Inversion tables
 

First, some examples:

https://www.google.com/search?tbm=is...nversion+table

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_no...=1367999947007

I'm not expecting miracles, but any thoughts on using inversion tables? I also get pain in the mid and lower back on my TOS side and wonder if it might help that.

And this gentleman says:

"For years prior to my Pilates practice I experienced significant compression in C6 and C7, which resulted in shooting pain through the shoulder and down the arm. I purchased an inversion table. Within two weeks of twice-daily use (5 minutes at a time), the pain was gone. I continue to use it nearly every day (once per day for one or two minutes) for maintenance. "
-- http://www.pilatesconnections.com/to...tlet-syndrome/ #2

His eyebrows and high post count are compelling.

Anyone here try these tables?

I also have the back, leg pain. I do think there's a corelation bt. TOS and back pain. I met a fireman who has had 2 back surgeries and he started using the inversion table every day and swears by it. My husbands friend who owns a concrete company hurt his back thru hard work and he said he has avoided surgery by using it. He uses his every day too and says he no long has problems. I am thinking about ordering one. I've got so much crap now to help TOS - what's one more thing to add to the list?:Scratch-Head:

I'm pretty sure that would flare me up.

Did he have an mri

Shooting pains sound just like my injury

Be careful, I bought and used one before I knew my problem was TOS. Just about put me under from the intense pain it would cause.

Interesting. Thanks for sharing.

Mine is on the way. I'll build up to full vertical over a period of days. Same with the amount of time I spend on it.

See what it does but definitely take it slow. It really caused me a lot of trouble but I would let my arm hang down below my head not knowing what tos was at the time. Good luck

A few of my family members have inversion tables. It helps spinal pain (primarily lumbar) while you are upside down (but not long term IMO). You need to let your arms hang down (otherwise you will rise upright again) so it is probably bad for TOS.

It may well be bad for TOS, but it might also be good:

"For years prior to my Pilates practice I experienced significant compression in C6 and C7, which resulted in shooting pain through the shoulder and down the arm. I purchased an inversion table. Within two weeks of twice-daily use (5 minutes at a time), the pain was gone. I continue to use it nearly every day (once per day for one or two minutes) for maintenance. "
-- http://www.pilatesconnections.com/to...tlet-syndrome/ #2

If he got decompression in his lower C spine then it must decompress the T and L as well.

In any case, I volunteer to be the guinea pig!

So I got this one:

Ironman IFT 1000 Infrared Therapy Inversion Table
http://www.amazon.com/Ironman-Infrar...dp/B003LR1DB4/

I assembled it today. The instructions were poor but I got through it. Once it was up, it seemed very well constructed. I have no complaints about the parts, the look or how everything fits together. Okay one complaint. Everything new I get has some kind of smell to it that takes a few days to wear off. I call it the "freshly manufactured" smell.

I have not yet tried the heat but look forward to it.

As with many inversion tables there is a "control strap" on the back so you can limit how much it will invert. I set it at about 50 degrees (I'm calling full inversion 90 and horizontal 0; midway would be 45).

So I inverted back to 50 degrees for about 1 minute. The first thing I noticed was that the amount of stretch I felt in my abs was incredible. I do back stretches every day, but almost nothing for the abs, so this made sense to me once I experienced it. They are tighter than my back so they are the first restriction to kick in.

I also experienced incredible tightness in the front of my neck. It surprised me. I couldn't tell if it was just plain tightness or if my neck was actively clenching with some kind of "guard reaction". Of course, this is the last thing a TOS sufferer wants.

Being upside down, even just part way, was uncomfortable for me, but I presume I'll relax into it over time.

When I got back up, I took it slow, to avoid any dizziness. My hands were very dark red and my fingertips purple. I relaxed my neck, shoved my rib down and shook my hands a bit. Now they are back to "my normal" (red with white spots).

My left ear tinnitus increased for a few minutes. (Left is my bad TOS side. Left ear tinnitus kicks in with neck tightness.)

I adjusted the strap to 45 degrees, meaning a little less inversion than I started with. I will try again tomorrow.

This is definitely an experiment. My usage goal is full inversion for 5 minutes, 2 X per day. What I'm hoping for is lengthening and decompression of the spine, especially T-spine and lower C-spine. I also hope for a looser neck!