Usually, the purpose of traction is to give the nerves more space so that they are not being pressed by the bones (nerve impingement/entrapment), not specifically for degenerative disc disease. 

If you end up getting traction, keep in mind that traction can make you worse and cause tendonitis if you have myofascial trigger points and if the muscles, ligaments, tendons and other soft tissues are not treated and stretched so that you can tolerate the traction.  Neck muscles that may need to be treated include the rotatores, multifidis, scalenes, levator scapulae, trapezius, anterior and posterior cervicals and others. 

Make sure that you really do have degenerative disc disease as determined by X-rays, etc., not just pain in the neck.  If your pain is caused by muscle and soft tissue dysfunction, then getting the muscles to function would be the most important thing to do.

Also keep in mind that if you do have degenerative disc disease, muscles contribute to the disease – lack of movement causes the discs to not have enough blood supply, and these muscles may be treated by myofascial trigger point therapy.

At MYO, our therapists can perform traction by hand after looking at your x-rays.  In addition, one of our therapists is a licensed physical therapist who also does the trigger point work.

We can also teach you how to treat yourself at home.  

Sharon Sauer, CMTPT, LMT