What are people's experience with Inversion tables?

I use the inversion table for about two years. I was to the point where I was 90° upside down, rotating side to side, etc. It made my back feel awesome. Then one day unexpectedly, I got vertigo. After months of treatment, for that, and through a process of illumination, to figure out the cause of vertigo, and or how to eliminate it, I decided not to use the machine anymore. It did really help my back! But I’m afraid of getting vertigo again.

As I indicated to popolopo in a private post, I experienced debilitating right hip pain from lumbar spinal stenosis for several months before trying an inversion table. I could not walk for more than a couple of blocks or stand for more than a few minutes. I carried a little camp stool with me so I could sit down for some relief. I tried several PT sessions, 3 chiropractors, dry needling, acupuncture, massage, all with no relief from the discomfort. Then I tried a friend's inversion table (Ironman brand). Within three days I was back walking and had no issues standing. I used it daily for a number of weeks, and now, a year later, I use it about once a week. I would suggest finding a chiropractor that uses an inversion table as part of a treatment plan.

I'm sorry to say, as a lifelong vertigo sufferer, that inversion tables are HIGH on the list of things not to do - along with headstands and many inverted yoga poses. If you can no longer use the table, there are some traction devices that can be used lying flat or in a seated position. You could ask for a PT consult to find something that will work for you.
Have you previously tried other devices?
Sue

No, I’ve been a lifelong Chiro patient, but no other “devices “. Any recommendations?

Talk to your chiropractor or find a PT who can help you find the right lumbar traction or lumbar decompression device for you. I'm not either, and my husband uses one that was recommended by his own chiropractor - it helps him when in pain.
Sue

TY, I will. Merry Christmas!

I read the reply above and learned something unexpected. I’m having surgery in January for a lateral herniated disk and severe stenosis. I’ve wondered why my R hip hurts so much. Drs here in GA only shrugged their shoulders.
I bought the best inversion table by Teeter. I could not use it because I got worse. Maybe because of the lateral herniated disk. They have a great return policy. Make sure you read EVERYTHING with the product. You only need to go just a little past flat position to receive benefit.
For vertigo what helped me was my husband watching the video by the 2 PT guys on the Epley Maneuver.

I have a Mastercare Back-A-Traction inversion table. It was expensive, but is much easier and safer to use than the Teeter inversion table I used to have. I get some relief for my low back pain using it twice a day for 10 minutes.

For 25 yrs I have used the inverTrac made in Canada, for my lumbar problems. Only 2 mins twice daily and I warm up with hot shower and gentle stretches beforehand. I tried decompression table at PT for lumbar and the first visit was fine, then they increased the setting and it felt good but caused crisis pain reaction later. The decompression table worked awesome for my neck. The point is dont over do it. More is not better. When my back is really bad I dont even attempt the InverTrac. Device is appox $499. Dont settle for copycat devices. Hope this helps

I've not tried full body inversion and think it would be, for me at least, hard on my back. I did have success, years ago, with the Orthopod Invertabod thing that a physical therapist recommended after I herniated four discs in my lower back. I like the Orthoped thing because you invert from the groin area so just the upper body is inverted and it doesn't put stress on the ankles or the rest of the body. What I didn't like about the Orthopod is it wasn't tall enough for my body so my hands rested on the floor. A friend built a small platform for it so that I could get a full stretch without touching the floor and I used it daily for a few years which, along with other therapy, helped me avoid back surgery or the then-popular papain-injections, which have since turned out to look like a really bad idea.