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Friday, December 2, 2016
Tackling the Symptoms of Lumbar Osteoarthritis

Tackling the Symptoms of Lumbar Osteoarthritis


Aging happens. So far, there’s no way to avoid it. Our skin wrinkles, our energy wanes, and our joints and bones ache a lot more than they used to when we were younger. We can use lotions, take potions, and do all sorts of other things to make us feel better or…at least…as good as possible. Thankfully, most of the signs of aging can be addressed in one way or another to make them more tolerable.
Individuals over the age of 50 often complain of lower back pain. This, too, is often a result of aging and the formation of osteoarthritis in the spine. Lumbar osteoarthritis effects countless people, mostly just due to the wear and tear caused by everyday life.



Those stricken with spinal arthritis usually notice pain and stiffness, especially in the morning upon waking up. It’s the kind of stiffness that makes it tough to get out of bed in the morning. The reason for the stiffness and pain is because fluid has built up in the joints overnight, simple due to inactivity while sleeping. Some people also notice that their lumbar osteoarthritis gets worse at night after a long, busy day. Weather changes, of course, can be a huge problem as well.

The pain of osteoarthritis is usually felt in the back but quite often in the hip as well, and it may run down the buttocks, too. As the lumbar arthritis worsens, pain can be felt down the leg as well, which might cause doctors to diagnose something other than arthritis. The pain can be bad enough to interrupt sleep, in some cases, and often does not respond to over-the-counter pain relievers.
As a spine doctor, you’ve likely addressed the problems associated with lumbar osteoarthritis numerous times. You’ve no doubt completed a thorough examination and perhaps ordered x-rays or even a CT scan to check for joint damage, cartilage loss, or compression factors. Imaging studies can go a long way in determining exactly what is happening with a patient’s spine.


Once a diagnosis is reached, it’s time to talk to your patient about treatment. They’re probably anxious to get started with some sort of therapy that’s going to make them feel better, and that will probably involve an active exercise program that will keep them moving. Just as with patients with any type of arthritis, being sedentary is the enemy. But you need to show them why exercise is so important so that they understand just how essential staying active is for their well-being.

With a lumbar spine model from Dynamic Disc Designs (ddd), you can easily educate your patients about lumbar osteoarthritis. Models like the Professional LxH allow an in-depth look at the spine and how it works and offers the patient the opportunity to “see” what their condition is doing to their spine. Chiropractors and other spine specialists who use ddd models can also show the patient how exercise programs such as yoga or tai-chi (or simply going to the gym a few times a week) can help them to feel better.



The models manufactured by Dynamic Disc Designs can be used with patients who know little or nothing about the workings of the spine. However, once they observe the model and hold it in their hands, they experience that “aha moment” that encourages them to stay on track and do what it takes to tackle their lumbar osteoarthritis.

This product makes it so much easier to show a 3D reference while explaining MRI’s and X-rays results to the patients.  I actually did not really use 3D models before because of their lack of realism.  Please keep on developing your models and I would highly recommend you to everyone.” – Brent C. Bluekens, DC
Thursday, June 9, 2016
Explaining the Pain of Cervical Spinal Stenosis

Explaining the Pain of Cervical Spinal Stenosis

Neck pain often results from degenerative changes that occur in the discs of the cervical spine. Spine specialists see patients with these problems most every day.

Cervical spinal stenosis, the most serious of these neck-related issues, occurs due to degeneration of the spinal segment in the cervical spine. It’s painful and patients with this problem are seeking relief that will allow them to proceed with their everyday lives.

How is cervical spinal stenosis diagnosed? As with most spine disorders, the treating physician will most likely first take a complete medical history of the patient, asking questions such as:

  • When did the pain begin?
  • Does it radiate down your arms and/or legs?
  • Have you had a neck injury or surgery?


