Back Pain & Inversion Therapy Chairs

[bbh]

Just wondered if any of you guys could give me some advice. For the past couple of years, my husband has had progressively worse problems with back pain. The diagnosis is arthritis in the spine and bone spurs (in retrospect, high school and college football were not such a great idea), which are pressing on a nerve. Surgery is dicey because the bone spurs are lying right against the nerve; the doctors say there is a great risk that with surgery, he could lose the use of his left arm. He has tried just about everything else. He has pain and numbness down his left arm and fingers, and now he also has pain down his leg. The best results (though temporary) have been "directed" cortisone injections where they go through the side of his neck and locate the nerve while viewing it on a CT Scan.

I've heard that some people have had relief from inversion therapy chairs. Have any of you had experience with a particular brand?

Thanks.

[Rick]

I don't think it'll hurt to try it. If faced with a risky surgery, or trying one of those, it's a no brainer.

I hope he feels better soon.

[sojourner truth]

I've got degenerative bone disease of the lower spine, and had the MRI's, steroids, and meds. The only thing that helped was an RFA (Radio Frequency Ablation) Where they burn the nerves sending the signal to the brain. For my C5 (Upper spine) discs, the Steroids worked the first time. The L5/S1 discs (lower spine) were a different story. Only RFA had any affect. I went to a TENS unit (electro shock pads) that work pretty well with the Ultram meds. It isn't a 100% solution, but I can live with what pain I have. At least I can sleep at night, which I hadn't done in 5 years.

I am considering that fancy swing that you see on TV where you can flip yourself upside down, but I am a bit leary of any such results that the ads say they get. If you dont have discs left, like me, straightening the spine may just do the trick. He may want to actually see a Chiropractor.. I haven't because I'm a skeptic, but many friends of mine swear by them.

Good luck...I know what he's going through. I'll be praying for jim.

[bbh]

We're chiropractor skeptics as well, ST, but he's to the point where he's ready to try almost anything. He's had fairly good temporary relief from the injections, but you can only have those so often. And to complicate things, he had a bleeding ulcer last fall from all the NSAIDS, so he can't take so much as an aspirin....ever again. They fitted him with a home traction unit which he uses morning and night; it helps some.

He's always been a strong rock. I can't stand to see him in so much pain.

I ordered one of the chairs a few minutes ago. We'll see.

[Rick]

Good luck! You can try it too.

I want pictures!

[bbh]

Not a chance!!!!!

I'll try it, but if I showed you the pictures.....I'd have to kill ya.


(Wait a minute.....the chair could have other benefits. Maybe if I reverse the gravity, I could take my face back to 1980??? Yahoo!!!!!)

[siamcat]

Good luck and I hope it helps him.

I've had backproblems since childhood, but it's minor compared to this. A couple of motrin and I'm good.

[circle_c]

Has he tried acupuncture. It helped my wife After about a month (2 time per week) of treatments. at S&W.
She took then for about one and a half years and then all of a sudden didn't help so much any more. She felt great for one and a half years.. I dont know if S&W still does it or not, this was about 5 years or so ago. Somehow they charged my medicare & Tricare4Life. I think it was on a trial basis at S&W at that time, so I don't know if they still do it or not. Bottom line is it does work in some instances.So, may want to think about it and check around. Hope you find a a treatment It's like living in hell. Wife still using tens units daily, but not much help after she quits...

[sojourner truth]

Dang, I never thought about gravity issues being solved. Maybe I will get one and let Mrs. Truth work on her bustline a little. Not a bad idea when yer "pointers" turn into "setters".

"course, if she ever sees this, I'm dead meat.

[Rick]

Be careful, she might turn you upside down hoping for the same kind of result!