OTC Cervical Traction Kit, Neck Pain Relief, Vertebrae Disk Herniation, Complete Over Door Setup

I'm not going to post a photo because this thing squishes your face and makes you look pretty funny while you're strapped in, but... I LOVE THIS CONTRAPTION!!! I have a herniated disk (C5) which causes a great deal of pain on one side of my neck that radiates down my left arm. I've been in physically therapy for this issue on and off for years and the one thing that seems to do the most good when I see my PT is the traction machine. My insurance wouldn't approve a home traction unit and I can't afford the fancier ones myself, but this Traction Kit is everything I need and it didn't even come close to breaking the bank.:: Setup ::Getting things set up was fairly easy. It comes in 6 parts (the door hanger thing, the triangle shaped bracket with pulleys, a rope, the metal spreader bar, cotton/velcro head gear and the empty water bag). The instructions were well written and included photos so there's not much chance of doing things wrong. I didn't like that I had to tie the rope on both ends myself. It made me nervous but the knots I used appear to be holding firm. (The instructions have a drawing of a knot they recommend.):: Use ::You can get hooked-up to use this without help but I'd recommend having someone to help get you into it, for sure the first few times at least. Once the bag is full of water its 15+ pounds pulling on your spine so it helps to have an assistant to let the bag fall gently once you're strapped in. Getting out is a lot easier because you can just grab the bar above your head and pull it down while you detach the head gear from the spreader bar (just D-rings in a notch, nothing fancy and doesn't require a lot of dexterity).It is a bit of a hassle to have this thing having on the door all day every day but that's mainly my fault and due to the fact that we just don't have a door we don't use. Still, it doesn't prevent us from using the door and technically, the manufacturer instructs you to empty the bag and take it down between uses... That's not realistic IMO because people using this have neck and back issues and filling/carrying/listing a 20 lb bag of water isn't on my list of recommended activities. I like the idea another reviewer had of attaching a 20lb kettle bell instead of using the water. I will probably try that as well.:: Results ::Amazingly, this $20 contraception provides as much relief from pain and numbness as the fancy-schmancy machine at my Physical Therapists office. It allows me to be more active in-between doctor visits because I know I have a source for relief at the end of the day. This has helped me reduce the amount of pain medications I take as well. Obviously, consult your doctor before messing with your neck and back, but once they've given the A-OK (mine did without batting an eye) strap yourself in and prepare to be pleasantly surprised!

It works just like I expected. Quick shipping too. Received it a day earlier than estimated.The only instructions in the box is how to put the harness on your head, which can be tricky until you do it once. Make sure it's tight around the back of your skull as this is where you'll want it to pull (or per your doctor's instructions). I have a huge head and the harness fit me.To assemble the unit, use the picture on Amazon as a guide. The rope is much longer than you need, but don't cut it as it may unravel. You'll want to make the length from the water bag to the pulley and the metal bar to the pulley short. Place you chair underneath to figure out the lengths. Shorter is better. Make sure the water bag doesn't hit the back of the chair when you are using it.WARNING: Do NOT tie the rope directly to the water bag as it shows in the picture. This is wrong. A small S-hook is included in the box inside a small Ziploc bag. Tie the end of the rope (where the water bag will attach) to this S-hook. Use the side of the S-hook that is closed. This will allow you to hang the water bag on the rope and remove it when you are finished. I suggest that you don't leave the bag hanging as I imagine it will wear out the plastic.Also, only use it on a closed door so you don't stress your door's hinges.

I like the product but as soon as I opened it the rope broke so I substituted paracord. Then I wore out the cheap Velcro. I ripped the Velcro off and stitched on some buttons in its place. They work a lot better. They still come unsnapped from time to time, but it’s significantly better than the manufacturers Velcro straps. Also I bought a carabiner to replace the hook.

My neck has been hurting alot for some months (chiropractor messed me up). I bought this in hopes of fixing the problem. The package arrived on time. Upon opening it I found the instruction paper. It has a funny drawing on it of a man's head and about a small paragraphs worth of information with no advice on how long you should use it, etc. The clanky device was kinda annoying, but I wanted relief so I was happy to try it. I first put 10 lbs. of water in and tried it. Not enough weight. I went to 14 lbs. and was happy with the pull. It was pretty uncomfortable, but nothing that was unbearable if the product would get rid of my neck pain. I mean, I read the reviews here before buying the product and identified with the symptoms of the one that says it is "Saving My Life" (neck crunching sounds, sometimes I would turn my head side to side and it would sound like two smooth stones rubbing together). I truly wanted this thing to work. I sat in the chair and left it on for 20 minutes or so. I did not notice any dramatic change at first. Upon the third time using it (within a week or so of my purchase), the rope snapped while I was just sitting there (14 lbs. of water in the 20 lb. bag). I immediately returned the product. For a couple of days after using it for the last time, my neck did feel much better. During this time I was also spending 30 minutes or so a day laying on my bed (belly up) with my neck and head hanging off the mattress. Whether the relief was due to the neck contraption, I am not sure, but I think that it probably was. This spurred me on to purchase a second neck traction device. The second one I bought (from amazon.com) was an inflatable one that you could walk around in. MUCH more convenient, and works pretty well too. My neck is feeling pretty good and I have only been using it for a week or so (15 minutes per day). It wasn't much more expensive than this, and was worth the little bit of extra cash.ALSO! I bought a new "Extra Firm" pillow from Walmart for $4.00 and that has helped alot as well. Please at least make this small investment first if your neck sometimes hurts when you wake up.I hope this is helpful advice. I know how much of an annoyance a neck injury is. My neck is now sometimes a bother, but it is MUCH better. I also had a strong nerve tingling in my shoulder (for the past two years) that has been getting better as my neck gets better.