Jennifer,

I hate to sound like a naysayer. But, honestly, I would stop with this! First of all, for them to tell you it is basically 50/50 is just plain...well, you know what! Yes, traction of a sort can help but it can also make things worse. And $4000.00???!! I would try to find a spinal pain management doctor. You already have your xray films and MRI. It is possible you can take those to a spinal PM and then take it from there. A spinal PM can tell you what you really need to do and if surgery is warranted, they can always refer you to an NS or OSS. Or, you can do as the other poster suggested and see an NS or OSS right away. And I say all of this because it looks like you are really being taken for your money. What they are telling you sounds like pure snake oil to me so just be wary and truly, try to find a spine doc.

I think that the potential proble with this sort of approach is that if it does relieve the pain (and that doesn't seem to be happening), it may be covering up a problem that may eventually result in impaired mobility. When the spinal nerve can take no more, big problems. I know what I'm talking about, I went years with relatively minor neuropathic pain then suddenly pain increased, I started to have bowel control problems, and mobility worsened dramatically. At that stage I had a spinal decompression operation, which was successful only insofar as it restored bowel control, still left with the pain and impaired mobility.

I'm not saying your case will follow same pattern, but do think long term and take advice from the medics.

We've looked into this as well. I think there is some potential here. Ya know, some say that a well trained chiropractor can do the same thing. If you get any coverage on your insurance for chiropractic treatment...you might consider doing that instead.

Recently, somewhat unexpectedly...my husband has (knock on wood) has some improvement in his back pain. He has done the following:

1. Drinking one glass of white wine each night. They say a small amount of wine has medicinal properties.
2. Walking 20 minutes every morning early in the morning...outside (5 days a week). The movement might oxygenate the cells. A little sunshine is good for the soul.
3. He drinks a little coffee in the morning (always did that), but now drinks a a cup of coffee in the mid afternoon as well.
4. If he has even a little discomcort in the afternoon, he takes a Naproxen.
5. He takes a NeuroOptimizer tablet and B12 tablet before bed. You can get them at the health food store. They help with memory. The B12 helps with many things...might be good for the spine too.
5. He's going to bed about 30 minutes earlier than he use to. He wakes up more refreshed. This helps to ease tension.

Of course, if the pain continues to improve...we will be thrilled. (please keep a positive thought).
Otherwise, we might look into the same things you have mentioned.

DH tried acupuncture. It felt very good the day of the procedure. The therapist used something called "cupping."
Our thought was oxygenating the cells is helpful.
Walking can also do this...perhaps not as powerfully though.

A patch you buy as some drug stores called "salon pas" (sp???) is excellent for pain...I wouldn't overly rely on it though. It is OTC. I've CLEARLY noticed that when my dh does the above routine..he has no need for the patch. And he's been using the Naproxen less and less.

Please consider regular walking and take a look at the other things on the list. It seems counterintuitive...but over time...it has helped my dh. Our thought is that if surgery can be avoided, we would like to do that. If these good measures that seem to be promising (knock on wood), should falter, we will go get that second opinion. I suppose the decompression procedure would be next in line to try (and decompression can be done in conjunction with the things on the list, etc.)

Last would be surgery. Naturally, we are hoping that wont happen. It has been over a week (knock on wood) of pain reduction.

Well, I've been out over $130,000 and rolling (includes high risk health ins premium since 2003, co-pays, no-pays and not enough pays). I work to get well now. No fun

Uhhhh... don't include over the counters and things I've bought that were not tax deductible. Lots of dough-ray-me gone out the door for that stuff too.

But after 9 years I can say I'm actually doing much better in every way, except financially. Big hole in my bank account.

Some things did not help. Some things did. I had to try/buy to know.

Until I found knowledgable providers for my specific conditions, I was wasting money and time, mine and theirs. Just the way it was.

The one thing I can say, it will take time whatever you try. It's not instant gratification for my problems. It's been a rough and lonely road to recovery. It's ME and my BANK ACCOUNT. ouch