Colorado Spine Institute - Johnstown, Colorado

Lee S.

From the first contact with the office I felt cared for the staff are very friendly and professional. Dr. Donner was fantastic throughout my whole process (complex surgery and recovery) and I have been able to go back to living (skiing, hiking, playing with my dogs) pain free!

tiffany P.

Worst experience with the physicians assistant Dr. Chris. I was absolutely floored at how narcissistic he was. No bedside manner. My husband wanted me to see the actual doctor and give this a second chance. I just couldn't even give the doctor a chance knowing he would hire someone like this. He didn't care about my pain and issues and basically tried blaming me for my injuries and wanted to overeducate me and show off his knowledge. I was in an accident where a commercial truck hit me. I have a brain injury on top of all the other physical injuries my body sustained. I spend every day in pain and this man had the nerve to say "Sure you get in an accident and everything hurts" in a condescending manner like i asked for this or was faking it. Told me numbness in my lower fingers must be tennis elbow, what? I have lacerated bulging discs, sequestered disc and extrusion which tends to be why someone would have numbness in their lower fingers. I walked out dumbfounded that someone like this would be a reflection of this business. All of the other staff we came in contact with were kind and helpful. I'm thankful there are other doctors out there and this was definitely not a good fit for me. There also was no follow up on their end after sending me home to take pills for 7 days.

Ken G.

Great bedside manner, very personal touch to identifying what needs to be done and communicating the process. Response is second to none, I almost hate to bother him because he will get back to me even when he’s out, lol. Very good experience with the staff and personal assistance. I definitely would recommend!

Rich S.

Dr. Donner gave me my life back 32 years ago when he did major reconstruction surgery on me with a fusion and with titanium hardware and cadaver bone. Prior to that I couldn't even walk, now I'm back again and he's going to do it again this time not as serious but he's going to give me my life back again so I can get back to work, And the staff there couldn't be better. Kind, friendly and very attentive.

Shelley P.

Dr. Donner is very knowledgeable in his field and I trust his judgement to give me straight answers to pursue the best plan of action for a healthy and lasting outcome. Everyone at the Spine clinic are professional in handling the patients from the time they walk in until the leave. Kind, honest and caring individuals! Thank you for your help during this time in my life. It’s comforting to know people and doctors truly care about their patients.

Jason R.

My experience with Dr. Kris during a particularly challenging period of managing my pain was far from what I had anticipated. Initially, I was hopeful that he would provide the necessary support between my cervical injections. However, prior to receiving my second shot, I found myself in excruciating pain and sought his assistance. During this visit, Dr. Kris mentioned his general reluctance to prescribe medication, a stance that seemed contradictory as the consultation progressed. Contrary to his initial claim, I was prescribed a potent regimen of medications, including the highest daily doses of Gabapentin and Baclofen. When these did not alleviate my discomfort, Hydroxyzine was added to the mix with the insinuation that my pain was psychosomatic. This, coupled with Dexamethasone prescribed by Dr. Donner, led to severe side effects.

In search of relief and guidance, I reached out to the office, only to be met with minimal assistance. The response—or lack thereof—suggested a disconnect not just with my care but also hinted at a broader issue within the practice. Conversations with the office staff revealed a telling preference among patients to avoid consultations with Dr. Kris. This insight was disheartening and aligned with my growing concerns.

The suggestion from reception to seek care elsewhere was a clear indicator of the overwhelmed state of the office. Despite my efforts to provide them with all necessary information, including going out of my way to obtain and send over a recent MRI, it became apparent that there was a significant lack of communication within the team. Neither Dr. Kris nor Dr. Donner seemed aware of my updated medical imaging, contributing to a series of missteps in my treatment plan.

The absence of routine follow-ups for the prescribed medications, along with a lack of recommendations for monitoring my kidney and liver functions through blood work, was particularly alarming. This oversight further exemplified the systemic issues within the practice, impacting patient care and safety.

*Update - Janie in billing has made my experience with the practice better. She did reach out and within her power made things right with me. I really appreciate people who listen and Janie listened and was understanding during our conversation. Thank you Janie for reaching out.*

Reflecting on my experience, I strongly advise those in need of attentive and effective medical care to consider their options carefully. The challenges I faced at this facility, from the prescribing practices to the internal communication and patient management, underscore the importance of thorough and compassionate healthcare provision.

Jerri G.

My visits have been very straight forward and thorough on what we need to fo from both Therapy, and my RX's.
Sometimes a little fast, to keep up with, but amazing at what he does, and I couldn't ask for any Better!!

Dathan W.

Chris was great! He spent a lengthy amount of time with me going over the issues causing the pain and all options moving forward. He is very knowledgeable and you can tell he really cares about the people walking through the door.