What is Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD)? Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) is a condition characterized by the breakdown of the intervertebral discs in the spine. These discs, which act as shock absorbers between the vertebrae, lose their flexibility, elasticity, and shock-absorbing characteristics as they deteriorate over time. This degeneration can lead to pain, reduced mobility, and other spinal issues.
Why Are People Prone to DDD? DDD is primarily caused by the natural aging process. As we age, the discs in our spine gradually wear down. Factors that increase the likelihood of developing DDD include:
Genetics: A family history of spine problems can increase the risk. Injury: Trauma to the spine can accelerate disc degeneration. Obesity: Excess weight can put additional stress on the spine. Smoking: Smoking reduces blood flow to the discs, impairing their ability to repair themselves. Activities That Can Aggravate DDD Certain activities and lifestyle choices can exacerbate the symptoms of DDD, including:
Heavy Lifting: Repeatedly lifting heavy objects can put stress on the spine. Poor Posture: Slouching or poor posture can increase pressure on the discs. High-Impact Sports: Activities that involve repetitive impact on the spine, such as running or football, can worsen disc degeneration. Prolonged Sitting: Sitting for long periods, especially with poor posture, can aggravate back pain. How to Help Alleviate DDD Symptoms While there is no cure for DDD, several strategies can help manage and alleviate its symptoms:
Regular Exercise: Low-impact activities like walking, swimming, and yoga can help maintain spine flexibility and strength. Good Posture: Maintaining proper posture while sitting, standing, and lifting can reduce stress on the spine. Healthy Weight: Keeping a healthy weight reduces the load on the spine. Quit Smoking: Stopping smoking improves blood flow and overall disc health. Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression (NSSD) and DDD Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression (NSSD) is an advanced, non-invasive therapy that can provide significant relief for those suffering from DDD. NSSD works by gently stretching the spine, creating negative pressure within the discs. This negative pressure can help:
Rehydrate the Discs: Encouraging the flow of water, oxygen, and nutrients back into the discs, which can promote healing. Reduce Disc Pressure: Alleviating the pressure on the discs and nerves, which can reduce pain and improve function. Improve Spinal Alignment: Helping to restore the spine to a more natural position, reducing stress on the discs. Why Dr. Boelk is an Expert in NSSD Dr. Cassidy Boelk DC is a leading expert in Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression therapy. With nearly 20 years of experience and over 40,000 decompression sessions performed, Dr. Boelk has helped countless patients find relief from chronic back pain and disc-related conditions. His clinic, The Spinal Decompression & Chiropractic Center of San Diego, is the #1 rated spinal decompression office in San Diego, known for its state-of-the-art DRX 9000 machines and comprehensive treatment protocols. Dr. Boelk's expertise and dedication to patient care make him a top choice for those seeking relief from DDD.
Patients from all over San Diego County, as well as out-of-state and international patients, seek out Dr. Boelk for his specialized knowledge and successful treatment outcomes. His personalized approach ensures that each patient receives the care and attention they need to achieve significant pain relief and improved quality of life.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact The Spinal Decompression & Chiropractic Center of San Diego:
Office Phone: 619-298-0800 Cell Phone: 619-884-8298 Website: www.SanDiegoBackCare.com
Our treatment protocols are highly successful, personal and unique to each patient and the equipment we utilize has been proven effective by Johns Hopkins University, Stanford University, Duke Medical Center and Mayo clinic among others.
Rated the #1 Spinal Decompression office in San Diego for many reasons. Here is a quick guide to finding the best office when searching for Spinal Decompression:
1. Does the office specialize In Spinal Decompression or is it just one of many multiple treatments they offer? We have seen many patients come from other offices who said they are specialists and experts in spinal decompression but only treat 3 or 4 patients a day on decompression.
2. Is the doctor or staff actually getting the patients on the treatments? Spinal Decompression is a specialized skill and requires daily decision making and protocols vary from person to person, it is not a one size fits all approach. Many patients come from different offices and inform us they were getting decompression but it was done by the staff and many times they are in pain when on the tables. The treatments should not be painful but feel good.
3. Is the doctor Certified? There are many doctors who are utilizing spinal decompression who are not certified. It is best to see someone who took the time and learned the process and is certified.
4. Do they have a good reputation and reviews that report the doctor and office and staff are looking out for the patient and there is a common theme of the doctor caring and wanting the best for their patients?
5. Experience? How long has the office been utilizing spinal decompression? How many sessions have they performed? You want to see someone who has a lot of experience and knowledge in their field when looking for spinal decompression offices.
Our office has been specializing in NSSD, Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression for the past 18 years. Everyday we perform 35-45 sessions. Every single decompression session is performed by our doctor and not our staff. He determines the settings and has unique protocols for each patient that is dynamic.
Our clinic director and founder, Dr. Cassidy Boelk DC is Certified Spinal Decompression Doctor. You can look up reviews on him and the office here. Over the past 20 years he has performed over 40,000 spinal decompression sessions.
Our treatments we use are clinically proven highly effective and have been researched by Johns Hopkins University, Stanford University, Duke Medical Center and Mayo Clinic among others.
