decompression therapy for herniated disc

[duck hook]

anybody tried this ?

just been diagnosed with L5, S1 herniation in the lower back. I've been researching some rehab ideas and was wondering if anybody has any experience with decompression, or is it a waste of time? thnx in advance for your opinions

[flmotor]

i have three herniated disks L3,L4,L5 I use an inversion table best thing I ever bought relieves alot of the pressure and pain in my back I know a couple of people who have done decompression and it seems to help.

[cardoustie]

I have the same issue and have not had the surgery for L5-S1. Have had 2 surgeries on L4-L5 though. From one golfer to another .. surgery is the last option and avoid if at all possible

Decompression did not work for me but I second the comment on the inversion table .. life changer. Really good stretch for the whole core and lower back

[ndlax2340]

I have L4 and L5 herniation from lacrosse and the inversion table is absolutely the best thing that happened to me. I'm not sure if this is applicable to you since I was doing lacrosse specific training last year, but my trainers had me on a very core intensive work out that seemed like it helped a lot too. Whatever you do though, buy an inversion table. I had (still have) trouble sleeping because I am in so much discomfort but its much worse when I don't use the inversion table when I'm out of town, they definitely help.

As far as decompression goes I can't help you there, none of my doctors or trainers even mentioned it.

[nickdamm]

I've also had really great experience with my inversion table. There is one for sale on Amazon for about $100 that I bought a few years back. It has been WELL worth the cost.

[darkhelmet]

Keep in mind that decompression is actually surgery where they go in and remove some bone or disc material to take the pressure off of your nerves.

I had some "minor" abdominal surgery a little over a year ago -- trust me, there is no such thing as "minor" surgery when they are going into your body, through skin and muscle, to take care of something.

I would exhuast all the non-invasive therapies that you can before opting for any kind of surgery. If you can avoid over-stressing that portion of your spine, the herniated portion of your disc will theoretically dissolve over time and take the pressure off of the nerves that it's currently pressing on.

[Spumoni]

Duck Hook,
Sorry to hear about your back problems. I bought an inversion table last year that I used a few times when I was having some minor back pain. I don't use it anymore and don't have a need for it (it's like new). I'll show you some Golfwrx love, and send it to you for free if you'll pay the shipping. I'd rather know someone is benefiting from it than seeing it collect dust in my basement.
If you are interested I'll can take it to fed ex and have it boxed up and shipped to you.

Nick

[Petethreeput]

[quote name='Spumoni' timestamp='1322708714' post='3874129']
Duck Hook,
Sorry to hear about your back problems. I bought an inversion table last year that I used a few times when I was having some minor back pain. I don't use it anymore and don't have a need for it (it's like new). I'll show you some Golfwrx love, and send it to you for free if you'll pay the shipping. I'd rather know someone is benefiting from it than seeing it collect dust in my basement.
If you are interested I'll can take it to fed ex and have it boxed up and shipped to you.

Nick
[/quote]

Wow, this is awesome.

[Shambles]

I had similar problems. I went through the doctor who wanted to operate, rejected that. Went to and took treatment by a physical therapist, traction and all. Quit that when I realized they were just stretching my spine. I bought a book on yoga and used the exercises that stretch the part of my spine that were hurting.

Yoga is working for me.


Shambles

[Hoot151]

[quote name='CARDY' timestamp='1322684821' post='3872219']
I have the same issue and have not had the surgery for L5-S1. Have had 2 surgeries on L4-L5 though. From one golfer to another .. surgery is the last option and avoid if at all possible

[/quote]

+1000. Also had a fusion from L4-S1 and regret it 12 years later. I can still golf but there's a lot of things I can't do.

[minhjn]

[quote name='Shambles' timestamp='1322713679' post='3874539']
I had similar problems. I went through the doctor who wanted to operate, rejected that. Went to and took treatment by a physical therapist, traction and all. Quit that when I realized they were just stretching my spine. I bought a book on yoga and used the exercises that stretch the part of my spine that were hurting.

Yoga is working for me.


Shambles
[/quote]

agree on doing yoga.

if you have high blood pressure, i'd stay away from an inversion table. apparently it's a bad combination

[DJR10]

Well i have had the traction, ESI's x5, and the burn, backs better but the pain still shoots down my leg to my toes. Next up is the micro diskectomy(sp) I have heard really good thing from friends, so who knows...

[boxerjoe2011]

I am definitely interested in this thread because I have a herniated disc in my L5 and has gotten slightly better over the past year and a half, but still gives me problems. I should buy an inversion table because at the gym, if you lock your legs into an inverted bench that you would do abs on and just sit there for about 5 minutes, you really notice the decrease in sciatic pain when you stand up. Has anyone ever had the steroid injections into the spine? If so, how effective were they and how long did the pain relief last?