Of course, another part of the process is a complete physical examination, where more questions will be asked and movement will be measured. Diagnostic x-rays of the cervical spine will most likely be ordered and completed. These pictures can provide an idea of how much degeneration has occurred. An MRI may be ordered as well as it can show abnormal areas of soft tissue around the spine.

Now, think about your patient during this diagnostic process. He or she is probably upset, anxious, fearing the worst. It’s your job to put that patient at ease from the minute they walk into your office until the moment they leave. To do that, you must take the time to talk and to educate. Education doesn’t have to wait until after the diagnosis. If you suspect a cervical spine program, you can start the education immediately.

Cervical Spinal Stenosis Model

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A good place to start is with a simple explanation of how the spine works and perhaps the “wear and tear” process that is associated with disc degeneration. If you do this using a model such as Dynamic Disc Designs’ (ddd) Professional or Academic LxH models, your patient will understand from the start how their discs have changed through aging and now they become less spongy and unable to function as a shock absorber.

From the start, your patient will know what it is you’re looking for on the x-rays or MRI and can erase fears associated with issues such as tumors and other problems. Explaining the workings of the spine and your theories in regards to their pain allows you to calm a patient’s nerves and gives them confidence that your knowledge of spinal stenosis and other spine problems is vast.

Finally, as you offer options for treatment, you can use the detailed, fully-movable models from Dynamic Disc Designs to help the patient understand the procedures you suggest, including surgery, which is often the solution for those with cervical spinal stenosis that has resulted in cervical myelopathy. With a ddd model, you can allow your patient to hold the spine in his/her hands as you explain its parts, its movement, and its shortcomings as one ages. After such a detailed visual explanation, the patient generally feels more comfortable with the outcome and is more likely to continue treatment with you or your staff.

Thursday, June 2, 2016
Understanding Disc Height Loss

Understanding Disc Height Loss

Disc degeneration is a very normal part of aging. For many individuals, this may never present a problem in the form of pain or other issues, but for some people this degeneration can cause disc height loss and result in joint and bone inflammation, nerve impingement, and may cause anything from mild to severe pain.
To determine whether or not a patient’s pain is the result of disc degeneration, a variety of procedures will be followed. Doctors will do a careful physical examination to help determine the cause of the pain and will most likely take a medical history if they are not familiar with the patient’s past medical issues. Diagnostic tests will most likely be performed as well and perhaps even a discography, which can confirm the diagnosis.
After all of that occurs, recommendations for treatment can be made. These can include, of course, any number of non-surgical treatments including over-the-counter medications or muscle relaxants, hot or cold therapy, epidurals, physical therapy, or chiropractic adjustments. In some cases, surgical treatment may be required, perhaps a procedure such as a discectomy – the removal of the damaged disc.
All of this can be confusing to the patient. Whether he’s visiting a chiropractor, osteopath, or spine surgeon, he’ll want to understand the specifics of disc height loss and disc degeneration in general, and will wish to be educated as to how you – the medical professional – are going to solve his problem and relieve his pain.

Classic LxH – Lumbar Disc Model


To do this, quality educational tools are essential and they need to consist of more than just a few color posters and a static model of the spine that does little to explain the way a spine moves and why pain occurs. Instead, a fully-dynamic 3D model with extensive detail should be the preferred tool for anyone who cares for spine patients. The best of these on the market, proclaim many spine experts, come from the hands of Dr. Jerome Fryer and Dynamic Disc Designs (ddd).
With these movable, detailed models, doctors can create those moments of enlightenment that prompt the patient to nod their head and say “I understand.” Models like the Professional LxH model can demonstrate disc height loss and help explain the particulars of disc degeneration. Furthermore, through the use of this and other Dynamic Disc Design models, the spine specialist can discuss and explain all procedure risks and benefits and can show the patient how he may eventually return to a healthy, pain-free lifestyle. This is exactly what the patient needs from you – the professional.
Dynamic Disc Designs has forged a reputation among a variety of spine specialists as the best on the market and as an investment well worth making.
“Over 12 years, I have bought multiple items. Spines, vertebrae models. However, the only one I use now is the ddd model. It is absolutely the best. I hand it to the patient and go over their problem. It brings a realism factor. The patient’s problem is now REAL. X-rays are good but are static. This model is the REAL deal. I literally couldn’t practice without it.”  
- Tariq Arif, DC

