Traction as conversative therapy - Spinal Cord Disorders Message Board

moonchaser · 03-01-2007, 08:55 PM

Hey all. I've started a new round of PT with a cervical spine therapy specialist who is using McKenzie exercises to help try to combat my disc protrusion problems coupled with what they are now calling severe spinal canal stenosis as well. (My MRI called it "moderate" but doc and PT both say severe. In fact, PT says "severe severe", lol).

The PT today put me on the traction machine for treatment. The stretching felt really good while we were doing it this morning. The problem? After returning to work for a couple hours this afternoon and a 45 min easy walk on the treadmill in early evening, I have started hurting really bad all evening long tonight. It hurts enough I haven't been able to do anything tonight but lay on a heating pad on the couch.

I'm sure you all have tried traction therapy prior to your various surgeries and fusions. When you were doing conservative treatment, did traction hurt you at all? I like to think I have a high pain tolerance, but I am really stiff, sore and hurting now, more than I ever had with any other treatments. It also seems to have given me a killer headache, and I rarely have headaches. Thoughts for a miserable Moonchaser about your traction experience? Is this normal and I need to get use to it until I start getting better?

Thanks, Kim aka Moonchaser

SKZ · 03-02-2007, 08:39 AM

Its very possible, the P.T. put you on too much weight with the traction. The same exact thing happened to me at the P.T. Do you know how much weight they put you on????? It has to be VERY VERY VERY gradual on the weight.

moonchaser · 03-02-2007, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SKZ

Its very possible, the P.T. put you on too much weight with the traction. The same exact thing happened to me at the P.T. Do you know how much weight they put you on????? It has to be VERY VERY VERY gradual on the weight.

She said I was at 15 pounds. She did start slow, and over 5-8 minutes we built up to the 15 pound mark, which is where I stayed then for about 10 more minutes. Is that too much for the first time out? At this point, it's just numbers to me. Thanks for the response SKZ, I appreciate it.

SKZ · 03-02-2007, 09:31 AM

Oh my God, YES, that is too much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!
It took me weeks to get to 15 lbs. I started out like at 3 lbs. and stayed there for 5 mins. The then next day maybe 4 lbs. I am sorry, but you need to tell her to slow down. I mentioned that same thing happened to me. It took me a week to recuperate. That is absolutely not cool.

I hate to be negative, but that really makes me mad that you had to go thru that, unnecessarily. 15 lbs. was my ultimate goal, which took me about a month to get to.

moonchaser · 03-02-2007, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SKZ

Oh my God, YES, that is too much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!
It took me weeks to get to 15 lbs. I started out like at 3 lbs. and stayed there for 5 mins. The then next day maybe 4 lbs. I am sorry, but you need to tell her to slow down. I mentioned that same thing happened to me. It took me a week to recuperate. That is absolutely not cool.

I hate to be negative, but that really makes me mad that you had to go thru that, unnecessarily. 15 lbs. was my ultimate goal, which took me about a month to get to.

THANK YOU! I have such a "I can do it" attitude in general that when something does happen, I can't always figure out if it was too much too soon or if I'm just being a baby. It's so good to know that I don't have to be She-RA, queen of the amazons here. I thought maybe walking on the treadmill did it to me, but I've even slowed down the pace I walk at. One of my goals is to get better, but also keep some of the things in my life that mean a lot to me, like my exercise routine w/the treadmill, etc. I would hate to give that up, I've given up so much already.

I'm a little better today. Woke up stiff and sore, but it's worked itself out mostly throughout the morning. I have much, much less pain today than I did last night. Some minor shoulder pain lingers and intermittent numbness returned to left hand today. Although I slept through the night, I can tell I didn't get that deep sleep time we all need, cause I'm soooo tired today and that's not like me. I was so miserable last night I didn't even care who got voted off American Idol! LOL. Thanks so much for the info.