Spine care

Spine care centers in Denver

Conditions of the spine can affect people at any age. From scoliosis to sciatica to osteoporosis, our experienced spine surgeons, orthopedists, neuroscientists and spine specialists within the HealthONE Physician Group network in Denver will help you get the care you need so you can live life to the fullest.

Find a spine specialist who can help relieve your neck and back pain.

Spine conditions we treat

We specialize in treating a wide range of spine disorders including:

Cervical and spinal strains, sprains and fractures

An injury to the ligaments of your neck and spine can cause extreme pain. This common injury is caused by heavy lifting over the head, falls or car accidents.

Chronic back pain

Chronic back pain is an umbrella term for pain that is caused by different conditions such as spinal stenosis or osteoporosis. It is often related to aging or an injury to the spine.

Compression fractures

Typically caused by osteoporosis — a disease that causes bone loss — compression fractures can easily be triggered by heavy lifting or even a simple sneeze when bones are weakened.

Degenerative spinal conditions

Degenerative spine condition refers to different conditions caused by aging. As we age, the daily wear on our spines can lead to several conditions including spinal stenosis, osteoarthritis, myelopathy and fractures.

Herniated disc

Sometimes called a slipped disc or a ruptured disc, a herniated disc occurs when the soft, rubbery disc in your spine pushes through the hard casing. Some herniated discs cause no pain or symptoms, but if nearby spinal nerves are irritated, symptoms can include numbness, weakness and pain.

Myelopathy

The spine contains a group of nerves that run almost its entire length — this is the spinal cord. Myelopathy is an injury to the spinal cord that can be caused by a disease or an injury.

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a common condition caused by a loss of bone density, causing bones to weaken. This puts you at a greater risk for fracture. It affects women more often than men but often goes misdiagnosed or undiagnosed in the latter.

Post-laminectomy syndrome

Post-laminectomy syndrome is not actually a syndrome, but a condition that occurs following spinal surgery, causing persistent pain.

Scheuermann's kyphosis

Sometimes referred to as Scheuermann's disease, Scheuermann's kyphosis occurs when the sides of vertebrae grow unevenly into a wedge shape (instead of rectangular). This causes a rounded or hunched upper back. It typically occurs during a growth spurt in puberty.

Sciatica

The sciatic nerve runs from your lower back and down both legs. When this nerve is pinched by a slipped disc or other spinal condition, the result is sciatica. Symptoms include pain that radiates along the nerve down one side of the body. Physical therapy and medication are effective treatments, but neuromodulation therapy has also proven successful.

Scoliosis in children and adults

While the spine naturally curves from front to back, a lateral or sideways curve is called scoliosis of the spine. The majority of scoliosis cases are idiopathic, meaning there is no known cause, but the condition can still be treated effectively. Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis typically occurs around the onset of puberty during a growth spurt. Adults can experience idiopathic scoliosis but can also develop a degenerative form that occurs due to a loss of bone density and other bone degeneration disorders.

Spinal stenosis

Occurring most often in the cervical (neck) or lumbar (lower back) regions of the spine, stenosis is when the spinal column becomes compressed and puts added pressure on your spinal nerves. Some people have no symptoms, but others experience pain, weakness, numbness or decreased control of the bladder and bowels.

Spinal tumors

Abnormal growth on or around the spine is called a spinal tumor. Spinal tumors are rare but can cause a variety of complications and associated pain. Tumors in the spine can be malignant (cancerous) or benign (noncancerous).

Spondylolisthesis

Spondylolisthesis is a condition that occurs when your vertebrae have more movement than they should. This can cause a vertebra to slip out of place onto the vertebra below and potentially pinch nearby nerves. It can be caused by aging or sports injuries and causes pain in the lower back and legs.

Sports injuries, accidents and whiplash

Many spinal conditions are caused by car accidents or sports injuries. Whiplash is a common neck condition that occurs when the neck is jerked backward and then forward (or vice versa) very quickly and suddenly. Most of these conditions can be treated with physical therapy, but sometimes surgery is indicated.

Our spine services and treatments

Using the latest in medical advancements, our diagnostic tools and treatments include:

• Advanced imaging
• Holistic approaches
• Injections
• Lifestyle changes
• Orthopedic care
• Pain management
• Physical therapy
• Surgical procedures

Advanced orthopedic imaging

We use our advanced imaging technology to visualize the spine and determine the location and severity of the degeneration. Our imaging system provides full-body 2D and 3D images using low-dose radiation. The full-body imaging capabilities allow for comprehensive and accurate assessments of your spinal alignment and scoliosis, with the additional benefit of markedly reduced radiation exposure.

Holistic pain management

Our centers provide so much more than spine surgery. Our pain management care program provides a full circle of spine-related therapies and holistic solutions all tailored to relieve your pain and treat spinal conditions. We offer:

• Continuity of care between referring providers, physicians, caregivers and patients
• Holistic approaches including acupuncture and trigger point practices
• Multimodal treatment for optimum pain relief and care, including therapies, exercises, physician care, weight management and smoking cessation
• Single-visit consultations, acute pain management and chronic pain management

Orthopedic care

Orthopedists treat diseases and injuries affecting your bones and joints. Our orthopedic physicians and surgeons can treat conditions of the spine in both children and adults. Treatments range in complexity and include physical therapy, medication and surgical procedures.

Spine surgery

When other forms of treatment like medication, pain management and physical therapy are not effective, surgery is often necessary. Some of our surgical offerings include:

• Discectomy (herniated disc removal)
• Decompression (reducing nerve pressure)
• Spinal fusion (fusing of two or more vertebrae)
• Kyphoplasty (injection of bone cement to repair fractures)
• Minimally invasive spinal surgery
• Neuromodulation therapy
• Neurosurgical treatment

When possible, our orthopedic spine surgeons perform minimally invasive surgery for many spine disorders. This means they do not require large incisions and require smaller surgical equipment. There are many benefits to these procedures including faster recovery, less impact on your body and minimal scarring.

Neuromodulation

Surgical neurostimulation procedures are a form of neuromodulation — altering the human nervous system for a desired effect. Since the nervous system is a very complex electrical system, by strategically sending impulses to various parts of it we can try to correct the abnormal electrical signals.

The most common areas are the subcutaneous nerves or the spinal cord. The brain or the nerve roots can also be stimulated. Our expert surgeons use neuromodulation to treat "untreatable" pain so you don't have to needlessly suffer.