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For about six VERY long months now I have had severe lower back and hip pain. I've tried a lot of things, however, I was curious if anyone who has had chronic lower back pain has tried an inversion table. I'm seriously considering purchasing one, but would like to hear positive results before doling out more cash for something that may or may not work. Any help would be very much appreciated.
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It's not much of a personal endorsement, but I have a 6'4" friend with lumbar disc issues that swears by his...
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I am curious when you get the low back pain. I was getting it in the middle of the night and in the morning for about a year, even after getting a good bed. I started eat a lot more fiber and doing low back exercises. That did the trick. However, you may have a more serious problem if it hurts even when not laying down. Have you tried a gentle yoga class? Is it a shooting pain or a general ache?
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Veni, Vidi, Posti
![]() 2009 GTV250 (Gone), 2003 Inder trailer (also gone), 2001 BMW R1100RT
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Don't know if it will help you but its essential for me. I do 30 sit-ups every morning. If I skip a few days, my back starts to hurt.
Best Miguel |
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Ossessionato
Baart-less
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I used one for Sciatica a few years ago and it cleared up in about 2 weeks. I was doing 2 x 10 minutes per day. Ever since I've been using one on an as needed basis - every three or four months I've been spending a few minutes twice or three times a day for a few days. Every time relief has been quick. Last week I tweaked my back bending over to tie my boots. I had to take one day off work and did 4 x 5 minute sessions over the course of the day and was back at it the next morning. I endorse them fully. But I'm beginning to see that as I age I need to spend more time on one - make it a semi-daily/daily routine as such. I personally know 8 other people who use inversions tables for various lower back problems. 4 of them have been long time pain sufferers, and 4 have just recently needed relief.
I've used three different type of clamping systems to hold my ankles while inverted: 1) Straight foam padded bars 2) Rubber 'cups' that wrap around the front and back of the ankle 3) Gravity Boots. Gravity boots are by far the most comfortable (for me) and allow me to hang for longer periods of time. The rubber 'cups' are pretty good but I would steer clear of the straight padded bars. I found those to be very uncomfortable. I won't recommend any specific brand but will say that you get what you pay for. Dave |
Banned
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I have one and use it regularly. I bought it 3 years ago. I have 2 degenerating discs in my lower back and it really helps. 20 minutes a day on the table can work miracles. I also have a daily regiment of stretches and exercises. My friend has a messed up back as well and he also swears by his table.
The one I have is a Teeter and is identical to the one in this pic. ![]() |
The Beer Guy
![]() 2010 GTS 300 Super and 2015 Kawasaki Versys 650 LT
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I also have a Teeter inversion table and swear by it. When I had a herniated disk (L4) I'd get on the table a number of times during the day and it would ease the pain tremendously.
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Thanks for all your input. After the day and night I had last night, (straw/camel), and hearing these recommendations, I'm ordering it today.
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Miguel wrote: Don't know if it will help you but its essential for me. I do 30 sit-ups every morning. If I skip a few days, my back starts to hurt. Best Miguel |
The Beer Guy
![]() 2010 GTS 300 Super and 2015 Kawasaki Versys 650 LT
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Bonnie, if you do get a Teeter table I suggest you look at the ones that have the ankle lock with the long handle. If bending over is an issue for you, it's a huge help to have a shorter reach to release yourself once you get upright.
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Veni, Vidi, Posti
![]() 2009 GTV250 (Gone), 2003 Inder trailer (also gone), 2001 BMW R1100RT
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Another thing that has worked well for my wife is to sleep on her back w a pillow under her knees. Takes the pressure off lower back.
Bear Miguel |
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Try pilates too. Often back pain can be remedied by working your core.
Mine was bugging me when I woke up until I started p90x. Let's of core strengthening there, now the pain is gone. Good thing too- We were this close to buying one of those tempurpedic foam beds. |
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Wow, I never thought of this.... My wife has been dealing 2 mildly herniated disc for just over a year now. No one has even suggested this to her.