Thursday, May 19, 2016
Herniated Disc Models Provide an Explanation Patients Can Understand

Herniated Disc Models Provide an Explanation Patients Can Understand

As spine specialists, we recognize that herniated discs are one of the most common causes of back pain among adults the world over. Herniated discs don’t discriminate by gender, race, or country of origin. They can strike just about anyone…and they hurt! According to research, they are also one of the least-understood reasons for chronic pain. Though most adults are familiar with the term “herniated disc”, few actually know that that means and to what it refers. They just know that they want to feel better.


Many will turn to invasive procedures in hopes of relieving the pain of a ruptured or herniated disc. Some will opt for injections and others will turn to chiropractic for relief. But how many will understand why they’re doing what they’re doing in hopes of feeling better?
For a spine professional, the concept is simple. We know that a disc functions as a sort of shock absorber, allowing for the motion of the spine. These little rubber cushions are there to lessen the impact on the bones that make up one’s spinal column, the impact that arises with normal activity including walking, running, jumping, and doing other forms of exercise. The discs are filled with a jelly-like substance, and that’s how the cushioning happens. If the element that holds the jelly in place begins to deteriorate, some of that cushion disappears as the jelly oozes out. As a result, pain occurs.
Now, consider that last paragraph. Seems pretty easy to understand, right? Well, perhaps for you, but maybe not for your patients. Remember that a patient with a herniated disc comes to you in pain and desperate for answers. Therefore, you need to provide them with the simplest answer possible, and often that answer does not necessarily mean a lengthy verbal explanation. Such diatribes don’t always do the job, so having a visual on hand is ideal, especially for those who grasp concepts much better when they see examples rather than just hear words.
With the totally-movable, amazingly accurate spine models by Dynamic Disc Designs, herniated disc patients can take a close look at the cause of their pain. Just hand them the model and they’ll be able to view detailed replicas of the discs and understand what happens when that jelly-like substance begins to dissipate. They can manipulate the model on their own and/or watch you move it as you explain the specifics of your treatment plan and why it’ll work.

Academic LxH Disc Model


Many of the more than two dozen models offered by Dr. Jerome Fryer and Dynamic Disc Designs are appropriate for use in explaining herniated discs. Browse the various options offered with models such as the Professional LxH model or the Academic LxH model, both best-selling 3D spine models used by spine specialists around the world.
“Your Professional LxH Model is the most detailed and useful spinal disc model I have ever encountered,” proclaims Dr. Anthony Yeung, endoscopic spinal surgeon. “It illustrates not only the normal anatomy of a Lumbar disc segment, but its innervation, pathoanatomy of annular tears, and how the tear progresses to disc herniation when the spine is loaded in flexion and extension. This model is extremely valuable in helping me explain my patient’s pain and how I plan to address [it]…” 
Thursday, May 12, 2016
Professional LxH Disc Model Offers “Aha Moments” for Patients

Professional LxH Disc Model Offers “Aha Moments” for Patients

What’s it like to have a so-called “aha moment”? Most people describe it as the point where something “clicks”; the moment in time when the proverbial light bulb switches on and all becomes clear. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines it as “a moment of sudden realization, inspiration, insight, recognition, or comprehension.”

When have you been awarded with aha moments? When you were a student, it might have been that time when you finally grasped why the answer to that algebra problem was 3x-2 or when you finally got what Shakespeare was trying to say during that perplexing scene in Julius Caesar. As an adult, it may have been that time when you finally understood your moody teenager or figured out just what it was that the boss wanted from you.

