Why Does My Leg Go Numb When I Walk? | Tierrasanta, CA

One of the more concerning changes patients describe to Dr. Cassidy James Boelk, DC isn't always severe pain. Sometimes it's realizing that the distance they can walk before their leg goes numb keeps getting shorter.

Maybe six months ago you could walk for an hour without thinking about it. Then the tingling started after 30 minutes. Now you're getting numbness in the calf or foot after 10 or 15 minutes, and sitting down is the only thing that reliably makes it settle.

That pattern deserves attention.

Dr. Boelk has spent more than 22 years working with disc injuries, sciatica and Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression and has performed more than 100,000 spinal decompression treatments. The Spinal Decompression & Chiropractic Center of San Diego has seven DRX9000 systems and is the largest known Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression clinic in Southern California.

Over the years, Dr. Boelk has evaluated many patients who don't describe their problem as “back pain” at all. Their main complaint may be numbness in the foot, tingling in the leg, heaviness when they walk or a feeling that one leg just doesn't work the way it used to.

Sometimes the source is still in the lower back.

Why Would a Problem in My Back Make My Leg Numb?

The nerves that travel into your legs originate from the lower spine. If one of those nerves becomes irritated or compressed, the symptoms can show up somewhere along the path of the nerve rather than directly in the lower back.

Depending on the nerve involved, a patient may experience symptoms in the buttock, thigh, calf, foot or toes. Some patients have pain. Others primarily notice tingling or numbness.

Walking can also be an important part of the pattern.

Some people feel relatively comfortable sitting but develop symptoms after standing or walking. Sitting down relieves them, and after a few minutes they can get up and walk again. Others notice they can walk farther if they're leaning forward over a shopping cart.

Disc problems, foraminal narrowing and spinal stenosis are among the possible explanations. They aren't the only ones, which is why Dr. Boelk doesn't recommend trying to diagnose the problem from symptoms alone.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Spinal Decompression Is the Only Way That Gives Me Relief All the Way to My Feet”

“Dr Boelk is highly knowledgeable and has made a difference in my life.”

“Dr Boelk is highly knowledgeable and has made a difference in my life.
I have a degenerative bone issue in my lower back. Spinal decompression is the only way that gives me relief all the way to my feet. I highly recommend
the Spinal Decompression center.”

— Dee M., Peoria, AZ

Dee's experience is a good example of symptoms extending well beyond the lower back. She traveled from Arizona and described relief extending all the way to her feet.

That doesn't mean someone with foot numbness automatically needs spinal decompression. It does show why Dr. Boelk looks at the entire symptom pattern rather than focusing only on whether someone's back hurts.

Start With a No-Charge Consultation With Dr. Boelk

If you're in Tierrasanta and your leg or foot is becoming numb when you walk, you don't have to decide whether you want treatment before coming into the office.

The first step is finding out what Dr. Boelk thinks may be causing the problem and whether you're someone he may be able to help.

During your No-Charge Consultation, Dr. Boelk will personally:

• Listen to when and how your symptoms started.

• Go over where the numbness, tingling or pain travels.

• Discuss how long you can stand or walk before symptoms begin.

• Look at what makes the symptoms better or worse.

• Ask whether sitting, bending forward or changing position provides relief.

• Discuss any weakness, tripping or changes in the way you're walking.

• Review previous treatment and how you responded.

• Review your actual MRI images and report if you have them.

• Compare your imaging findings with the symptoms you're experiencing.

• Discuss whether further examination or imaging may be appropriate.

• Determine whether Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression may be an option.

• Answer your questions and explain what he believes makes sense as a next step.

Don't have an MRI? That's okay. You can still schedule the consultation.

There is no charge and no obligation to begin treatment. If Dr. Boelk doesn't believe you're an appropriate candidate for his care, he'll tell you.

Dr. Boelk personally performs these consultations while also treating the patients already under his care. Because of the time involved, the office can only set aside a limited number of No-Charge Consultation appointments during the clinic schedule.

Once those appointments are filled, new patients are scheduled into the next available openings.

Call 619-298-0800 and ask about the next available No-Charge Consultation with Dr. Cassidy James Boelk, DC.

Don't Just Track Whether Your Leg Is Numb

One of the most useful things you can do before your consultation is pay attention to what is happening around the numbness.

You don't need to deliberately push yourself until symptoms become severe. Just notice what's already happening during normal activities.

For example:

• How long can you walk before the symptoms begin?

• Where do you feel the numbness first?

• Does it stay there or travel farther down the leg?

• Does sitting make it go away?

• How long does it take to settle?

• Does leaning forward allow you to walk farther?

• Does standing still cause the same problem?

• Is one leg affected or both?

• Has your walking tolerance changed over the last few months?

A patient who develops numbness after approximately the same amount of walking each time and gets relief from sitting presents differently than someone whose foot is constantly numb regardless of position or activity.

Those differences help guide the evaluation.

What If Leaning on a Shopping Cart Helps?

Patients occasionally mention this almost as an afterthought.

They'll tell Dr. Boelk they can't walk very far normally, but they're able to make it through Costco or the grocery store because leaning over the shopping cart makes their leg feel better.

That can be clinically useful information.

Some people with lumbar spinal stenosis feel worse standing or walking upright and better when sitting or bending forward. Changes in spinal position can affect the space available around irritated nerves.

But the “shopping cart sign” isn't a diagnosis by itself. Dr. Boelk still wants to know the complete history and, when appropriate, see what the imaging shows.

Pay Attention to Strength, Not Just Sensation

Numbness is a sensory change. Weakness is a loss of muscle function.

