A bulging disc in your neck is not only painful, it can lead to many mobility issues in the neck, arms, even the legs resulting from nerve compression. While inversion therapy has not proved effective in creating long-term relief of neck pain, many patients enjoy the temporary relief, according to the MayoClinic.com.
Bulging Disc Characteristics
A bulging disc is sometimes called a herniated disc, but there is a specific difference between the two, according to Randy A. Shelerud, M.D. at MayoClinic.com. A bulging disc lacks enough space between the vertebrae and pushes itself outside of the space it normally occupies. A herniated disc has a crack or tear in the disc, causing some of the inner cartilage to leak out. While not every bulging disc causes pain, if there is impingement on any of the nerves, pain might be significant.
Inversion Therapy
Inversion therapy is any method of flipping your spine upside down to release the various pressures exerting down on the spine. With your head lower than your feet, gravity takes an inverse approach on the spine. An inversion table is a machine to assist the process of inverting, allowing patients to invert completely or just partially. It is a non-manipulative method of spinal traction to create more space between each spinal column.
Effects of Inversion Table
The use of an inversion table might provide some relief to patients experiencing neck pain resulting from a bulging disc. When part of a comprehensive pain treatment and physical therapy program, the release of pressure offers short-term results. Patients should not expect long-term benefits, especially if there is no other treatment program applied to the treat the problem.
Caution
When patients invert, the heart beats slower. Shelerud warns that patients suffering from cardiovascular disease should not perform inversion therapy. In addition, since blood pressure increases when inverted, patients with elevated pressure in the eyes should not do inversion therapy either. Always consult a doctor before starting a new program and get a proper diagnosis to make sure the bulging disc does not require other methods of treatment first.
