Slim CS (San Rafael, California ) on 04/29/2025

When I lived in Europe in the 70s and 80s, I had Sciatica a lot. It was debilitating and almost nothing worked. I am now 82 and in pretty good shape.

But, I've now been having back pain and Sciatica for about three/four months now. A lumbar MRI shows that I have stenosis in a couple of discs in my lower back and also a protrusion.

I've tried physical therapy, yoga, candied ginger, B12 and a lot more. Nothing has worked and the pain has continued. Lower back pain as well as pain shooting down my right butt and hip.

A few days ago, a friend said that the only thing that worked for him to make him pain-free was traction equipment at his local PT place. Equipment that stretches your upper body and lower body in different directions gently such that your discs decompress less. Inversion gym equipment apparently has the same effect.

I haven't been able to find a PT place as yet with the right equipment but I've been having my wife pull hard at my feet three times daily while I hold on to the bed at the top, thereby giving my body a great stretch. I guess one could also hang from a bar for a similar effect.

This has been like magic! I am practically pain-free and walking and going about my daily routine has been no problem. She's going to do this until I can find traction equipment and a physical therapist trained to use it. Amazon also sells one for the one - a kind of a 'do-it-yourself' thing!