The two can occur together, but they aren't interchangeable.

If your leg feels strange or heavy, pay attention to whether you're actually losing the ability to perform movements you could previously do.

Examples include:

• Difficulty lifting the front of the foot.

• A foot beginning to slap the ground.

• Trouble walking on your heels.

• Difficulty pushing up onto your toes.

• One leg becoming noticeably weaker going up stairs.

• Catching your foot or tripping more often.

Progressive weakness needs to be evaluated rather than repeatedly pushed through.

Rapidly progressing weakness, new bowel or bladder dysfunction, difficulty urinating, or numbness around the groin or saddle area requires prompt medical evaluation.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “By March I Am Now Able to Bend Without Any Pain and Am Able to Walk Normally”

“I came in early January not able to bend and walking with a limp.”

“Dr. Boelk and his team are the best in the business! I have had lower back problems for over 5 years and been to 6 other doctors seeking options other than surgery. I came in early January not able to bend and walking with a limp. By February I was able to bend again with minimal pain and by March I am now able to bend without any pain and am able to walk normally.

I am EXTREMELY happy I did not have surgery and found Dr. Boelk. Trust him and the process and he will get you feeling better. He also said from the beginning that if at any stage in the process he felt like progress wasn't happening he would let me know which was not the case with other specialist I have seen in the past so I appreciate that.”

— Calder Pearce, San Diego, CA

Calder had dealt with lower-back problems for more than five years and had seen six other doctors. His review also points to something important about Dr. Boelk's approach: progress is evaluated along the way, and if treatment isn't doing what it should, that needs to be addressed.

Your MRI Needs to Match You

Patients sometimes arrive worried because their MRI report contains several findings.

Maybe it says L4-L5 disc bulge, L5-S1 degeneration, foraminal narrowing, facet arthropathy and spinal stenosis. Seeing that much medical terminology on one report can make the situation sound overwhelming.

But which finding, if any, explains why your foot goes numb when you walk?

Dr. Boelk prefers to review the actual MRI images whenever they're available rather than relying only on the written report. He compares what he sees with the location of your symptoms, how they're behaving and what makes them better or worse.

Sometimes the relationship is fairly clear. Other times it isn't.

There are also causes of leg numbness that don't originate in the spine, including peripheral nerve and circulatory problems. If the history doesn't fit a spinal problem, that matters too.

Could Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Help?

Possibly.

Dr. Boelk evaluates patients with disc bulges, disc herniations, degenerative disc disease, disc-related sciatica, foraminal narrowing and selected cases of spinal stenosis.

The clinic uses the DRX9000 exclusively for Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression, but having one of those diagnoses doesn't automatically qualify someone for treatment.

Before recommending decompression, Dr. Boelk considers the patient's history, symptoms, neurological findings, imaging when available, spinal stability, bone health, previous surgery and other medical factors.

There are also situations where spinal decompression may not be appropriate, including:

• Significant osteoporosis.

• An unhealed spinal fracture.

• Unstable spondylolisthesis.

• Abdominal aortic aneurysm.

• Pregnancy for lumbar decompression.

• Certain malignancies.

• Metal fusion or hardware at the treatment level.

• Other conditions that make treatment unsafe or inappropriate.

The decision to treat comes after the evaluation, not before it.

★ A Consultation Doesn't Mean You Will Be Accepted for Treatment

“We both determined that surgery was my only option to correct my back issues.”

“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

Jeff traveled from Tucson, but after reviewing his situation with Dr. Boelk, they determined surgery was the appropriate option for his back problem.

That consultation still accomplished something valuable: Jeff left knowing which direction made sense.

Dr. Boelk has seven DRX9000 systems in the clinic, but the goal isn't to put everyone who comes through the door onto one of them. If he doesn't believe decompression is appropriate, he'll say so.

22+ Years and More Than 100,000 Spinal Decompression Treatments

Dr. Cassidy James Boelk, DC has more than 22 years of experience with Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression and has performed more than 100,000 spinal decompression treatments.

The Spinal Decompression & Chiropractic Center of San Diego has seven DRX9000 systems and is the largest known Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression clinic in Southern California.

Dr. Boelk's professional background includes:

• Doctor of Chiropractic

• Certified Spinal Decompression Doctor

• Certified Pain-Free Performance Specialist (PPSC)

• 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 Radiation Supervisor & Operator

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

How Much Have You Already Adjusted Your Life?

Sometimes the biggest change isn't the numbness itself. It's everything you have gradually stopped doing because you know what will happen if you walk too far.

Maybe you're skipping walks around Tierrasanta that you used to enjoy. Maybe you're parking closer, avoiding longer shopping trips or looking for a chair as soon as you arrive somewhere.

Those small adjustments can add up.

Compare what you can comfortably do today with what you could do six months ago. If your walking tolerance is steadily decreasing, that change is worth understanding.

You don't have to wait until the numbness becomes severe, and you don't have to commit to treatment simply to get an experienced opinion.

During the No-Charge Consultation, Dr. Boelk can listen to what's happening, review your MRI if you have one and determine whether he believes you're an appropriate candidate for his care. If he doesn't think he can help, he'll tell you. If he believes Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression may be an option, he'll explain why and what he recommends.

The decision about what to do next remains yours.

Because Dr. Boelk personally performs these consultations while caring for his existing patients, only a limited number can be worked into the clinic schedule.

Call 619-298-0800 to ask about the next available No-Charge Consultation.

The Spinal Decompression & Chiropractic Center of San Diego
5095 Murphy Canyon Road, Suite 300
San Diego, CA 92123

619-298-0800
SanDiegoBackCare.com

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