After a four-month period of restrictions post-surgery on lifting and aggressive activity, the patient has since gone on to a complete recovery with the exception of weakness persisting in both hands.   She has resumed all of her activities (running, golfing, swimming and boating) and she still does not have neck pain or headaches.

What is interesting, the author of this case history was the patient and was fully aware of the symptoms and possible cause.  She experienced what our patients experience when they tell you of their problems.   The neurosurgeon is a conservative surgeon which the patient appreciated.  It took four weeks of relating symptoms to the surgeon before he felt he had enough information to decide that surgery was inevitable.  The patient felt there was a fine line between being a patient and being an informed patient and outwardly suggesting what she thought were cord signs.  The sensations were bizarre enough that she was actually doubting the experience.  Can you imagine what our patients’ sense in this situation without any medical knowledge.

At surgery, he was very surprised at finding the degree of the deficit of ligaments at that level and related this to the patient in post-surgery.  Excellent surgeon, excellent recovery.

Courses available by Debra Dent

Physical Diagnosis 175:    Definitive Guide of Stability Testing the Cranio-Cervical Region

3.0 credit hours

As a manual clinician, have you ever worried that a patient may have specific damage to the cervical spine including the craniovertebral joints? Car accident, a fall, or maybe an infection is at fault? How do you deal with this patient?

Learn the signs and symptoms of serious pathology in the cervical spine.

Learn the differential diagnoses and causes of instability in the region.

Learn to test the neurological system and know what to look for in your examination.

Learn to stress test the ligaments of the craniovertebral joints and the cervical spine.

Discover the latest studies on this topic.

I'm hoping you will find this course an adjunct to your practice.  A manual clinician must be able to discern an unstable or hypermobile segment in a spine. This course will give the clinician an advantage in the management of the patient. It is important for the safety of the joint and is very important for the safety of your patients.

 Physical Diagnosis 166-169 Exposing Spinal Pain Imposters: Differential Diagnosis of the Spine

4.0 credit hours

Delaying proper treatment due to poor diagnosis is detrimental to a patient's well-being. The sooner a patient with a non-musculoskeletal issue is referred to the correct practitioner, the sooner the patient will receive the best and most appropriate treatment. A discussion of the latest evidence in screening and physical testing will be presented.  Explore evaluative processes to improve awareness of differential diagnoses and test results that might be performed by other health professionals. Walk away with a thorough knowledge of appropriate screenings for patients with musculoskeletal issues.

Breathing Essentials: 201-207

9.0 credit hours

Breathing Essentials 201-207 is a comprehensive examination of the function of breathing on the human body and actions for the management of dysfunction. The information presented in this seminar series ultimately will be become necessary tools for the clinician, in the recognizing and development of strategies for alleviating Breathing Pattern Disorders. It is imperative that normal breathing patterns are retrained and maintained for spine health and overall patient wellbeing.

Core Stability 201: Foundation Form Function

4.0 credit hours

This seminar will expand upon the functional knowledge of the respiratory system and how it integrates with the thorax, abdominal canister and learn the intimate details of the dual systems which will enable the student to connect and integrate the stability systems of the body. Foundation, Form and Function will answer the clinician’s questions on the process behind why patients take the postures that are dysfunctional and painful.