Question
due to the usual tensions of everyday life i would like to experiment with the benefits of using a inversion table.  however i am concerned about any negative effects.  i am now 35, six years ago i had a hospital consultation over a back problem which resulted in me being diagnosed with grade I spondylolisthesis of L5/S1 level with totally degenerative disc at that level.  if i remember rightly, one of the consultants told me i had about 15-20% vertebra displacement and was recommended to follow a course of physio-therapy and pain management rather than surgery at that point.  i currently rarely suffer with anything more than mild discomfort.  based on this brief history, my question is, am i likely to cause any further problems for myself ?  

Answer
Leigh:

Thanks for writing!

With an inversion table, you are very likely to create some discomfort (pain) in the low back as the collapsed disc is stretched.

I recommend you get new X-rays or MRI of the area, compare them to those taken 6 years ago and see if the area is better worse or not changed. If it is getting worse, the inversion table would be worth a try. But it will cause temporary discomfort.


Dr. Rozeboom