Inversion tables/therapy. Anyone doing it?

[rz]

ok, I admit it. I was watching TV, and saw an infomercial for an inversion table (a device that you use to hang upside down) and I couldn't change the channel. I've got lower back pain, and it looked interesting. Strangely enough, they never mentioned how much it cost.

I was at the Central Florida Home Show this past weekend, and a store called "Relax the Back" had a display with an Inversion Table. The guy told me they start around $300 at his shop. I declined to try it there, but told him I'd probably come to their store to try it out.

Has anybody here got any experience with them? I'm seeing conflicting info on the internet about how effective these devices are at relieving lower back pain. I'd just like some honest opinions.

[Refurbvirgin]

I didn't get much relief with upper back pain, but the truck driver I sold my unit to swears by it. Horsetail tea healed my degenerative disks, so I haven't had a need for the fusion surgery the MDs wanted to do.

[Jimmypoo]

they are good for segmentation without angles.

If I had one, I wouldn't have spent 4 of the last 6 weeks in bed.

For those with known situations, you know you can feel the trigger points days ahead of a rupture. You just never know for sure if it will happen or not.

I plan to get something one day soon. Items like the HomeTrac Lumbar have angular issues that I, for one, was in far too much pain to deal with. Also, inversion will give you L/T & C segmentation, albeit only by the weight of your head for cervical.

[SteveJobs]

I have used inversion BOOTS since early 80s.

Love them.

Just gotta watch out for your ocular pressure.

[Dennis S]

"Horsetail tea healed my degenerative disks."

Lets hear more about this.

[anonymouse1]

I like the inversion tables, because you can adjust them to the angle that works best for you. Very relaxing, and great for my back.

[Effin Haole]

I have used inversion boots since '81. My neighbor at the time worked for Dr.Martin in Pasadena and got me a set of his boots.

Love them. But one should be very careful at first, as entioned by SteveJobs, your BP in the head can get really tight, really fast.

[rz]

thanks for the info, although I didn't quite understand everything jimmypoo was saying.

I'm going to go to the store and give it a try, and also see whether they have a trial period or not. If I can return it within, say, 30 days, I'll probably give it a try.

[Refurbvirgin]

Dennis S.:

Horsetail is high in silica, rebuilds torn ligaments and broken bones. FDA cautions: green stems contain thiaminase, which neutralizes thiamine, causing deficiencies. Boil or dry to destroy the enzyme. If grown in soil with high selenum content it can cause selenium overdose, especially if you're supplementing selenium already. If used over long periods it can cause problems with absorption of zinc, leading to testosterone deficits. It took about two weeks to make a difference, but one day I woke up and the constant pain was gone. I quit taking the tea (which I'd mixed with my coffee 'cause it's kinda bland on its own) and the pain came back. I learned about the testosterone-zinc problem about a month ago and have quit taking it trying to get my energy level back up. Also grinding lots of pumpkin seeds and adding to soup and smoothies trying to boost my zinc. No back pain yet, but if it comes back I'll probably cut back on the tea, as I was using about 3-4 cups per day. You can buy it at health food stores in tea bags, capsules or bulk. Here's where I get mine.
http://store.thevita.com/yhst-1527927871...18394.html

Tastes better than the stuff I harvest locally, though I use the top half of the plant, stalk and all. I think these guys strip the hair like fronds off the shaft and finely chop them, so it may be processing differences. I take a fistful and dump it into a 1.5qut saucepan full of boiling water, remove from heat and let it steep.

Good luck!