Cervical stenosis
 

I have cervical stenosis and was wondering if anyone had success with cervical decompression ( traction).

Traction is certainly worth a try--
 

--if the loss of disc height is not too severe and the foraminal openings are still somewhat patent (not too close off by disc material or osteophytic spurs). Getting just a little more room in there can make a significant difference as to the severity of symptoms by lessening the chances of frank nerve root compression.

There is a tendency, though, for this to become less effective over time, as bone spurs, in particular, don't shrink by themselves and are likely to grow and compromise more space as time goes on. Eventually, if symptoms become troublesome, some shaving down of these and freeing up of the foraminal spaces (foraminotomy) would be called for, if not more extensive surgery, depending on what else is going on in there.

Hi joatedm, welcome to NeuroTalk.
I had a lot of traction work when I was in my 30s. I injured myself very badly landscaping my first home. At that time it was mainly lumbar area stenosis with 3 bulging discs. A number of Schmorl's nodes in fact and that compounded by spondylolisthesis at L5/S1 and some other issues. Serious pain, difficulty walking at all, with sciatica and numb toes.

I had a super physio and spent a lot of time with her having traction in various places including at a local private hospital physio department where they had a couple of traction beds set up. Otherwise I spent time hanging off a contraption she had on her wall that had wooden rungs spaced out. Sounds odd but it was very helpful indeed.

She did wait until my torn ligaments healed a bit of course and that took time, and then I was doing gentle exercize in a hot pool. [That was really helpful especially because it was a time when doctors were more likely to send you to bed with a muscle relaxant than get you up moving].

It was a long time ago now and I'm sure treatments have changed a lot but I swear that the time I had resting and then the time I had in the hot pool and the traction saved me from certain surgery at that time.

It was all a very long time ago now, and I'm sure that rehab equipment has become much better, but certainly give it a go if it's safe to do so.