What are people's experience with Inversion tables?

Hi, thank you, I am sorry I couldn't get back before now. I lie on my back on the bed and grab on to the headboard in reachable distance over my head but not too high. So I pull on it while I'm laying there and it seems to extend my muscles (bones?) around my lower waist area, the feeling of elongment seems to extend to my leg that hurts apparently from the arthritis in that hip. I'm thinking to put some kind of strap near the end of the bed where my feet are so I can grab my feet on it while I pull from the top. But I have to figure how I'm going to do that. Anyway, with the way things go with me, it probably won't work to alleviate the pain. They said I need a knee and hip replacement and I'm really afraid to get the operation, fearing it won't work. I'm thinking of chiropractic treatment, also maybe needling to ease the pain. It's hard, I can't walk very well. 🙁

Yes, well, I'm glad I am reading about it here and asked about it. Although I can't figure why the blood pressure would go up, but mine is high enough anyway without making it higher. (It's very high...)

Hi, @amandaburnett. So sorry I couldn't get back before now. So much to do!! Anyway, you had hernia surgery because of difficulties from what?? The inversion table?? I hope not and I hope everything is working out well. I had hernia surgery inguinal and unfortunately I turn at night and I felt the thing ripping like the second night after that, and I learned from that to get slippery type sheets which I am still using. Although I felt it ripping inside (doctor didn't warn me...sadly enough), I am pretty sure it eventually healed up. Because I'm not currently having any problems that I know about in that area. I hope all is well with you.

Hi yes one hernia for sure occurred after getting off the table. I felt the tear which was then confirmed with an ultrasound. I had them both repaired last Friday. It’s likely it was this and a combination of other things - again it’s likely just my anatomy as many many people benefit from inversion. So glad you are enjoying it and doing well.

I have a degenerative back with both leg and back pain, can a inversion table provide relief?

@spadgera I am responding to you here, so you can read about other members experience with inversion tables in this existing discussion. At the top, you can click on the first page, last, etc and change the order from oldest to newest, or newest to oldest to read the comments.

One suggestion I have is to get a medical opinion about using an inversion table if you have any blood pressure issues that would come into play by being upside down. For example, a physical therapist that I know recommends that people who might have a blood vessel malformation in the brain where increased blood pressure could put them at risk of a stroke, should not use an inversion table. This type of malformation is known as an AVM or arterio venous malformation where an artery with higher blood pressure dumps directly into lower pressure veins without the vessels branching out into the capilaries that would diffuse the pressure first. Often this is tangled clump of blood vessels and can be a risk and site for a stroke to happen. Keeping blood pressure under control is also very important for heart and kidney health. The kidneys rely on blood pressure for filtration of the blood in very small capilaries called a glomerulus, and too much pressure there can damage and destroy them.

Here is more information about AVM:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/brain-avm/symptoms-causes/syc-20350260

@spadgera Welcome to Connect. Have you consulted a spine specialist about your pain? The best thing to do would be to ask your doctor if an inversion table could help or if there could be any risks associated with it. It can't fix a problem that needs surgical correction, but being upside down may help temporarily take off some of the pressure caused by gravity in being upright.

I've also responded in this discussion where you can connect with others about inversion tables. This was my comment there.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/740044/
Has your spine been evaluated by a specialist?

Yes I have been evaluated by a specialist and he has referred me to a pain specialist which I will get to see next month. I have gotten some relief from the inversion table but the pain is still there.

I am 85 years old and have been using my inversion table on and off for 5 years with no problems. However, I do have blood pressure and take medication.

I use an inversion table and I have a routine that I use. It takes 5 to 10 minutes, I hang straight for about 4 minutes then a rotate from side to side making complete turns for a 60 count. I also hold a twisted position for a 60 count, both left and right. It is a full workout. I am 85 years old male and I walk 3 miles each day. My back pain has improved but it has not gone away completely. I have been doing this for 3 weeks. I am scheduled to see a pain specials next month.