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Baldanzi wrote: Wow, I never thought of this.... My wife has been dealing 2 mildly herniated disc for just over a year now. No one has even suggested this to her. |
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bjmedd wrote: Baldanzi wrote: Wow, I never thought of this.... My wife has been dealing 2 mildly herniated disc for just over a year now. No one has even suggested this to her. She does yoga and is pretty fit - so this inversion table would be right up her alley. You never know what you are going to learn on MV...gotta love it. |
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Yeah, it's odd..., I've learned more Vespa and non Vespa related things on this forum than any other site I frequent. Well.., here and Google, of course.
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Molto Verboso
2007 LX 150 & 1969 Sprint Veloce
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Molto Verboso
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I wonder if an inversion table might help my lower back pain. I have a narrowing of the disc space between the L5-S1. My doctor suggested PT to strengthen my core muscles but I really don't think that is the issue. When the pain began, I was going to yoga and pilates regularly. I don't think I could hold some of the yoga poses if I didn't have strong core muscles or complete 200+ stomach crunches and sit-ups.
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Scooter Bug wrote: I wonder if an inversion table might help my lower back pain. I have a narrowing of the disc space between the L5-S1. My doctor suggested PT to strengthen my core muscles but I really don't think that is the issue. When the pain began, I was going to yoga and pilates regularly. I don't think I could hold some of the yoga poses if I didn't have strong core muscles or complete 200+ stomach crunches and sit-ups. I've ordered a high end Teeter inversion table. It will be here Thursday and I will update what the results are. |
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Molto Verboso
2006 GTS 250ie in Silver
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I will weigh in on this one a bit.
Low back pain is a tricky situation. It can come from postural strain from sitting, overuse from exercise or work, wear and tear from life, degenerative discs, stenosis, etc... Inversion tables are great if you know for sure that it is disc problem. The one problem with the inversion table is that it will first stretch your ankle joints, then the knees, then the hips, prior to stretching your lower back. That being said I have seen a lot of pain reduction from those that use them so its not Voodoo. In my practice I look at Load Vs. Capacity. What is loading up the low back and causing the pain to exist? My patients range from desk workers to world champions and one of the major things I see in both when low back pain is present is that the Psoas muscle (Google it) is super tight. An inversion table will not help change the length of the Psoas. You will need to locate a provider that does Active Release Techniques. Here is the name on one in your area: Soft Tissue Solutions Dr. Karen Slota, DC 34024 West 8 Mile Rd Suite 104 Farmington Hills, MI 48335 Approximately 22 miles from Ann Arbor Good luck! Mark |
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Molto Verboso
2007 LX 150 & 1969 Sprint Veloce
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Molto Verboso
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bjmedd wrote: I've ordered a high end Teeter inversion table. It will be here Thursday and I will update what the results are. |
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BJ i would check out very seriously what BEND said. It might not hurt to get some xrays etc to see why your back is hurting. Find a DR who does holistic stuff and make sure you don't do more harm than good. I always wanna know what's causing the pain and then i go from three on how i want to treat it. Good luck and hope you feel better soon. Back pain sucks.
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judy wrote: BJ i would check out very seriously what BEND said. It might not hurt to get some xrays etc to see why your back is hurting. Find a DR who does holistic stuff and make sure you don't do more harm than good. I always wanna know what's causing the pain and then i go from three on how i want to treat it. Good luck and hope you feel better soon. Back pain sucks. |
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Moderatus Rana
MP3 250 and 2 MP3 500s
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bjmedd wrote: judy wrote: BJ i would check out very seriously what BEND said. It might not hurt to get some xrays etc to see why your back is hurting. Find a DR who does holistic stuff and make sure you don't do more harm than good. I always wanna know what's causing the pain and then i go from three on how i want to treat it. Good luck and hope you feel better soon. Back pain sucks. |
Gobshite Shiva
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bendcyclist wrote: In my practice I look at Load Vs. Capacity. What is loading up the low back and causing the pain to exist? My patients range from desk workers to world champions and one of the major things I see in both when low back pain is present is that the Psoas muscle (Google it) is super tight. |
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Cool. Isn't getting old a bitch Glad your finding out just what's causing the pain and then it's your call on how to treat it. I'm all for surgery as the last measure. You'd be surprised how many things can be cured without having to have rods etc put in. Human back wasn't intended for us to be upright for the age were living to now days. Everyone will have it but we can do stuff to delay it by being proactive. Good luck
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The Beer Guy
![]() 2010 GTS 300 Super and 2015 Kawasaki Versys 650 LT
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I've had back problems all my life but it really flared up when I was 48. I felt bad enough that I would have let someone perform surgery on me with a butter knife in my living room if it would have eased the pain. When I went to a neurosurgeon I was told that I wasn't anywhere near bad enough to warrant surgery. That was an eye opener since I had a hard time imagining that it could get a lot worse.