[cardoustie]

Dark Helmet,


The surgery where they shave off some of the vertebrae is called a laminectomy. They did this procedure for me when I had my second microdiscectomy on L4-L5. I think he was referring to decompression where they strap you in to one of these new machines and they stretch you out repeatedly and slowly

[url="http://www.cbc.ca/marketplace/2010/stretching_the_truth/main.html"]http://www.cbc.ca/marketplace/2010/stretching_the_truth/main.html[/url]

The first microdiscectomy surgery failed after 3 days and I was literally crawling around the house for 2 weeks loaded up on a medley of pills before I got in for my second go around

My surgeries were in the Fall of 2004 and my back finally got pain free from sciatica about 2 yrs ago. I am still stiff in the morning but the horrific searing pain from arse to left big toe is currently AWOL and I hope it stays that way. I don't wish that pain on my worst enemy

From my experiences and discussions with surgeons ... . Discectomy is great if your disks are all generally fine and you have one bad disc. If you some a bunch of degenerative stuff going on .. surgery, IMO, is to be avoided.

I know 2 or 3 other local golf guys who would tell you the same after their surgery experiences

[Jim Waldron]

Disc herniation is a difficult thing to treat since there are so many individual variables that can cause symptoms. I have been around the block on low back pain/stiffness for the past 20 years or so, so can only share a bit from my own research and experience with doctors and treatment protocols. The general consensus is to avoid surgery at all costs, unless there is very clear evidence from the MRI of severe herniation that is compressing a nerve and all alternative therapies have failed to relieve the pain. The reason is that surgery itself causes trauma to the soft tissues that surround the spine and that can create ongoing pain and stiffness years after the surgery. Some of the latest research questions the validity of the mechanical impingement theory of disc herniation (except in obvious severe cases) since many autopsies show disc herniation of persons who never reported any kind of back pain. So what is causing the pain if not the disc? The most likely cause is muscle spasm and fascia shortening which is the body's way of protecting the spine and supporting ligaments and muscles from damage. If you lack core strength, especially in the small but vitally important "stabilizing" muscles around the spine, those muscles will spasm and that can really hurt. This is why yoga and Pilates can really help a lot.

I also use an inversion table daily.

Best thing I have found is the Active Isolated Stretching method which is a very effective way to restore flexibility to the fascia and muscles. I am currently starting a five month treatment "experiment" with an unconventional treatment method from Russia called Scenar. It is similar to a TENS unit but with some important differences. I have talked to several individuals who have completely healed their low back problem, including disc herniation, with this device.

[duck hook]

thanks everyone for responding, especially Spumonis generous offer. I was refering to method where they lay you on a table, applying traction to basically strectch out your spine, the theory being the disc will move back into place. I really don't have any back pain, pain is mostly lower leg, calf area

[duck hook]

[quote name='boxerjoe2011' timestamp='1322723258' post='3874903']
I am definitely interested in this thread because I have a herniated disc in my L5 and has gotten slightly better over the past year and a half, but still gives me problems. I should buy an inversion table because at the gym, if you lock your legs into an inverted bench that you would do abs on and just sit there for about 5 minutes, you really notice the decrease in sciatic pain when you stand up. Has anyone ever had the steroid injections into the spine? If so, how effective were they and how long did the pain relief last?
[/quote]


boxer , just had the injections on monday, they have helped slightly, I am scheduled for another shot in 4 weeks. still have the tingling sensation in my leg, not quite as painfull as before. I am hoping it will be more effective in a few days

[PingG10guy]

inversion table is where it's at

[IMAway]

[quote name='duck hook' timestamp='1322780818' post='3877793']
thanks everyone for responding, especially Spumonis generous offer. I was refering to method where they lay you on a table, applying traction to basically strectch out your spine, the theory being the disc will move back into place. I really don't have any back pain, pain is mostly lower leg, calf area
[/quote]

I have had several sessions of decompression thru my chiropractor. Love it and yes I think it helps MOST people. Surgery is a last option!!!

[htskinn]

My dad has lived with and had 3 ruptured discs over the past 10 years. He has never had surgery. He still plays golf 3-4 times a month. He has been told by more than one specialist to stay off the inversion table. He tried it a few times and thought it felt good, found out a week later after a trip to the doc that it was just a "cosmetic" type fix. Was told to stop immediately.
Now this was just his case, I can't comment on any others but there are alternatives. He does his daily stretches and exercises and has problems every now and then but he manages it. Surgery has never been an option in his mind.
Personally I used it when he had it, and loved it. =D

[boxerjoe2011]