Everyone experiences different aha moments – and they’re wonderful! When such a moment occurs, you’re rewarded with a deep and definite understanding and you feel relief because of the clarity that now exists.

When you’re in a difficult or hard-to-understand scenario, as when facing a complex medical situation, an aha moment is quite welcome as it often represents that moment when you finally understand what’s going on. It’s that point at which you’re sitting with your doctor and he’s finally able to help you grasp the particulars of your situation. For that to happen, your doctor needs to be the best educator he/she can possibly be.

Good education comes with good educational tools, and for spine specialists of any kind, those good tools include Dynamic Disc Designs’ Professional LxH model, now considered the standard in spine modeling. This totally dynamic model provides surgeons, chiropractors, physiotherapists, massage therapists, and other spine professionals with a tool that speaks volumes when it comes to learning about the specific workings of the spine.

Professional LxH Disc Model


With the Professional LxH model, and the other lumbar and cervical models from Dynamic Disc Designs (ddd) and Dr. Jerome Fryer, you’ll no longer spend your time pointing to the parts of a flat one-dimensional drawing or trying to explain spine movement with a static model.

This model includes a realist 2-part intervertebral disc with 6 degrees of freedom. In addition, the model’s detailed cauda equina includes: sensory and motor divisions, dorsal root ganglion, recurrent meningeal, gray rami communicantes, posterior primary division, dura mater, arachnoid sheath, rootlets, and a properly placed nerve root to accurately demonstrate the most commonly affected nerve with a post-lateral herniated disc. You won’t find a more detailed too for spine education.


Each ddd model is individually crafted with close attention to detail. Demonstrations via video are available to view before purchasing, and the reviews of the Professional LxH model provide even more reasons to consider purchase.
“I have used the Dynamic Disc model for over 5 years,” says chiropractor Robert Olivieri. “It has been an extremely valuable tool in educating my patients throughout their treatment. It clearly demonstrates what the patient’s problem is and what we can do to help treat them. A well-educated patient will usually follow your recommendations, therefore making your practice outcomes more successful.”

Monday, May 2, 2016
Low Back Pain Models Address Common Complaints

Low Back Pain Models Address Common Complaints

Low back pain (LBP) is one of the most common health complaints made by adults of all ages. Surveys have shown that it’s the leading cause of activity limitation and is a primary reason for work-related absences in populations around the world. As a result, these same studies show that low back pain has a huge impact of the overall economy, including that of individuals and families as well as larger entities such as corporations and governments.

Spine Educator Models



In a 2010 Global Burden of Disease study by Hoy et al (University of Queensland, School of Population Health), of all 291 conditions studied, LBP ranked highest in terms of disability and sixth in terms of overall burden. The conclusions stated that “LBP causes more global disability than any other condition. With the ageing population, there is an urgent need for further research to better understand LBP across different settings.”1

Chiropractors see more patients with low back pain than with any other complaint. Anyone who’s suffered severely from this pain knows how debilitating it can be, and chiropractors see first-hand the pain and anguish it can cause. If you’ve ever personally experienced severe or even acute back pain, you know that it makes it difficult to perform just about any task as – when untreated – this pain inhibits standing, sitting, or lying down. It’s a lose-lose situation. Sometimes it’s even difficult to walk, spasms can occur, and the pain can travel to other parts of the body.

Scarier yet is the patient’s inability to understand their back pain, why it’s happening, and why it seems to keep reappearing. The patient wants to know how to address the pain and is searching for ways to rid themselves of this pain once-and-for-all. To do that, they’ll need to learn the particulars of muscle or ligament strains, bulging or ruptured disks, or other common conditions linked to lower back pain.

The best way you – the chiropractor – can accomplish the task of educating your low back pain patients is to literally show them how the spine works – not by pictures or computer renderings, but through the use of dynamic 3D low back pain models that truly illustrate the intricate workings of the spine. With Dynamic Disc Designs (ddd) fully-movable models, you can get the job done.

