HOME CERVICAL TRACTION UNIT

My neck is screwed up bigtime.
Doctor says that there's not much to be done other than a $30,000 surgery, which I would like to avoid.

He suggested I look for a home cervical traction unit.

Well, a google search for this term brought so many hits, I don't know where to start.

Anyone ever used one, bought one, or has a recommendation for something like this?

When I first broke my neck back in 1980, they used this method of keeping me semi out of pain for a few days until they could get me set up for surgery. It worked really well, but one thing to make sure... if you get one, make sure that it has an option for automatically pulling for a few seconds and releasing and then pulling for a few seconds again.... over a course of a few minutes every day at least once. You don't want anything that will keep you suspended... it is the pulling and releasing that will relieve the pain.

I did, however, have the surgery. I had two ruptured discs and two fractured verterbrae. Long story short, I still have trouble with this area to this day.

Thanks Sandra.

I appreciate the advice.

My Mom had one but I don't know how much it helped her.

When I had my auto accident in "96, the only thing that helped me was my chiropractor. He was wonderful. I would be in such pain and after he adjusted my neck the pain left. I had treatments for a year, twice a week......(I have a broken bone in my neck and what they call a military neck from the whiplash, it was excruciatingly painful but it did get better)

I still have pain, an achey type pain when it gets storm outside but the rest of the time I am pretty good. They wouldn't operate back then as it would only make matters worse the neurologist said. So I have a piece of broken bone stuck in the muscle of my neck and the end of C-2 is broken off...

I live with it......

I don't think I would want my neck stretched. Adjusted by a really good chiro, yes....but not stretched. I can do neck stretches by myself, the chiro taught me how.

physical therapist reply

call your local physical therapist and request to purchase one. They are simple, easy to use, usually (but not always) effective, and allows you to take care of yourself without relying on us medical professionals. Our professional cost for a unit is about 50$. Use that info to dicker for a good price. The thing hangs on top of a door. There are two methods of use, one facing the door and another facing away from the door. Facing the door is usually better. That advice will make sense once yhou see the unit. this treatment for neck pain is at least 2000 years old, so plenty of positive history.

added info

Traction pulls up on the head, but only enough to remove the weight of the head on the joints of the neck, about a 10-15# pull. Neck is not actually stretched. This unloading to the joints creates a relaxation reflex that quiets the muscle spasms. That is what manipulations seek to do, via a reflex from the joints being manipulated. Problem is, too many manipluations can make the joints unstable and will feel OK only if they are continually manipulated, more or less forever. Learning to keep muscles stretched yourself, gently and frequently, will provide long-term relief by your own hands

Stown.

You might want to try inversion therapy. You can find out about it at the following links. It will take pressure of the joints etc. Also, there is a neck traction device that uses air sacks (like tubes) that wrap around neck such that when inflated they gently push head up while pushing on shoulders, thereby creating traction for neck vertbrae. Don't have link, you may come across it in your searches. I have used it a couple of times and it does create traction. You have quite a bit of control over the amount of traction since you control (using bulb pump thingy) how much air is in the tube bags (3-4 of them).

http://www.inversion-table-direct.com/?utm_source=Google_AdWords&utm_medium=Keywords&utm_term=inversion_therapy&utm_campaign=1527611

http://www.inversiontable.ca/?gclid=CMfil5jsqZMCFQuYQAodYS6uog

Hope this helps.

Buckster

Oh, wow, I REALLY have to start taking more time to read thread titles ... I could have sworn this one said "home CERVIX traction units" and my jaw just about dropped into my lap. My brain couldn't even BEGIN to form a mental image of such a thing.

inflatable traction

used that a few times in my practice. not very efficient in stabilizing head during traction, plus the unit began to leak after a few uses. the overdoor method is easier to use. inversion therapy is usually very effective for lower back but never tried it for neck.

tanstaafl said:

Oh, wow, I REALLY have to start taking more time to read thread titles ... I could have sworn this one said "home CERVIX traction units" and my jaw just about dropped into my lap. My brain couldn't even BEGIN to form a mental image of such a thing.

Click to expand...

I'm sorry, but as a woman of child-bearing age who recently had a baby, I thought that meant cervical, as in cervix, too.

I use an over-the-door traction unit 2-3 times a week after three weeks of daily chiropractic care created a pinched nerve in my neck. Left hand went numb. My dad had an old unit from a neck injury 30 years ago which used a large plastic bag to hold the water for weight.

I filled a gallon milk jug with water to start. Then added 3 1/2# weight. After using the traction for a couple weeks, the numbness subsided, and is now almost gone.

It worked for me. Cost for a new one from the doc was going to be about $35.

ch,

I found the overdoor method really cumbersome and NEVER got relief from it. It created more stress and tension from using it, such that the muscles could not relax. Also ended up with pain in TMJ area and occipital area, on top of original pain issue. Not much use for me. Obviously, it works for some people however.

Inversion is capable of neck traction if the person is fully perpendicular to the ground with the arms totally hanging or at least very relaxed so that there is no stress on the muscles. This helps or allows the neck to gently stretch. Admittedly, this is not for the faint of heart. And it helps to be short, so that the arms don't touch the floor on the tables highest setting. Otherwise, let the arms hang as loosely as possible (with hands, wrists and/or forarms on the floor - like they are dead weight). This helps the neck muscles to relax and let go, so that the neck can stretch. There are also multiple health benefits from this type of therapy. Not just traction. Here are a couple of links with info and products.

http://www.inversion-table-direct.com/

http://www.inversiontable.ca/?gclid=CLSylKSAqpMCFSU-QQodtxDDog

stown.

I forgot to mention LLLT therapy, which is Low Level Laser Therapy. This works amazing well for healing acute and chronic injuries. Quite amazing. If you have an injured pet (ie.dog) you can get one relatively cheap. Go to following link and you will see why I say "if you have a pet" . This one cost $525. It is worth every penny. All the other lasers cost thousands. This one works just as well. The cheap ones on eBay are suspect, IMO.

http://www.vetrolaser.com/

Another therapy is the use of magnets to reduce inflammation. This really, really works. Google magnet therapy. Lots of info. I have been using them for years. Helps healing by increasing flow of fresh blood to area, while pushing or forcing "bad blood" or "free radicals" out of area. It really helps with pain as a result. Absolutely fantastic treatment for whiplash.

Hope this helps.

Buckster

Thanks everyone for all your replies and advice.

I have already ordered an inversion table, and although I am aware it usually works better for lower back problems, I thought I would give it a try as DH and I both have lower back complaints as well.

The low level laser thingy looks very interesting as well, thanks for the link Buckster.

colonel holman, I will see if I can find an over the door device, thanks for the tips.

Mrs. Smith, one of the symptoms that sent me to the doctor in the first place was pain in my right upper arm, and tingling and numbness.
Doctor said my neck is bad enough to squish the nerves, thereby causing pain in my arm.

From what I understood as we looked at the x-rays, my problems are around C5 and C6.

I'll tell ya one thing, this getting old sucks!

Just to show how medically illiterate I am, i saw 'cervical' in this post and i'm thinking "cervix" but my mind is having a hard time visualizing a "cervical traction unit". I've been up too long... going to bed.