Anyone use an inversion table?

[SuperJETT]

My wife has been having back issues for a while and finally found out she has a compressed disc in her lower back.

She has tried pt but it didn't really help much at all.

She saw a chiropractor (her friend highly recommended him) this week and he wants to do 5 days/week for a while, then 4, then 3, then 2, for like 5 months then see her at least twice/month I think.

I'm not big on chiros, most of them seem to just want to see you a bunch of times so they make the most money and this one seems that way too. Plus, what I don't get is if it's so bad he needs to see her 5 times/week to start, how can you justify taking 2 days off on the weekends with zero treatment?

Anyway, we've been discussing an inversion table and I'm almost ready to buy a Teeter for like $400 with the boots but looking to hear some experiences with the tables. I'd probably use it some too but it's mainly for her right now.

 

[BruceSki]

i had two herniated discs in my back at 18 years old(6 years ago) i think L4 and L5. i did PT and the best thing they did for me there was traction. its basically a more controlled method of an inversion table. you lay flat instead of hanging. its not 100% of your body weight pulling on your back.

it was two belts one attached around my waist and one slightly above my waist wrapped very tightly. the machine then pulled at up to 75% of my body weight for 10-15 minutes. after doing that, focusing on posture in the car/desk/work/computer, and stretching i have not had any problems since.

they tried shocking the muscles for me and i hated it it didn't do anything but hurt me worse, tightening the already clenched muscles in my back.



i would think if your wife is willing to try an inversion table you should suggest to the PT that they use a traction table first and see the results.


I don't believe in chiropractors either and will never go.

 

[MADMAT]

I have been using hooked boots and gas pipe for years. I would get the table if I had the room. Much easier to get on and off of.

It absolutely helps. Hippocrates swore by it.

That seems like a lot of chiro visits but if she is all messed up and slouching or has drooping shoulders then it will take that to train her in to doing what she needs to do.

After a few weeks she can figure it out on her own and hang upside down and do exercises. Like push ups in the corner of the room or whatever hers are.

I swear by my chiro and inversion.

 

[kawasakit2me]

Darin,

I know there are some good chiros on this board (godocgo) so I will be nice :biggthumpup: but I am not a fan of most chiros. I had one claim he could cure my strep throat by popping my neck. uuuuhhhhh ok

Anyway, hubby uses an inversion table for his lower back compression issues and it has helped immensely. It has basically taught him how to relax his back enough for the decompression to take place. Now he can decompress without the table because he knows where he needs to relax.

It does take up a lot of space, like Matt mentioned, but boots are no good if you are just hanging by your feet. Hanging at a 90% angle makes it practically impossible to relax enough to decompress.... until you get used to hanging upside down.

BTW - Hubby got his brand new off Craigslist for like $200 more than a year ago. I can't recall the brand and hubby loaned it to a friend, so I can't check, but $400 seems excessive.

 

[MADMAT]

After a week I was able to fall asleep completely inverted. Talk about relaxed decompression!

 

[MADMAT]

The last table type I saw and used had no boots....just all built in to the unit.

 

[OCD Solutions]

I would also look into Spinal Decompression Therapy as an alternative to surgery. I attended a Seminar last year featuring this technology and it's results were very impressive.

I don't endorse the following clinic, just posted it as a good reference to the topic.

http://www.shepherdfamilychiropractic.com/lumbar.asp

 

[SuperJETT]

Darin,

Anyway, hubby uses an inversion table for his lower back compression issues and it has helped immensely. It has basically taught him how to relax his back enough for the decompression to take place. Now he can decompress without the table because he knows where he needs to relax.

It does take up a lot of space, like Matt mentioned, but boots are no good if you are just hanging by your feet. Hanging at a 90% angle makes it practically impossible to relax enough to decompress.... until you get used to hanging upside down.

BTW - Hubby got his brand new off Craigslist for like $200 more than a year ago. I can't recall the brand and hubby loaned it to a friend, so I can't check, but $400 seems excessive.

I am really surprised, maybe shouldn't be, but had not looked at craigslist and that's normally the first thing I look at. Just found one about 45 minutes away for $75 used, and it's a Teeter which is the brand I was looking at. For $75, it's worth buying just to try and if we need a better model we'll do it later.

Thanks for the post, great info and just what I was looking for.