I won't go as far as to say that the inversion table was the solution to my problem, but it was a big part of my road back to near normal. It may not do the same for you but I hope it helps. I agree with others that you should find out more about what's going on, which it sounds like you're doing. It was an MRI that revealed my herniated disk. |
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stickyfrog wrote: Well if it makes you feel any better you only look about 30 in your avatar pic. ![]() |
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Molto Verboso
2006 GTS 250ie in Silver
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genie wrote: bendcyclist wrote: In my practice I look at Load Vs. Capacity. What is loading up the low back and causing the pain to exist? My patients range from desk workers to world champions and one of the major things I see in both when low back pain is present is that the Psoas muscle (Google it) is super tight. |
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Hooked
Vespa GTS 300 super, Moto Guzzi Griso
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I really tweaked my back last december. Could barely walk. Found that the cossack stretch really helped. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjyodfhQf0I
Got a tweeter too but haven't found it to do as much. Dragondoor.com has some publications with real good stretch regimens. Resilient and super joints to name a couple. Look into stretches that loosen relax the hip flexors. Seems that tight hamstrings aggravate contribute to weak hip flexors which in turn aggravate the lower back. |
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Bonnie, I see from your Tuesday post that an MRI is next. After six months of suffering, it's time to figure out what's wrong. Good luck!
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shadydevil74 wrote: I really tweaked my back last december. Could barely walk. Found that the cossack stretch really helped. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjyodfhQf0I Got a tweeter too but haven't found it to do as much. Dragondoor.com has some publications with real good stretch regimens. Resilient and super joints to name a couple. Look into stretches that loosen relax the hip flexors. Seems that tight hamstrings aggravate contribute to weak hip flexors which in turn aggravate the lower back. |
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judy wrote: Cool. Isn't getting old a bitch |
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jrsjr wrote: Bonnie, I see from your Tuesday post that an MRI is next. After six months of suffering, it's time to figure out what's wrong. Good luck! |
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bendcyclist wrote: I will weigh in on this one a bit. Good luck! Mark |
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louisq wrote: bendcyclist wrote: I will weigh in on this one a bit. Good luck! Mark |
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I was gonna say save your money and use it to go for a regular swim.
will encourage all the right muscles to do their job properly...... |
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Another very important note. Use a foam/styrofoam roller to roll on your gluteus and then on your side to massage and lengthen the IT band down to your knee. This eliminated my back pain.
You can find these rollers at specialty weightlifting stores and also at amazon dot com. there are different types. get the softer one vs the harder styrofoam ones. Good luck! CW |
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chaswalter wrote: Another very important note. Use a foam/styrofoam roller to roll on your gluteus and then on your side to massage and lengthen the IT band down to your knee. This eliminated my back pain. You can find these rollers at specialty weightlifting stores and also at amazon dot com. there are different types. get the softer one vs the harder styrofoam ones. Good luck! CW |
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I was in a fitness shop the other day and saw a bunch of hard foam rolls and asked about them. They were about 4" in diameter and about 4' long.
Have a look: ⚠️ Last edited by Chetwynder on UTC; edited 1 time
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