Traction is BAD, BAD, BAD!

I have a new patient who drove in from another county to see me. She was injured by a physical therapist 1 month ago. All she complained about was neck pain and tension. This was a previously relatively healthy individual. She comes in and you can see on the x-ray how messed up she is (anyone peripherally involved in medicine can tell) - who even needs the radiologists report. The report says she has spondylolysis of 1 vertebrae and compression and disc narrowing of the lower three. A certain physical therapist put her in a contraption and applied traction to her head, neck, and lower back. She is so distraught and wracked with regret that she continually perseverates about how she should have clued in when the therapist kept pushing on spots on her neck that caused her pain. That was a sure warning sign that this person did not know what she was doing.

Two warnings to all who suffer with pain.

1) Anyone who causes you immediate pain, even with the slightest touch, run away. Forget that you already paid. Forget that they made you sign up for a "series of treatments." You do not want to be damaged further.

2) any muscle in spasm does not want to be yanked. Traction is BAD, BAD, BAD.

I don't believe that there is any clinical reason for anyone to do traction.There is a secret to unlocking a muscle in acute spasm. I have never met a non-D.O. who knew how to do it. Even a large percentage of D.O.'s don't know.

I am quite pleased to say that it is a propriety secret of the profession given to those who seek that knowledge. Needless to say, I spent the entire session with my new patient and I was able to get her some relief, hope, and convinced her that I know what I am doing. She will be returning next week to continue her recovery. good luck to you all in your search. Remember to run the other way, fast, if you have the faintest signal of doubt when you give your body over to someone who claims to know what they are doing.