Back problem Guys - Inversion table?

[hamerhead]

I have 1 flattened and 1 bulging disk in my lower back, so I'm pretty much in constant pain. I've thought about getting an inversion table, and now my sister-in-law swears by her recent purchase.

Before I take the plunge, do any of you have any experience with them?

[aknapp]

Everything that follows is my opinion. I'm not a medical expert, and I'm not making any medical recommendations, yadda, yadda, yadda....

I searched for an inversion table about 6 months ago. Safety was my main concern; I didn't want to worry about whether the thing was going to fall apart when I hangin' upside down. From that perspective, Teeter was the only choice. Pricey, compared to some others, but well made, and I don't feel like it's going to fall apart any time soon (or later, for that matter).

http://teeter-inversion.com/

My problems aren't nearly as severe as yours, but inversion has definitely helped me.

I can send you the DVD that came with the table; it has use instructions, inverted stretching and exercise, and some non-inverted exercise.

[zenmindbeginner]

Been to a chiropractor?

[Armitage]

I've got an inversion table and while I'm happy with it, I seldom use it. You got to use it before you hurt much, IMHO, and you can't take any blood thinning pain killers before hand, it's apparently hard on the eyes. I second the chiropractor (or osteopath) suggestion.

[tomteriffic]

I've heard good things about the Teeter table.

A chiro is going to be essentially useless if he's one of those guys who thinks he can cure your athsma and make warts disappear in only 75 visits. Unfortunately, that's the norm these days. So be careful.

[hamerhead]

It was actually a chiropractor that found the disk problem (after many visits to my regular doc). Trouble is, a chiropractor can't fix the problem. They can align the bones, but fixing it would mean surgery.

I just want a little pain relief. I'll check out the Teeters for sure.

[Caddie]

Funny you should ask, i was considering an inversion table too after watching that little old leprechaun with the 4" vertical leap. Of course I did the obligatory google search for safety, effectiveness, side effects, etc. The only negatives I could find were that it can raise your blood pressure and raise the pressure in your eyeballs. Sounds pretty much the same effects we'd get by hanging upside down on the monkey bars as kids.

At the old playground if you passed out your buddies would pull you down and drop you into dirt under the monkey bars. If you live alone n pass out, if you have cats they will eat you from your bald spot up.

The infomercials prescribe 3-4 minutes per day max. That's probably tough to do , if it feels so good more must be better, right?

Cheers

caddie

[Ralph]

I had a Teeter. I sold it 6 months later. Never used it. It is well built though.

[BCR Greg]

Been using a Teeter for 15 years or so.

Regular Chiro appts help, but I have Ankylosing Spondylitis (think Mick Mars) and the inverstion table helps a TON.

[jaberwock]

I have suffered from intermittent back pain for the last fifteen years: a good chiropractor can help a lot, but it's the regimen of fifteen minutes a day of yoga, and 40 minutes swimming lengths in the pool ( as often as I can ) that really works for me.

[serial]

There are LOTS of bad chiros out there-I second the 'be careful' warning. Remember, they are NOT trained in the medical model (and do not go to med school). If they touch antyhing besides your back-leave.

If you do go chiro, see a 'straight'.

[kizanski]

I've been using an Invertrac for years.

I believe it helps, especially if you start to feel a spasm coming on. You can often release it before it totally cripples you.

You have to be careful getting in an out of the inverted state, though. You can screw yourself up worse than before you started.

[Duplex Dave]

My wife bought one and I use it way more than she does. 1-2 minutes at a time twice a day. It's awesome, just take your time, don't over do it in the begining. You have to learn how your body reacts to the whole process. We have the Teeter Hang Ups. The instructions are integral, (I should have read them first). My first experience made me feel ike I wanted to puke, then I read the instructions.

Make sure you set it up correctly or else you might get stuck upside down like my wife did. (didn't read instructions entirely) You can get back to vertical, but if you're already in a lot of pain I wouldn't want to risk it. I like the tether, I don't see much difference in 100% inverted. Good luck!

[mc2]

I fked my back up years ago trying to pull out a bush with a stubborn tap root.

Have had a Teeter Inversion Table (original version) since the 90s that I bought for 20 bucks in a garage sale!!

Anytime my back is bothering me, I hop on the table for a couple of days and it really does make a huge difference.

Best 20 bucks I ever spent.

[hamerhead]

Now that's bladder control. I mean....after like a day and a half, I'd have to pee.

Anyone familiar with the Ironman brand? They have an infrared heat model.

[django49]

^^^^

Could be problematic if stuck in the upside down position!

[django49]

More seriously, I had some pain in the back many years ago after an accident. A neighbor recommended the old style boots (locked around the ankles) with a hook for hanging from a "chinning bar". Made me nervous because I had to hang, raise my legs, get them BOTH in line with the bar, then lower myself. So, if you are alone, your back makes movement difficult AND if your upper body strength is not what it once was, potential trouble. Not to mention that the boots tended to wear on your ankles.....Though reading the instructions made it easier to arrange a "way out"......All that said, hanging, stretching in different directions and twisting from side to side did a LOT of good relieving compression..

Buying the equipment that inverts IS a much better idea. Setting it up properly is the key.....It SHOULD be so well in balance that you can EASILY return to upright position. And keep in mind that it needs to be adjusted to each person, so if a spouse is a lot shorter, the same setting will not work well for both of you.

[mc2]

Mine has those old style metal boots that clamp around your ankles....I use sneakers because they tend to dig into the tops of your feet if you only wear socks.

....and I didn't mean I hand on it for the full 48 hrs. Just a little while, over a couple of days when my back bothers me.

Although I would imagine you could hook up a catheter and hang a bag on the Inversion frame, if you really needed a marathon session

[Caddie]

Mine has those old style metal boots that clamp around your ankles....I use sneakers because they tend to dig into the tops of your feet if you only wear socks.

....and I didn't mean I hand on it for the full 48 hrs. Just a little while, over a couple of days when my back bothers me.

Although I would imagine you could hook up a catheter and hang a bag on the Inversion frame, if you really needed a marathon session

That would make an interesting experiment. Does the urinary plumbing function properly upside down?

[hamerhead]

Yeah - but you'll pee on your face.

[cynic]

Yeah - but you'll pee on your face.

if I had a nickel...

[carfish7]

Had some issues with "degenerative discs" that put me in the ER a couple times. Hurt so bad I actually left my body once........

Sorry, no experience with inversion stuff, but this fixed me right up.

Did a core strengthening and conditioning program that is all about getting the surrounding stuff up to the task of supporting the spine. Regular exercise combined with stretching has kept me pain-free for 2 years now. Here is the outfit that facilitated the program;

[Punkavenger]

Yoga is the one thing that really helped me. Just take some Yoga 1 and restorative classes. Lots of cute chicks too!

[jaberwock]

Yoga is the one thing that really helped me. Just take some Yoga 1 and restorative classes. Lots of cute chicks too!

Second that; if you're carrying any extra pounds, losing some weight pays big dividends..... helps with the cute chicks too.

[django49]

Another idea(?)

I have not tried this myself.

http://www.hammacher.com/Product/81179?source=EMK04914&cm_ven=WC&cm_cat=20140408_EMK049&cm_pla=BYR&utm_source=Email&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=Strongview&cm_ite=81179_TheBackAndJointPainReliever

[hamerhead]

".......and it won't cause a rush of blood to the head."

That's what I looked forward to the most. Kind of a funsucker design, really.

Seriously though, after reading 8 billion reviews and comparisons, I ordered an Ironman Infrared table. I thought the heat was a good idea. Should be here in a week. I'll be ranting and raving if it's any good. You know that.