These low back pain models, designed and crafted by Dr. Jerome Fryer, chiropractor, represent money well spent for education tools. Because these models provide an excellent visual interpretation of the spine, as well as one that patients can touch and manipulate, understanding is improved ten-fold over that which can be garnered from a static 3D model, a 2D model, or a drawing. Furthermore, they are priced affordably and are long-lasting.

Chiropractors are praising these low back pain models as among the most helpful for them and for their patients.
“I would like to thank you and your company Dynamic Disc Designs Corp. for creating a realistic product that can be considered worthy of being in a health care office,” writes chiropractor Brent C. Bluekens of Alberta, Canada.  “This product makes it so much easier to show a 3D reference while explaining MRI’s and X-ray results to the patients.  I actually did not really use 3D models before because of their lack of realism.  Please keep developing your models and I would highly recommend you to everyone.”

1 http://ard.bmj.com/content/73/6/968.full
Wednesday, April 27, 2016
SPINE MODELS: HELPING OVERCOME THE “FEAR FACTOR”

SPINE MODELS: HELPING OVERCOME THE “FEAR FACTOR”

Why do people avoid doctors? Sometimes, of course, they’re worried about the cost. But more often than not, those who prefer not to step foot into a doctor’s office are usually making their decision based on fear. Fear of what, you might ask?


Well, as with many different kinds of situations, anxiety over visiting the doctor – whether for a routine appointment or because of a particular health issue – usually has a lot to do with the “fear of the unknown”. How many of us have been in a position where we’re worried about what the doctor will find when he examines us? Is it cancer? Heart disease? Chances are that we’ve all felt doctor-related fear at some time or another – even if we’re doctors ourselves. Anyone who is in pain for one reason or another worries about the root cause of that pain. It’s easy for patients to let their mind wander to the worst-case scenario, and in this age of Dr. Google, one must contend with patients who look up their symptoms online, only to discover that they no doubt have some rare condition that will result in their demise in just a few short years. All kidding aside, however, fear is a major hurdle for many patients to overcome, and one way to assist in tackling that fear is education. If a patient understands their body and what is occurring inside, they experience a sense of relief and can get on with the task of healing. After all, nothing impedes healing like anxiety, so getting rid of that anxiety is tantamount to kick starting the healing process.

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As chiropractors, we want our patients to feel comfortable about the “why” of their pain and we need them to understand that we can address it in a helpful way. So, by using educational tools such as spine models, we give them the gift of understanding. The use of a spine model to teach about the body is essential in making patients feel both comfortable with AND confident about their course of treatment. Of course, not all spine models are created equal. The static models on the market do little to really show the workings of the spine. Patients can view the various parts of the spine that might be causing their pain but can’t see how those parts move. With a model like the Professional LxH from Dynamic Disc Designs (ddd), patients are treated to an amazingly realistic design that truly demonstrates spinal motion and what can go wrong when things aren’t lined up correctly or are otherwise functioning improperly. With knowledge, fear disappears. Patients no longer worry about that dreaded disease they read about on Google. Even if their situation is serious and requires a good deal of treatment, if they understand the how and why, they feel a sense of relief knowing that they are doing all they can to progress towards healing. Read how a chiropractor using Dynamic Disc Design’s incredible models, designed by Dr. Jerome Fryer, describes how these spine models can make patients feel better about the whole premise of chiropractic.
“Dr. Jerome, whether you realize it or not (am sure you do!), your DDD models have helped connect the doctor and client in a way that was never attainable before,” proclaims Dr. Barry Kluner. “Compared to generic ‘static’ models, your ‘dynamic’ models help us explain the intricate details of each client’s condition in an easier to understand concept that can be catered or customized to each individual client’s needs, whether technical or basic,” he continues.

“Your models have re-established the vital importance of the doctor / client communication relationship, dramatically bridging the gap for both to have a common understanding of the condition, the process ahead, and the targeted outcomes towards health and wellness for life. Simply perfect.”