Why Does My Herniated Disc Hurt More When Sitting? – San Diego, CA
Patient Experience
“I have had a wonderful experience with Dr. Boelk and his staff at the Spinal Decompression and Chiropractic Center of San Diego. They have a great protocol and the best decompression machines. I’ve been to other places with sub par machines and didn’t get any benefit. Dr. Boelk is very attentive and cares about each person, you can see it in how he interacts with everyone. Been undergoing treatment for about 12 sessions now and the sciatica is gone and I’m almost back to normal, didn’t think it would ever heal but even after the first session I had tremendous relief and could sleep mostly pain free for the first time in months. Definitely worth the investment! Thank you!”
— Michael Langsdale, San Diego, CA
Source: www.SanDiegoBackCare.com / SoTellUs
👉 After unsuccessful care elsewhere, Michael experienced rapid relief and near full recovery.
Next Step: Herniated Disc & Nerve Evaluation — Get a Clear Answer First
If your pain is worse when sitting, that is often a strong indicator that the issue may be disc-related—but the only way to know for sure is to properly evaluate it.
At our office, we start with a Herniated Disc & Nerve Evaluation, where Dr. Boelk works through your case to determine exactly what is causing your symptoms and whether you are a candidate for care.
What We Do During This Evaluation
- Review your history and current symptoms
- Discuss what you’ve already tried and how your body responded
- Review any MRI or imaging (if available)
- Explain what is most likely causing your pain
- Identify whether the disc is the primary issue
- Assess for nerve irritation or compression
- Evaluate which movements or positions worsen your symptoms
What We Determine
- Whether your pain is disc-related
- Whether nerve pressure is present
- Whether you are a candidate for care
- What a customized plan would look like if appropriate
- What realistic expectations should be
- Or if another approach would be more appropriate
⚠️ We do not accept every patient.
Only patients we believe we can genuinely help are accepted into care.
Because of the time required, we reserve a limited number of new patient evaluation appointments each week.
Why Herniated Disc Pain Gets Worse When Sitting
This is one of the most common patterns patients notice.
When you sit:
- pressure within the spinal discs increases
- the disc can push further outward
- nearby nerves may become more irritated
This is why people often report:
- more pain in the car
- discomfort at a desk
- increased symptoms when getting up from sitting
👉 Sitting can significantly increase disc pressure compared to standing or lying down.
Why This Matters
If your symptoms are worse with sitting, it may indicate that the disc is playing a major role in your pain.
This is important because many treatments focus on:
- muscles
- joints
- inflammation
…but may not directly address disc pressure.
Experience Matters With Disc-Related Pain
At The Spinal Decompression & Chiropractic Center of San Diego:
Dr. Cassidy Boelk, DC has spent over 20 years focusing on disc injuries and nerve-related pain.
- Certified Spinal Decompression Doctor
- Certified Pain-Free Performance Specialist
- Founder – Spinal Decompression Training Academy
- Over 100,000 spinal decompression treatments performed
- Exclusive use of DRX9000 spinal decompression systems
- One of the only clinics in the region with 7 DRX9000 units
Patients travel from across the United States and internationally—including Mexico, the UK, and Spain—to receive this level of specialized care.
What the Research Shows
Clinical research on Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression has demonstrated:
- 90.5% of patients reported pain reduction
- Improvements in nerve-related symptoms
- Improved ability to sit, walk, and function
Source: Military Medicine, 2025 – Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Outcomes
Patient Experience
“I had constant lower back and sciatica pain for over 8 plus months… no pills helped and I was on track for injections. With the treatment given I have found relief and am now down to zero pain. As a firefighter that relies on his body, the results have been worth it.”
— Joshua T., San Diego, CA
Source: www.SanDiegoBackCare.com / SoTellUs
👉 Went from constant pain and failed treatments to full function without injections.
Out-of-Town Patient Experience
“My name is Lynn. I am from Alaska… I couldn’t sleep, I could barely walk. After treatment I am back to shoveling snow, teaching school, taking walks… it really makes a difference.”
— Lynn C., Alaska
Source: www.SanDiegoBackCare.com / SoTellUs
👉 Severe mobility limitations improved significantly after traveling for care.
Not Everyone Is a Candidate
Spinal decompression is not appropriate for every patient.
“Very nice doctor and honest… I have hardware in my back and was not a candidate, but the evaluation was extremely helpful and informative.”
— Toni W., Lake Elsinore, CA
Source: www.SanDiegoBackCare.com / SoTellUs
👉 You will be told clearly whether this is the right fit—or not.
Request Your Herniated Disc & Nerve Evaluation
If your pain worsens with sitting and continues to come back, the next step is to determine what is actually causing it.
📞 Office: 619-298-0800
📱 Call/Text: 619-884-8298
🌐 www.SanDiegoBackCare.com
📍 The Spinal Decompression & Chiropractic Center of San Diego
5095 Murphy Canyon Road, Suite 300
San Diego, CA 92123
👉 Most patients tell us they wish they had done this step sooner instead of continuing treatments that weren’t addressing the real problem.