What are people's experience with Inversion tables?

Maybe I'm totally missing something here but I've seen the Teeter commercials and, as someone with a compromised lower back, wonder if stretching the back that much, only to have it rebound to where one started out, is a good idea? The company owner in the commercials always mentions that one 'loses' that height gained from inversion. Thus recommends frequent sessions. Were it likely to help the spine maintain the gained length, that would be interesting. And maybe it's better for people with no back issues?

But conceptually, there is 'space opened up by inversion but that same space closes up. Isn't there a chance that, for example, some nerve(s) have the opportunity to become hypetextended during the inversion session and, later, have to refit in a smaller area?
[Lest this sound odd, I suffered pain/numbness/tingling from nerve hypertextension in an arm from something similar. It was not fun and took years to self-resolve. So I'm a little wary of nerve stability.]

I used an inversion thing (called an Orthopod if I recall correctly) in P/T therapy but the stretch was from the waist, not ankles, and it seemed to help. I contemplated buying one but my P/T said I'd get better results just stretching lower back by lying on progressively taller folded towels over a period of time. Or lying on an ironing board with one end propped against sofa seat or something at an approximate 35-45° angle. That seemed to help and, when I remember to the other stretches she taught me, they do too.

I have a bad back and pinched nerve,anyone recommend an inversion table?

I had a herniated disc, L4/5 & used an inversion table. It made a big difference, for me. I believe you have to be very conscientious about using it. If you have high blood pressure or eye issues it may not be for you. Talk to your doctor. I inverted pretty much all the way over, but if my pain was bad I would only invert maybe 45 degrees. I still have my inversion table and use it occasionally. My herniated disc is healed - no surgery.

Be careful with them. My chiropractor advised against them. He said no more than 30 seconds but that was when I was much younger. Older people....watch out. Talk to your doctor first.

Gravity can help or hurt. It’s better to invert more often for less time than less often and for longer periods of time. The more you can relieve the pressure in your spinal column the better your circulation of cerebral spinal fluid. Which should then help relieving pain, (depending on your specific ailment.) Im not a doctor but I do work in the field of medical and fitness equipment and have worked with hundreds of people who’ve increased their quality of life by using inversion tables daily. Just like anything, it’s not for everybody and you should always be cleared by a physician before undertaking an activity like this.

The quality of the chair matters and it is good to invert only halfway or slightly more to get acclimated to the new forces on the body.

How old are you? Where did you use the table? At a chiropractor or did you purchase one? I also have herniated discs 4 and 5 and if I overuse my back it gets painful for a few days. Wondering about inversion therapy... Thanks for any input.

Hi @popolopo, I moved your question about inversion tables to this existing discussion:
- What are people's experience with Inversion tables? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/what-are-peoplee-experience-with-inversion-tables/

I did this so you can read previous posts and connect with others like @sequoia @mikaylar @dieslgrl @koleke and others.

Also cushions to sit on with a hole where your spine sits to relieve pressure might help.

@dieslgrl Agree. This is not for everyone. Relieved my pain and helped my back. I took it slow w/ inverting and used common sense. Acclimating your body to the forces on the body is great advice. Listen to your body.

@koleke it was back in the late 90s , so I was 46-48 yrs old. I had been going to chiro. It was helping some. I bought myself the inversion machine & used at home. My husband helped me get on, invert & get off. I inverted 3 minutes at 45 degrees or sometimes totally over. Then rested flat for 3 minutes. I did that three times. I iced for at least 10 minutes every hour. It made a healing difference.
I was pretty stubborn- the orthopedic dr told me I needed surgery or I would be in pain the rest of my life. I said No I won’t. I ate my dinner on the floor lying down cuz I could not sit up. I just kept trying and kept improving. It caused me to have sciatica and drop foot. I just walked everyday snd my foot would just flop until I had control of it again. I did take some muscle relaxants & anti-inflammatories occasionally as needed but I wanted my body to heal naturally. The most o have now is sometimes when using the chainsaw for wood or something that I have to us away from the front of my body, my lower back which is like the hinge point get tired and I stop and rest it. Sometimes I have to ice, but I ‘try ‘ not to over stress it.
Good luck. Just listen to your body. Research different method to help snd use what works for you. Blessings.