Just Bought Sport 550 Inversion Table - Have some questions??

**Justin** · 08-10-2010, 11:40 PM

Originally Posted by Greg

So if at 7 months post-op (4 months since clearly evident fusion) if a doctor had deemed your bone growth strong enough (looks solid all the way around...not slightly fused) to prescribe you traction at physical therapy due to the beginning of DDD on an adjacent level to the fusion would you still think an inversion table should be avoided....just wondering

In all honesty, traction isn't going to help DDD. It might help the associated symptoms of DDD, but it won't stop the degenerative process(es). Light traction (stretching) is OK in my opinion, but using a full-blown inversion table against gravity is a little much less than a year out.

**JK2234** · 08-11-2010, 06:39 AM

Originally Posted by Justin

In all honesty, traction isn't going to help DDD. It might help the associated symptoms of DDD, but it won't stop the degenerative process(es). Light traction (stretching) is OK in my opinion, but using a full-blown inversion table against gravity is a little much less than a year out.

I agree, traction might help someone with a healthy spine that has a few disc protrusions but not people with the type of DDD that causes dark disc on MRI's.

**Cindylou** · 08-11-2010, 09:07 AM

These posts have been quite timely for me, as I have been pondering dragging my fold up traction board out of the garage and giving it a go. Certainly not the stretch of an inversion table, so I'm thinking I could try it. Appreciate all the insight.

**drummerman** · 08-11-2010, 11:51 PM

Originally Posted by Greg

So if at 7 months post-op (4 months since clearly evident fusion) if a doctor had deemed your bone growth strong enough (looks solid all the way around...not slightly fused) to prescribe you traction at physical therapy due to the beginning of DDD on an adjacent level to the fusion would you still think an inversion table should be avoided....just wondering

Greg,

Good talking to you the other day, buddy. Umm... looks like I created a bit of a stir

. That is o.k. I appreciate all the input. I am still not sure how to use this forum. Am I sending this out privately to you or is this on the open forum format? Oh well

In any event, (as I shared with you, Greg) I do want to add that my doctor showed me the CT Scan where he definitely pointed out specifically where bone was solidly already formed on both sides of the fusion... and that was three months after surgery! Is that unusual? Some of the good people here seem to feel that that is not long enough for a "full" fusion to occur?? Well...I do not know anything about this stuff

In any event, it is now 7 months since surgery. BTW, as I mentioned to you, Greg, the MRI taken 5 weeks ago showed the L-1 disc threatening and beginning to show evidence of potential problem (which is the reason my doctor had prescribed the traction thing).

Anyway... tried the table out yesterday at about 10 inches below horizontal (I am such a chicken) for five minutes for the first time! I would like to proclaim I am still alive

However, Greg, after a while there was some little aching (not pain) that lasted half the day... but now it is fine... no soreness. So... in the end I am going to do what I have always done. Listen to what my body is telling me. I will be seeing my neurosurgeon in about 10 days or so - so I will ask him too. I do feel good enough at this point to give the table another shot tomorrow. Oh boy! Kind of fun and scary

Well... I guess I am just risk taker. Certainly, taking Korean karate for ten years when I was in my twenties and thirties... I guess kind of shows that.

I understand about the DDD issue, however, if I can reverse the L-1 disc or at least discourage it from further protrusion than it would seem that this in itself would be worth the use of the table AND another fusion operation which I do not want... in no way.

Anyway, I not in any pain... back feels strong... practiced on my drumming pad this morning for three hours

Now, if I can just get rid of these daily headaches, insomnia and depression I have had for 35 years

I will be o.k.

I hope your pain is lessening, Greg. Take care and thank you for all your support, buddy.

Ron

**Cindylou** · 08-12-2010, 08:27 AM

Hi Ron,

Just for your information, when you respond to any post, or start a new thread for that matter, all of us can read it. If you want to send a private message to someone, that feature is available as well. If you look at the top of the page you will see Private Messages, and you click on that and follow instructions....very user-friendly. :thumpup: Glad you responded fine to your time on the inversion table. Be careful and continue to heal.

**KanRunMo** · 08-12-2010, 10:49 AM

I would go with Justin's suggestion of staying off the inversion table until post-op one year. I use mine for 5 min. or less and always feel a stretch when I get off. (Again, I haven't had surgery). I think it would help the most after a stem cell injection or other type injection for DDD disc growth. I do have a friend who claims he uses it for about 10 min and it cures his back pain for a month or more. I have no idea what his back problems are. They might only be muscle problems. He hasn't had an MRI or CT scan on his back.