[quote name='duck hook' timestamp='1322781046' post='3877799']
[quote name='boxerjoe2011' timestamp='1322723258' post='3874903']
I am definitely interested in this thread because I have a herniated disc in my L5 and has gotten slightly better over the past year and a half, but still gives me problems. I should buy an inversion table because at the gym, if you lock your legs into an inverted bench that you would do abs on and just sit there for about 5 minutes, you really notice the decrease in sciatic pain when you stand up. Has anyone ever had the steroid injections into the spine? If so, how effective were they and how long did the pain relief last?
[/quote]


boxer , just had the injections on monday, they have helped slightly, I am scheduled for another shot in 4 weeks. still have the tingling sensation in my leg, not quite as painfull as before. I am hoping it will be more effective in a few days
[/quote]



Thanks Duck Hook, I used to jog a couple times a week and now I cannot do that because of the sciatic pain. I am reduced to the stair climber at the gym to get a decent work out because it is low impact. If it buys you a few months of relief, I would be very interested in trying it.

Anyone on this thread try hot yoga? I had one person in the past tell me it really helped them.

[vietnameeh]

hate to thread jack...

are all inversion tables created equal?

i want to get one, but one im a college student (ya i know i am young to be using one) soo budget is a little tight

and Ive read into inversion tables and how effective it is at stretching alot of your core muscles and back... which is why it interests me.. so why not start early

I found some decent ones on craigs list for around 75 bucks... that use to be 200+

[cardoustie]

Get an Ironman thru Costco. They bring them in every winter and they start at $300 but they wind the price down as inventory dwindles .. i think i paid $110 for mine

Also worth mentioning there are freezing shots you can get up and down the side of your spine and above your glutes ... they worked well for me when I was waiting for the surgery to heal. Once per mth deal

[dachtor]

I'm about 2 weeks into trying inversion. First week I did it multiple times every day with only slight improvements. About a week in I started to notice less pain in my right leg and lower back and now I'm only doing inversion once every 2-3 days and still seeing improvement. Give it a try. Can't hurt and at around $100 (or free from a wrx member!) its a pretty cheap alternative. Good luck.

[vman]

Ruptured my l4/l5 last year,had agonising sciatica for 3 months followed by an Epidural Steroid Injection and 3 months physio and rehab.Sciatica went 1 week post epidural but returned after 11 months.New MRI confirmed herniated disc at the same level,root nerve block injection was ineffective for the sciatica.The pain really affects your mood and it`s hard staying positive,hoping another epidural will ease the pain so I can start rehab.Currently just walking(limping)and doing light stretches.No golf since the end of October.I`ve switched this year to a long putter with an Asbri ball retriever attached to the grip which helped.Have to watch how I bend absolutely no forward flexion.Using an inversion table which feels good but it hasn`t cured me yet.Doing a lot of extension yoga exercises,Cobra etc.and the plank for core strength.Limited at the moment but I`m using no pain medication as it really doesn`t seem to touch the nerve pain.I feel for anyone who`s suffering with this it`s a mental struggle with the pain.

[Hit the ball allready!]

I have been down that road with herniated discs coupled with degenerative disc disease. Sidelined me for a couple of years from golf. Went through several chiropractors until I found Dr. David Cuccia around 2004. Dr. Cuccia had invented a decompression machine that after 6 sessions i felt a pop in my lower back and a sudden relief of the throbbing pain and discomfort associated with pinched nerves. He's come a long way with his invention since I had my treatments. In my experience having disc decompression treatments with Dr. Cuccia I had to get my back muscles and body to relax , go limp as they might say, for the treatments to work. I haven't had pain like I had before disc decompression therapy. All the best.

Here is a link to his info: http://www.drcuccia.com/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJhSg9u-7Do

[Hammerboy]

[quote name='duck hook' timestamp='1322676378' post='3871595']
just been diagnosed with L5, S1 herniation in the lower back. I've been researching some rehab ideas and was wondering if anybody has any experience with decompression, or is it a waste of time? thnx in advance for your opinions
[/quote]



No, decompression therapy is not a waste of time. It is certainly worth exploring.


I can only tell you my experience. I had chronic back pain to the point where I could not even dress myself. I could not play golf for weeks. I followed a friends advice and got an inversion table, and the pain is GONE! Not partially gone, I mean totally gone. It is now sitting in the garage gathering dust, it has been well over a year. If I have pain again, I will go to it first before considering any other medical options. There are many alternative treatments for back pain, alternative to surgery that is. Everyone owes it to themselves to have an open mind and explore all options. I never dreamed that something as simple as inverting for 5 minutes a day would end all my suffering.



Best of luck!

[Hammer99]

I had a herniated disk in my neck. C6-C7. I realize it's higher than yours. But I went through every type of rehab and time rest, finally got surgery. If anyone has any questions I can relate my experience.

Personally, surgery was great and worked out for me