Inversion therapy w/failed fusion comments... - Spinal Cord Disorders Message Board

JackieH · 12-11-2008, 04:37 AM

Hi,
I have a failed fusion C5-7 w/tightly screwed in hardware.
Still have all the pain I had prior to surgery & then some 3 yrs later.
Sometimes when I exercise with my stability ball draped over it face down, I will hang my head. It feels SO good. (Have had a headache since 10/05) This relieves my neck & head pain substantially for a few minutes.
However, I know this is probably really testing my hardware so I rarely indulge.

The other night my husband & I were looking fitness gadgets at Sears & I lay down on the AbLounge which supports your entire back/neck/head. I layed back on it as far as it could go for some inversion therapy & it felt amazing. Probably an inversion table would be the thing to purchase.
Anyone have any comments, advice, cautions, experiences??? Would love to read your thoughts.
Thanks
(I'm going to ask my GP but he's not expert at all things "failed fusion" and my surgeon is a poopoohead so I don't speak to him anymore.)

jupiter14 · 12-11-2008, 05:45 PM

I have to say Don't do it! I purchased one before surgery and DR said I could never use it after surgery. I also have failed fusion.

JackieH · 12-13-2008, 04:40 AM

Thanks, Jupiter. Saw my doctor yesterday & he said a 45% angle wouldn't cause any more stress to my hardware than walking upright. He seemed pleased that I might have something to relieve my pain a bit.
However, I wish I could poll a dozen or so neck surgeons.

I appreciate hearing your doctor's opinion. I won't do it unless I hear a few more doctors recommending it. The last thing I want is more surgery.

Are you planning to have fix-it surgery done? Dr.Poopoohead that performed my mess told me my hardware would likely break in a year & so far I'm proving him wrong. I wore a bone-growth-stimulator for 4 months at the recommendation of another surgeon but it didn't help. I think it was too late as it was 18months post op.

What are your levels?
And thanks, again for responding.