MAYBE I'LL HAVE MORE LUCK WITH THIS QUESTION????

HOW ABOUT TRACTION? DO THEY STILL USE THIS FORM OF TREATMENT ON THE CERVICAL SPINE? DR. IS SENDING ME TO A NEUROSURGION, I'M WANDERING IF THERE IS ANYTHING I CAN TRY BEFORE SURGERY FOR A COMPRESSED SPINAL CORD AT C5-6.

HOPE TO HEAR FROM ANYONE WHO MAY KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT THIS SUBJECT.

THANKS IN ADVANCE.

PAULA

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PBOS

Hi Paula,

Welcome to the board. :) Apologies for missing your first post. Traction is still used for certain conditions, but I would think that type of pressure might not be compatible with certain conditions and could possibly do more harm than good. Whether or not a kyphotic condition would benefit from traction I just don't know. Is your kyphosis trauma related?

What are your symptoms? Are the docs pushing for surgery?

Bruce :wave:



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ACDF with plating and donor bone C6-7 (1/29/03)

Paula,
I under went pneumatic traction for my 2 ruptured disc causing compression. Sorry to say it did not help and I think the pain was worse afterwards. It may help you it does some people.
Good luck !!!Lori ;)

Traction has at times offered me more relief than medication. I also have a C5-C6 compression.

Get some PT prescribed and go to a therapist who has a machine that pulses the traction 15 seconds on, 30 seconds off or so.

The best home device (I've tried many) is offered by a company called EMPI. It's called the PRONEX. Have the therapist order it for you. It's basically an air bladder between two firm forms, one fits under your head, the other rests on your shoulders. If your doctor recommends something called an over the door device, tell him it's a waste of time.

Best part is that you use it lying down, and it has a hand held pump device for the bladder, similar to the thing that blows up the arm band in a blood pressue kit.

BJ


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1993 C5-C6 compression noted in Xray
1995 Forearm soreness observed, attribute to RSI
1997 Jammed finger in Sports Accident, numbness never goes away
1998 numbness and parathesia in middle finger attribute to carpal tunnel syndrome
Carpal tunnel surgery ineffective
2000 Acupuncture, Acupressure, massage, PT, Yoga
2001 Neurologist orders MRI, diagnosis of cervical radiculopathy and spondylosis
2002 Conservative therapies continued, condition persists, 5 neurosurgeons consulted
2003 Artificial disc prosthesis considered and rejected, 2 level fusion scheduled


[This message has been edited by cotal (edited 04-04-2003).]

Tried it, didn't work for me. But I really didn't give anything a chance, I was in pain and wanted to be out of pain. Did not like taking the pain meds either...
Debbie

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Debbie2
ACDF fusion (c5c6) with titanium plate and screws using donor bone -
September 4, 2002.

Yeah, what she said. :)

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ACDF with plating and donor bone C6-7 (1/29/03)

THANKS EVERYONE FOR THE ADVICE AND TIPS. HAVE'NT SEEN NEUROSURGEON YET. WAITING TO GET IN. PAIN RADIATES TO RIGHT SHOULDER AND MIDDLE ARM, STARTED TO END OF FINGERS LAST NIGHT. NOW SOME PAIN ON LEFT OF NECK AND UPPER ARM. PAIN NOT TO TERRIBLY BAD MOSTLY JUST FEELS SORE ALL THE TIME AND BURNING PAIN BEHIND EAR. THAT DRIVES ME CRAZY. HOW QUICKLY CAN THIS GO FROM BARABLE TO UNBARABLE? TAKING VICODIN NOW AND IT HELPS SOME.
I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS RELATED TO KYPHOTIC PROBLEM. I HAVE DDD IN CERVICAL SPINE AND LUMBAR SPINE. PCP THINKS THIS IS WHAT'S CAUSING COMPRESSION.

THANKS AGAIN FOR ALL OF YA'S HELP.

PAULA


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PBOS