Expert: Scott F. Gillman, DC, DACBSP - 6/1/2007

Question
Hi,
About 4 months ago, I began getting some pain in my upper left arm to the point where sometimes I can't reach behind me like in a car to get something, or hold a gallon of milk. I also began getting a tingling or it felt like something crawling under my skin in and around the trapezoids. My neck is in pain also. I am not an athletic person and I have not injured myself. I feel as though I may have a pinched nerve as all these symptoms occurred around the same time. Something like maybe a subluxation in my hump below the c curve. I bought a Head Halter Traction Unit with a water bag. I filled it to 10 pounds and I sit with my head in it for 15 minutes a day. I think perhaps if I do have a subluxation/pinched nerve that it will eventually help. I am also taking Ibuprofen to take the inflammation out of the nerve that appears to be pinched.
My question is this: Am I using the right amount of water starting out and the right amount of time? Also how often should I use it? Is once a day going to be effective enough, yet not hurt me? I do it at night 30 minutes after I have taken my ibuprofen. I do not have medical insurance, therefore I must try to take care of myself.
Can you please advise?

Answer
Phyllis,

First, if your pain does not improve after a few days of home care, you must get it looked at professionally.  As for home cervical traction, the general rule is to pull at about 5% of your body weight, and gradually increase the poundage of pull to a tolerable level.  This implies a direct pull.  If you're good at physics, you can calculate the poundage of pull caused by your water bag over the pulley, figuring in your head posture, muscle girth, etc.  I'd be happy to see your physics formulas.  Assuming that you don't have these calculations at hand, it is safe to assume a gentle pull that is comfortable to your neck, that allows your neck muscles to relax, and that does not cause worsening of the tingling symptoms.  If you get the tingling while tractioning, then you must stop and try something else, or seek professional consultation and treatment.   If all is going well, you can do home neck traction three times per day.  Start with three minutes per session, and increase it by a minute every day up to a maximum of 10 (ten) minutes maximum.  Keep a watch or clock handy to be sure of your time.  If you go too long you will have worse problems.  You also should be wearing an athletic mouthpiece to protect your jaw joints (TMJ's) from being compressed by the head harness.  Using heat before and after is also a good idea.

I hope this was helpful.

Dr. G