Finding the Best Denver Spine Surgeon

Dr. Sanjay Jatana discusses new advances in neck surgery, including the artificial disc, that enable patients to recover from pain symptoms, and lessen risk of future problems.

Dr. Sanjay Jatana is a board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopedic spine surgeon who balances surgical and non-surgical approaches when treating patients with neck and low back problems. Based in Denver, Colorado, Dr. Jatana is referred some of the most complex back and neck cases across the Rockies, including patients coming from across Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas and New Mexico.

Many patients who have complex lumbar and cervical spine problems are frustrated by the great variation in diagnoses and treatment recommendations they receive. The sad reality is that there is similar variation in training for non-surgical spine physicians and neuro and ortho surgeons. By specializing 100% in neck and low back spine surgery, Dr. Jatana develops advanced surgical techniques, becomes proficient with a wide array of FDA-approved artificial discs and the latest surgical robotic navigation tools that improve the outcomes from spine surgery.

Unlike some other physicians who routinely prescribe disability by telling their patients “you shouldn’t golf, you shouldn’t play tennis, you shouldn’t ski”, our ultimate goal is to return you to an active lifestyle.

Those with complex back pain or neck pain symptoms may be frustrated from ongoing non-productive doctor visits, diagnostic tests and procedures. When you visit our spine center, Dr. Jatana and his staff will discuss your expectations and answer all your questions. We want to make sure you have a good understanding of your condition, so the treatment options make sense.

About Dr. Sanjay Jatana

Dr. Sanjay Jatana is part of Colorado Spine Partners, a spine center of excellence located in Denver, Colorado.

Neck pain

Back & Neck pain? You are not alone.

If you have back or neck pain you are not alone. It’s estimated that over time 4 out of 5 adults will have an attack of back or neck pain. Whlle many of these cases can be simple back or neck strain that can resolve over time with spine therapy and other non-surgical treatment options like spinal injections, other problems can be caused by herniated discs, stenosis and fractures that require surgery to relieve symptoms.

Degenerative disc disease is a weakening of one or more vertebral discs, which normally act as a cushion between the vertebrae. Discs can degenerate as a natural part of the aging process, but may also result from injury. A herniated disc occurs when the soft, jelly-like material from inside the disc (nucleus) protrudes outside and through the outer ring (annulus) and compresses the spinal cord and nerve roots.

About Neck Pain
Neck pain

What do your symptoms mean?

EMERGENCY SYMPTOM

This is a SERIOUS emergency symptom (cauda equina) that needs to be treated immediately by a spine surgeon within 24 hours. If you experience these symptoms at night or on the weekend, go to the emergency room. If not treated quickly, the person may lose control over their bowel and bladder permanently.

Call our office at (303) 697-7463 or request an appointment.

EMERGENCY SYMPTOM

Numbness or weakness in an arm or leg could imply a SERIOUS disc-related symptom that is NOT appropriate for watchful waiting. Left untreated, the symptom can become permanent. You should see a spine specialist within 2 days.

If pain, weakness or numbness extends into the foot so that you are unable to lift your toe as you walk, that is called Foot Drop, which is an emergency disc-related symptom. You need a spine specialist within 2 days. If not treated promptly, it could lead to permanent weakness in the foot.

Call our office at (303) 697-7463 or request an appointment.

Pain that radiates into an arm below the elbow can imply a herniated disc in the neck, while pain that radiates into a leg below the knee can imply a herniated disc in the low back. Many times radiating pain can be treated non-surgically. To be safe, radiating pain should be seen by a spine specialist within 2 days.

Call our office at (303) 697-7463 or request an appointment.

Pain that is limited to the neck (without trauma) may be the result of muscle strain. See our Home Remedies section on our Internet site. If pain persists beyond a week, you should see a spine specialist to determine the underlying cause.

Pain that is limited to the low back (without trauma) may be the result of muscle strain. While pain spasms can be excruciating, muscle strain problems do not require surgery. See our Home Remedies section on our Internet site for special stretches that can relieve pain, and the proper use of anti-inflammatories. While less common, a kidney injection or kidney stone may also cause low back pain symptoms. Consequently, you should consult a spine specialist accordingly for symptoms that persist beyond 5 days to determine the cause of your symptoms and the best treatment options, including a customized home exercise program that will make the back stronger, more flexible and resistant to future strain.

Call our office at (303) 697-7463 or request an appointment.

POSSIBLE EMERGENCY

Any time you fall, are in a car accident, or could have fractured a bone in your back, you should see a spine specialist immediately!

Call our office at (303) 697-7463 or request an appointment.

EMERGENCY SYMPTOM

Other symptoms may be unrelated to a back or neck problem, like cervical meningitis. This can be serious. You should consult a physician immediately for any of the above symptoms.

Call our office at (303) 697-7463 or request an appointment.

View Symptoms Chart

* Those who self diagnose and self treat themselves do so at their own risk. We accept no responsibility for any problems that may result from the use or misuse of educational information intended to be helpful guidance.

Spine Center Network

Spine Center Network

A Network of Centers of Excellence

Dr. Sanjay Jatana is a fellowship-trained orthopedic spine surgeon who specializes in back and neck surgery at Colorado Spine Partners — the only spine center in the State of Colorado to be included in Spine Center Network, the only national listing of credentialed spine centers. To be included, a spine center must meet credentialing criteria that relates to taking a multi-disciplinary approach to spine care. The spine team emphasizes nonsurgical treatment options; minimally invasive spine surgery; motion preservation surgery via artificial disc replacement; patient education; and home remedies for back and neck pain.

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Centers for Artificial Disc

Dr. Sanjay Jatana is featured by CentersforArtificialDisc.com, a national listing of spine surgeons who specialize in artificial disc replacement and are trained in the use of the most current FDA-approved artificial discs for motion preservation that reduce the risk of future herniations caused by fusion.

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EXPERIENCE MATTERS

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CERVICAL SPINE SURGERIES
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ARTIFICIAL DISC REPLACEMENTS

Like anything else in life, practice makes perfect, and those physicians who specialize in a specific niche — like focusing only on spine surgery and nothing else — will tend to become more proficient than another surgeon who splits their time between spine and brain problems. Simply put, the spine specialist may do twice as many spine surgeries in a given year. Dr. Sanjay Jatana specializes in complex lumbar and cervical spine surgery.

In addition to being board-certified in orthopedic surgery, Dr. Jatana is fellowship-trained. Fellowship training is the highest level of medical education possible in the United States. Dr. Jatana is one of the few spine surgeons in the Rocky Mountain region able to perform microsurgical procedures that eliminate the need for a neck fusion. Other motion preservation surgeries like artificial disc replacement make our practice a regional referral destination for low back and neck surgery.

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“From my point of view, this could not have worked out any better. I have no buyer’s remorse and the biggest benefit for me is having peace of mind. I feel like Dr. Jatana’s expertise and skill, along with his amazing team, gave me my life back.”

Scott Ruppenthal

“It’s been a much better situation since surgery. It’s really a night and day difference.”

Erin Andretsos

“I could not have had better treatment. Everyone was so professional and that gave me confidence. I have had better results and more of my life back than I had hoped for.”

Mimi Nettour
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