Disc Herniation & Lumbar Traction

Looking to see if any of you have ever been diagnosed with a lower disc herniation (possibly L5-S1) and received mechanical lumbar traction (machine used to pull you apart essentially) with successful results.

 

Yes. I have traction done every other week. It has helped me tremendously.

 

What type of traction is it, mechanical or done by a person?

 

Back pain sucks!!
Hope you get better soon. Low back pain/sciatica takes a long time to feel better so be patient.

 

Been a year so far, I've made considerable improvements but I'm looking to take the next step to properly fixing it completely without needing surgery. I was in incredible pain for three months, was prescribed prednisone and had surgery scheduled January 3, 2020 - it's been 1 month since I have been in that type of pain and I did not have surgery. I'm hoping to take this year to rehab 100% and I'm willing to do whatever it takes but I want to be back to 100% with no limitations.

 

I have a close friend who swears by inversion therapy....so much so that he bought his own device years ago. He says it's been life changing

 

I'm 51 and have had lower back pain for years. I've found an inversion table has has given me a lot of relief. I was actually in a Goodwill store one day and there was a brand new Teeter Hang Ups table for $35. I figured how could I not try it for that. I've had great results.

 

I was in debilitating pain from back garbage. I did spinal decompression at a chiropractor. It's similar to traction, but somehow different. Traction didn't work for me. This did. I won't jump and scream and say it's a miracle cure, but in a few months I was down at Disney walking around like I hadn't been caught crying on the floor in excruciating pain. I know that it doesn't work for some, but I have seen it work for quite a few people.

Insurance won't cover it, so I paid out of pocket for it. And it wasn't cheap. I logicked it this way: if they do surgery none of that crap can be replaced or returned to stock. I spend the money on the decompression and I'm only out money if it doesn't work.

Edit: I did a lot of research into what was actually causing me pain. You should do some looking into the mind/body connection that most doctors don't know how to treat. I realize it sounds all new-agey, but I've had good luck paying attention to how I'm destroying my body.

 

I was actually looking into the spinal decompression via the DRX9000 machine, my insurance supposedly will cover it if it is medically recommended after all other treatment methods have yielded negative results.

 

I don't know what machine I used. It was in 2007 or so. I could probably find out if you want. My mother-in-law still works there. Anyway, it's good that insurance will cover it. I paid $4k for mine and I know it's gone up since then. I really don't know how it works. You get strapped in and you think it's no different than traction. There's a split in the table is the only difference I could see.

No matter what you try good luck. I've been there. I know the pain you're experiencing.

 

Thanks, yeah that sounds like the machine I'm looking at. I'm going to speak with my chiropractor (great guy for sure) and go from there... I really shouldn't be discouraged as I've only been rehabbing for a month so far.

 

Take a look into stem cell therapy too.

 

I'm not sure that is offered near me, I believe the best place right now to get that done is Mexico.

 

I had L3 L4 L5 fused , I had stenosis so bad in both legs it hurt to bad to walk.
Dealt with the pain for 15 years , took a lot of pain pills had therapy nothing worked.
Long story short I had the surgery and it worked it was nothing short of a miracle , I know your pain brother and nothing worked except the surgery for me.
Black Hills Surgical , Rapid City did the surgery.
Good Luck

 

Thanks. I'm doing my best to avoid surgery really, at 29 and a kid on the way come April it's hard to want to be doing rehab and handling a newborn.

 

Mechanical. It’s machine that gently pulls on you to help create space.

 

I’m not sure where you are located, but I do know it’s offered here in the US. I have a doctor friend that does PRP and stem cell therapy all over Texas and in Florida. Kimera labs provides many docs with stem cells. You could call them and ask for a doctor recommendation in your area.

Good luck! I know the pain you’re dealing with is excruciating! I fractured my L5 lamina when I was 23.

 

Only bad part is the most insurance won’t cover stem cell therapy or prp and it’s not the cheapest thing to get done.

 

Had 3 bulging discs hips out of place causing one leg to be shorter than the other. Disc were degenerative good candidate for surgery but they told me I was too young and could reverse the effects myself. Happened at age 22 went through PT and all that good stuff along with mechanical traction and couldnt have asked for better results.

Along with PT and traction I would walk emphasis on walk at least 4 miles 2x a day and it worked, mind you went back to the workforce and have been great ever since minus the few mishaps at least twice a year but nothing major usually just a bad twist or sudden movement will out me out if commission for a few hours.

 

Also look into all the different stretches that help create better spacing. I spend at least 30 minutes twice a day going thru a series of exercises that help with this. Just part of my daily routine.