Inversion tables

[belstone]

I'm wondering if an inversion table would help? I have a mild s-curve and cervical lordosis, and have experienced pain for my entire adult life. Certain activities make the pain in my shoulder blades extreme, and recently my neck and shoulders have been particularly uncomfortable. Has anyone tried inversion therapy?

[GHD1959]

I bought a table and thought it was helping, but my lower back starting hurting more than before, so I sold the table.

[belstone]

Can there really be only one other person out there who has tried inversion? It just seems as though it should help. After all, gravity is probably the biggest contributor to spinal compression, and what is scoliosis if not compression?

[KRIS ATKINSON]

We have an inversion table that takes up space in my spare room. To me, the idea of hanging basically upside down will let the blood rush to my head, so I haven't tried it myself. My husband bought it, used it for awhile, and for months now I have just spent time tripping over it to get past it. It leans against the wall and I have to set it in the middle of a room to actually use it, so I imagine that is why he has lost interest in it recently. I have neck problems and mild scoliosis (about 10 degrees) and my daughter had spine surgery for scoliosis. My ortho prescribed a device for my neck which I hang over a door. It basically pulls my head up for a reasonable amount of time, which relieves stress in my upper body, without making my blood rush to my head. I would ask my doctor's opinion on what to do, if I were you. Good luck, Kris

[sweetness514]

Hello Kris :)

I am interested in this neck device you are talking about, since I have neck problems, as well as my hubby. Do you know the name of it? If not I will ask my family doctor or ortho, as I think it could be of help.

[sweetness514]

Ok, I see no problem.

[KRIS ATKINSON]

Sweetness, I just looked for my "stretcher" and will have to look harder to find it. I haven't used it very recently, basically since we decided to do the surgery route with my daughter. My own personal needs and desires have taken a step back to care for her. I hope your ortho has an idea of what the device is. I had gone to the physical therapist to lie down and be hooked up to a device that would stretch my upper body gradually and then he recommended I buy this device to do it at home instead. Unfortunately, I am only able to hang it on a door, then sit in a chair under it as it lifts my head. It was much more comfortable to lie on a bed and have my head stretched in a prone position. I fill the "bag" with water to a certain weight, according to the therapist, then hang it on a door and sit there as it pulls gently for awhile. I think it was $30 from my physical therapist at the orthopedic clinic. If you still need more info, I'll dig further. I wish it was easier to set up and take down, and I would use it again now. I found I couldn't just leave it hanging all the time because it put too much stress on the door to just leave it there, so now it is a pain to lift it and reset it every time. Hope this helps, Kris

[MegansMom]

Belstone,
We have an inversion table, and our daughter who has cerebral palsy and just had total spinal fusion surgery 7 weeks ago, uses it all the time. For us we have used it to keep her spine stretched and her legs and all due to contractures and stuff due to her brain injury. We went for her 7 week check today and her ortho surgeon said she could get back in it now too. He said she could do anything except play football.
Tracy

[sweetness514]

Thanks for the reply Kris :)

I have talked about it with my hubby and he does recall his PT using it on him, so I will get info there.

[belstone]

Thanks for the info everyone--based on the discussion so far, I think the answer may be a combination of inversion at a moderate degree beyond lateral, combined with that neck traction device at the same time!! I wonder if that's possible? I guess it's time to see a doc. Does anyone know who to see in SE Michigan? Haven't seen anyone in 10 years or so for this stuff and even then, only saw a GP who sent me to PT. Thanks a bunch