protrusion located where there is very little room around a nerve can potentially produce significant symptoms. A larger abnormality in another location may not produce the same problem.

The patient's symptoms also matter.

Dr. Boelk wants to know whether pain is staying in the back or traveling into the leg, whether numbness is present and whether there are any changes in strength.

What About Degenerative Disc Disease?

Degenerative disc disease is very common.

As a disc loses hydration and height, the way that spinal segment handles load can change. Reduced disc height can also contribute to narrowing around the openings where spinal nerves exit.

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

Others have degenerative changes on their MRI that aren't the primary source of their pain.

This is another situation where the imaging needs to be compared with the patient's actual symptoms.

What About Spinal Stenosis?

Some cases of spinal stenosis may be considered for Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression.

Others may not.

Stenosis refers to narrowing, and there can be several reasons that narrowing develops. Disc bulging, disc degeneration and loss of disc height may contribute, but arthritis and other structural changes may also be involved.

Dr. Boelk looks at where the narrowing is occurring, how advanced it appears, what structures are contributing to it and what symptoms the patient is experiencing.

Previous Treatment Can Tell Dr. Boelk a Lot

Many Poway patients who contact the office have already tried to manage the problem elsewhere.

That may include:

• Physical therapy

• Chiropractic care

• Home exercises

• Stretching

• Massage

• Acupuncture

• Anti-inflammatory medication

• Pain medication

• Epidural injections

• Rest or activity modification

Tell Dr. Boelk what happened.

If physical therapy helped for a while but the symptoms returned, that's useful information.

If a particular exercise consistently sends pain farther down the leg, mention it.

If an injection relieved the leg pain temporarily but it returned, mention that too.

The more clearly the history is understood, the easier it becomes to determine an appropriate next step.

A Simple Thing You Can Do Before Your Consultation

Pay attention to your symptoms for a few days.

You don't need a complicated pain journal.

Notice:

• Where the symptoms start

• How far they travel

• Whether sitting makes them worse

• Whether walking helps or hurts

• Whether coughing or sneezing changes the pain

• Whether numbness comes and goes or stays constant

• Whether you have noticed weakness

• What positions help

• What positions aggravate the problem

Those details can be surprisingly helpful during an evaluation.

And if stretching causes pain, numbness or tingling to travel farther down the leg, don't assume that pushing harder into the stretch is automatically better.

Patients Sometimes Travel Hundreds of Miles for Care

Rosa Algravez traveled from Calexico after dealing with leg numbness and lower-back pain for years.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rosa Algravez — Calexico, CA

“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

Who Is Not a Good Candidate?

This is an important part of the discussion.

Dr. Boelk does not recommend decompression simply because a patient wants to try it.

Conditions that may make someone inappropriate for treatment or require further medical 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 level being treated

• Progressive neurological weakness

• Cauda equina syndrome

• Other medical or structural conditions that could make decompression unsafe

There are also patients whose condition simply requires a different type of care.

Previous Surgery Needs a Closer Look

Patients who have undergone spinal surgery should not assume that the answer is automatically yes or automatically no.

Dr. Boelk needs to know what was done.

Important questions include:

• Was it a discectomy or another procedure?

• Was a fusion performed?

• What spinal level was treated?

• Is there hardware?

• Where is the hardware?

• Are the current symptoms coming from the same level?

• What does the current imaging show?

Hardware at the level Dr. Boelk would need to treat can be particularly important when determining whether decompression is appropriate.

An Honest Evaluation Sometimes Ends Without Treatment

Jeff J. traveled from Tucson after researching Dr. Boelk's office. After reviewing his situation, Dr. Boelk and Jeff determined that surgery was the appropriate option.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Jeff J. — Tucson, AZ

“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

That is also a successful consultation.

The point is to determine whether decompression makes sense—not to convince every patient to begin treatment.

When Symptoms Shouldn't Wait

Most back pain, neck pain and sciatica can be evaluated through a normal appointment.

There are exceptions.

Seek prompt medical attention if you develop:

• New bowel or bladder dysfunction

• Difficulty urinating

• Numbness around the groin or saddle area

• Rapidly progressing weakness

• Sudden loss of control of a leg or foot

A noticeable progression of neurological weakness also deserves prompt evaluation.

Why Patients Seek Out Dr. Boelk

Dr. Boelk has focused extensively on disc injuries, sciatica and Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression 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 office exclusively uses the DRX9000 and has seven systems—four lumbar and three cervical.

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

How Do Poway Patients Find Out if They Are Candidates?

You don't have to figure it out yourself.

If you have a herniated or bulging disc, sciatica, degenerative disc disease, stenosis or persistent back or neck symptoms, bring whatever information you already have.

If you have MRI images, X-rays or reports, bring them.

If you don't have imaging, you can still come in.

Dr. Boelk offers a No-Charge, No-Obligation Consultation to discuss what you're experiencing, review available imaging 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, 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.