 

[rollin5150]

Good info here. My wife is also having lower back problems

 

[Idok]

my boss uses one everyday....he swears by it but you must be careful with them

 

[Big Kahuna]

I was going to say you can find them much cheaper. Academy sports and sears has some decent ones. I need to use mine more.

 

[OCD Solutions]

I had one offered to me free last year, just haul it away, and I have been kicking myself ever since, now even more that this thread came up.

 

[itismejoshy]

superjett,
I hvae always been against all the hype around chrios, then my wife started managing an office a few years back so i got to got for free. well luckly about the same time i rolled my F250 6 times off of I75 in jacksonville and really messed my back, to the point that i couldnt get outa bed without help or walk normaly without it railing me in the lower back....and i'm only 25. so she talk me into going and the doc said i was really messed up and i knew that....well i started going about half as much as he wanted me to....he wanted me there 4 times a week...i said hell no...so i went twice a week for like 2 months then once a week now once a month....the stuff they do really does work! i remember thinkin the first few times i went "what a crock" then a week later i could get outa bed then reach in the fridge now i am riding ski 2 days a week. Still have alittle pain after riding but i can deal with it, and the inversion things also works....but i love the traction table best! after you get off it you feel like a million bucks! ok enough of this essay......back pain sucks! don't let her take the pain killer method it never works out!

 

[SuperJETT]

superjett,
I hvae always been against all the hype around chrios, then my wife started managing an office a few years back so i got to got for free. well luckly about the same time i rolled my F250 6 times off of I75 in jacksonville and really messed my back, to the point that i couldnt get outa bed without help or walk normaly without it railing me in the lower back....and i'm only 25. so she talk me into going and the doc said i was really messed up and i knew that....well i started going about half as much as he wanted me to....he wanted me there 4 times a week...i said hell no...so i went twice a week for like 2 months then once a week now once a month....the stuff they do really does work! i remember thinkin the first few times i went "what a crock" then a week later i could get outa bed then reach in the fridge now i am riding ski 2 days a week. Still have alittle pain after riding but i can deal with it, and the inversion things also works....but i love the traction table best! after you get off it you feel like a million bucks! ok enough of this essay......back pain sucks! don't let her take the pain killer method it never works out!

Neither one of us likes medicating, we'd rather fix the root problem than just cover the symptoms up. She's been taking Aleve but that only dampens the pain some I think if any so she's been looking for a solution.

 

[Glory_Freestyle]

Add me to the list of Inversion Table users. I've had some lower back problems for a long time and since I've been using the table, it's been a lot better. I get inverted 2-3 times a week usually.

My best advice is to start SLOW. Don't go all the way inverted the first couple of times, and only lay back for 1 - 2 minutes, then rest for a couple of minutes and repeat. As she gets used to it, gradually go farther. Then once she's completely inverted and used to having all the blood rush to her head, she can increase the time that she's upside down.

 

[Big Kahuna]

I found that about 110-120 degrees works really well, takes the pressure off without having the blood rush to your head!

Last year when Anita's back when out, I went to put her on it, except the limiting strap was not tight, she leaned back hit the limit, and then POW, she was upside down. She wont get back on it, scared the crap out of her.

 

[SuperJETT]

I'm going to pick up the used one tonight hopefully and go from there. If we need to, I'll go for a nicer one soon enough.

 

[Proformance1]

Good deal jett, tell her to start off slowly and work your way up to being inverted. No more than 30 seconds inverted to start with. If you are in pain, stop! I swear by my PT/Chiro now, he says its all up to me. He highly suggests the inversion table and correct posture at all times.

 

[wayne]

I had one claim he could cure my strep throat by popping my neck. uuuuhhhhh ok.

i wouldn't put it past him. my chiro helped my old boses son with his constant runny nose and can stop my migraines. but since my lasik i haven't had a migraine. :arms:

my chiro knows i will only go see her when i am in real pain.

i need to get an inversion table also. hope it helps her out jett.

 

[kawasakit2me]

I am really surprised, maybe shouldn't be, but had not looked at craigslist and that's normally the first thing I look at. Just found one about 45 minutes away for $75 used, and it's a Teeter which is the brand I was looking at. For $75, it's worth buying just to try and if we need a better model we'll do it later.

Thanks for the post, great info and just what I was looking for.

Beautiful!

A tip for your wife that I hear from all the table users: wear shoes, the thicker the better (high tops are the best). Otherwise you're hanging on the skin of your feet. It will also make her feel more secure in the "holds".

Hope it helps her!