There are many offices that claim they are experts at spinal decompression but unfortunately lack the experience, knowledge and years it takes to become an expert. We have been utilizing decompression in San Diego for the past 18 years and have seen many offices and doctors come and go and many pop up and are instantly experts. Over the past 18 years we have performed over 30,000 spinal decompression visits and we are considered experts in spinal decompression. We are still always learning and updating our protocols to get even better results and learn how to help more people even faster, the learning never stops.
We treat both local San Diego as well as out of town residents as far away as Alaska and Spain and typically have patients from Mexico, El Centro, Calexico in our office daily. Spinal Decompression is a very relaxing, comfortable and effective treatment that helps patients with the following conditions:
Chronic Lower Back Pain
Neck Pain
Herniated Discs
Slipped Discs
Pinched Nerves
Disc Bulges
Degenerative Disc Disease
Sciatica
Spinal Stenosis
Neuropathy
With true spinal decompression, we can get water, oxygen and nutrients into the disc itself while flushing out swelling and inflammation which is adding to the pain. With traction and inversion tables the spinal muscles are unable to fully relax and thus they stay somewhat activated which then prevents the discs from getting into a negative pressure and healing properly and getting rid of the pain as much as possible.
Serious inquiries only please. For a no-charge, no-obligation consultation, call our office at 619-298-0800.
*Due to demand, regardless of referral from family physician, neurologist, orthopedic surgeon or chiropractor, patients are seen on a first come first serve basis.
Dr. Boelk’s excellent reviews are a testament not only to his expertise at treating patients of all ages and conditions, but also his compassionate and understanding approach to treatment. We are 5 star rated on over 200 reviews. Dr. Boelk utilizes methods that solved his severe neck and low back pain and disc herniations. Dr. Boelk holds the following licenses and certifications:
-#1 Rated Spinal Decompression Office In San Diego
-Board Certified Doctor of Chiropractic
-California Licensed Doctor of Chiropractic
-Certified Spinal Decompression Doctor
-California X-ray Radiology Licensed Doctor
-Pain Free Performance Specialist
-The International Disc Education Association Member
Dr Boelk is thorough, technical, and explains everything very well. Excellent bedside manner and all the staff are very nice. Decompression treatment is effective and I have no more neck pain." - Andre G.
"Dr. Boelk is professional and kind. He has the health of his patients as his top priority. The decompression treatments, exercises, and diet adjustments he recommended and administered have so diminished my back pain that I can sleep again. Chiropractic adjustments did not help my lower back. Decompression did. I highly recommend Dr. Boelk."- Steve R.
"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
"I decided to see Dr. Boelk after a pretty gnarly motocross 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.
--When it comes to spinal decompression and severe neck and back pain, you want to go to the best and get the fastest relief possible and keep the pain away. For the past 20 years we have been helping people just like you get rid of their neck and back pain without the use of drugs, injections, surgery, physical therapy, acupuncture, acupressure, cupping or chiropractic adjustments.
Instead, through thousands of hours, 20 years and 40,000 treatments later, we have become Spinal Decompression experts and out clinic director and founder, Dr. Cassidy Boelk DC is a certified Spinal Decompression doctor and his private office located right there in San Diego has been voted the #1 Spinal Decompression Office In San Diego for quite some time. He treats many logical San Diego residents as well as out of state and country patients who seek out his expert opinion and protocols to get them out of pain and avoid surgery if possible.
"Dr. Boelk & his staff are by far the BEST at spinal decompression. I walked into his office unable to sit to do my job, where I was having to lay each day & within a couple of weeks he helped me with being able to sit again. His attention to you & the way he will make you feel is unparalleled. First of all, he has suffered from some severe back issues, so his empathy is very high. Secondly, he is extremely caring & genuinely wants to help people. I've never worked with a doctor who has cared as much and made me feel like I was his only patient before. There would be 4 people there at the same time, and he still made me feel this way. I guess I just cannot thank him enough & cannot recommend him enough. He is an angel on earth. If you visit him, please listen to him & follow his instructions. He knows what's best for you. " - Erin T, California
Hi my name is Mercedes Bautista. I found out about this treatment on the internet and I came because I was searching for a doctor for my friend. I have always had low back problems, so Dr. Boelk suggested that I have an MRI done. I decided to go ahead and do it and what I found out was astonishing. Dr. Boelk told me I had a bulging disc and that my discs were dehydrated. I went home very surprised and even scared. That night with my husband I cried. My husband and I both talked about it and decided that the finances were worth getting my back fixed. The next thing we had to figure out was how I was going to get here, because I live in El Centro.
So we decided we were going to rent a car and I travel here 4 times a week. The girls here are wonderful and very awesome. They make you feel like family, it’s an extremely relaxing environment. I feel better and I have recommended this treatment to my family and friends. Thank You ! - Mercedes Bautista, El Centro, CA
We have been specializing in spinal decompression for the past 20 years. We see patients from all over San Diego County as well as out of town patients from Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Alaska, Mexico and Spain.
To see if you qualify for treatment, give the office a call. Out of town patients, we have 24 hour answering service and there are 3 hotels conveniently located down the street from the office in which most of our patients stay