Spine Pain

Spinal injury and chronic spine pain are among the most common reasons for clinical evaluation. Dr. Bernton provides expert evaluation of cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine conditions, with a focus on accurate diagnosis and development of effective non-operative treatment strategies.

The evaluation of spine pain requires careful correlation of clinical findings with imaging studies, understanding of spinal biomechanics, and consideration of both structural and functional contributors to pain. Dr. Bernton's assessment approach differentiates between disc-related pathology, facet-mediated pain, sacroiliac dysfunction, myofascial pain, and radiculopathy to arrive at a precise diagnosis that guides treatment.

Conservative management of spine conditions remains the first-line approach for the majority of patients. Dr. Bernton develops treatment plans that may include targeted physical therapy, pharmacological management, injection-based interventions, and ergonomic or activity modifications. He provided input to the Colorado Division of Workers' Compensation in the formation of the Medical Treatment Guidelines for Low Back Pain and Cervical Spine Injury.