I’m signed up for Tri One-O-One Clear Lake one week from this Sunday but as I type this I’m in no condition to race let alone start due to the excrutiating pain radiating from my neck down my left shoulder and arm. The triggering event was camping over Memorial Day with the family, forgetting to bring my pillow, attempting the old rolled up fleece jacket pillow trick, and then being awakened in the tent at 2:30 a.m. Monday morning by my neck and upper traps in spasm. I’ve been on ice and ibuprofen since then, pretty much around the clock, and I’m having a hard time sleeping lying down in ANY position.
I’m going in to see the doc this morning and I’m well aware of the etiology of cervical radiculopathy and the attendent conservative treatment, MRI’s, followed by surgical options primarily because one of my former cycling teammates just got over this (cortisone and PT).
What I want to know is: Does anyone have a home traction unit they recommend and, are the $400-$500 dollar devices significantly better than the $50 door/spring units?
Go see a chiropractor. I get a similar problem every time I sleep without my normal pillow. A couple visits usually clears it up, otherwise it’s a good month before it goes away on its own.
I have used the home traction thing that is filled with water and hung on a door. It is boring keeping the correct posture staring at a wall so the thing can work but it cleared up my persistent numbness and pain.
I’ve been battling this similar problem for 2 years…epideral shot, PT, anti-inflammatories, massages, etc…lately Glucosomine tablets have been helping quite bit. You can get them at any local vitamin store or even Walgreens.
My dad has used home neck traction on and off for almost 30 years.
1 way to view that is “for 30 years? then it sure didn’t cure him” and that is correct.
However another way to view it is “Despite his neck problem, for the past 30 years he has been able to continue playing tons of tennis, running marathons, playing pick up basketball and now playing tons of golf.”
He started with a contraption that hung over the door. He’d weight one side of it with actual plates from a weight lifting set.
The first night he did it, my mom walked in on him and started screaming and crying, she thought he was trying to hang himself. (even after all these years, there is something very unfunny about that… but it is still KIND OF funny).
He used the water bags as weights and for the past 10plus years he has had a mechanical contraption that varies the weight of the pull. He’ll sit in it while watching movies with the grandkids and stuff…
There were long periods of time where he didn’t need to use it… he has been using it again lately. He’s a physician, and if you asked him, he’d say it works for him.
No I haven’t use one. But I think you seriously consider a chiropractor first. Sounds like something that got out of position and could have been easily treated if dealt with earlier. But could still be improved quickly by a good Chiro.
i’ve used a home traction that doesn’t require hanging from a door. It’s like an accordian and it stretches when you pump the handpump. I have a bulging disc in my neck and the home traction has been like magic. it’s a little awkward, but lying on the floor, i can see the tv at a weird angle.
massage and/or (worst case) Chiro has fixed that for me every time. I have a slight curve in my spine and whenever I sleep freaky or too much I get similar pain with similar lack of releif with what you’re using.
massage will 85% of the time resolve it
deep tissue, one that hurts like holy-mother-of-god-kill-me is what you need
I used to sell home traction devices and can tell you the waterbag devices are horrible - increased incidence of tmj problems with over-the-door torture devices. There are 3 pneumatic devices for home use - the Saunders home trac (I think it is the best), the Star trac from Care rehab, and the Pronex. If your doc has determined your problem to be disc in nature rather than muscle sprain/strain, I would bet you will have flare-ups down the road once your current problem subsides; if it were me, I would look into buying a good home traction device (but I already have a Saunders unit). Many insurance companies cover purchase of a home traction device as long as it is prescribed by a physician (usually not covered if written for by a chiro) but check your coverage before you get stuck with the bill if it is not covered! If you do go the over-the-door route you shold be able to get one for around $20.