Dr. Nathan D. Faulkner, MD, Orthopedist
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Dr. Nathan D. Faulkner, MD

Orthopaedic Surgeon

1411 S. Potomac St Suite 400 Aurora CO, 80012
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About

I believe that a physician is not merely someone who provides a diagnosis and prescription, but someone who becomes a partner with a patient and their families to guide them through the treatment and ...

Education and Training

University of Utah (Salt Lake City, Ut) M.D

Board Certification

American Board of Orthopedic Surgery (ABOS)

Orthopaedic SurgeryAmerican Board of Orthopaedic SurgeryABOS- Orthopaedic Sports Medicine- 2016

Provider Details

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Dr. Nathan D. Faulkner, MD
Dr. Nathan D. Faulkner, MD's Expert Contributions
  • SHOULDER PAIN

    At your age, the 2 most likely causes for your shoulder pain are a rotator cuff tear and shoulder arthritis. Both can cause night pain. Heat is okay to use and you may also benefit from taking ibuprofen or Aleve, but you should discuss this with you primary care doctor. I would recommend getting some x-rays of your shoulder and being evaluated by an orthopedic physician. READ MORE

  • Orthopedic question?

    Unfortunately, I can’t really give you a good answer without looking at your x-rays. If your x-rays were showing signs of healing before, then generally that is a good thing. It takes bones sometimes a few months to heal. If you are concerned with the evaluation by your current doctor, you could always get a copy of your x-rays and seek out a 2nd opinion. READ MORE

  • Can you correct scoliosis in kids?

    Yes. A lot of times we start with bracing. The need for surgery depends on their age and how severe the scoliosis is. You should consult with a pediatric orthopedic surgeon to get x-rays and an exam. Nate Faulkner READ MORE

  • What should I do to fix tennis elbow?

    The first step is to modify your activities to try and involve activities that involve rotating your wrist and bending your wrist with your elbow extended. You can use your hand with your elbow more bent. I would also recommend taking the recommended dose of Aleve twice a day and ice over the outside of your elbow. Even if your pain persists, I would recommend being evaluated by an orthopedic surgeon. READ MORE

  • Is ACL surgery painful?

    ACL surgery is not typically that painful. The anesthesiologist usually gives you a nerve block in your leg before surgery, so that you aren’t in that much pain right after surgery. Your surgeon should also discuss a pain medication regimen to alleviate pain after surgery. READ MORE

  • How long does a knee injury show on an MRI?

    Sorry to hear about your son’s accident. Edema (swelling/fluid) in the bone typically would show up on an MRI for a few weeks after an injury. The dent in the bone doesn’t typically cause pain. READ MORE

  • What is causing my back pain?

    It is hard to say exactly what it might be based on the information you gave me, but I would recommend that you make an appointment to see an orthopedic surgeon so that they can evaluate your neck and back and order the appropriate diagnostic studies like x-rays and MRI if appropriate. If it has been hurting for several weeks and has not gotten better, you should have it formally evaluated. READ MORE

  • Stretched muscle?

    You most likely pulled a muscle (your oblique abdominal muscle that attaches to your ribs). This condition should resolve on its own within a few weeks. The recommended treatment is ice, rest, and anti-inflammatory pain medication such as Aleve or ibuprofen if you can take these medications. READ MORE

  • I have a sharp lower back pain?

    This new sharp pain could represent some irritation around the nerves that leave your back and go into your leg. If you are not experiencing any weakness in that leg, then you can just rest and take NSAIDs for a couple weeks. The symptoms usually get better with this treatment and physical therapy after 4-6 weeks. However, if you have any weakness in your leg or if the symptoms persist, then you should be evaluated by a spine specialist such as a physiatrist, orthopedic surgeon, or neurosurgeon more urgently. READ MORE

  • Knee acl/mcl and a hernia?

    I am not sure if you have a hernia, but you can sometimes have referred hip pain to the knee. There is a nerve near your hip, which when irritated, can cause referred pain to the knee. I would recommend that you make an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon so that x-rays of your hip and knee can be obtained and the doctor can do an exam. Options for treatment will depend on the diagnosis. Tylenol and ibuprofen are usually the best medications to take to help with the pain, but you may need to ask your primary care doctor if it is safe for you to take these medications. Nathan Faulkner, MD READ MORE

  • Mallet fracture?

    I am glad that you have an appointment to see a surgeon because the recommended treatment really depends on your exam and the X-rays. If the x-ray still shows a fracture, I would recommend wearing the splint for another 2 weeks (a total of 3 months from injury). READ MORE

  • Preventing osteoporosis?

    I would recommend that you discuss this with your primary care doctor or whoever is prescribing your anastrozole. Most people get plenty of vitamin D and magnesium in their diet and don’t need extra supplements, but your doctor can check these blood levels and guide you further. READ MORE

  • If one doctor doesn't recommend surgery because of thinning blood?

    It is really too hard to say if the other doctor will recommend surgery. If your son’s blood is too thin, sometimes we can give blood products before surgery to improve the ability of the blood to clot so that patients don’t have a major bleed during the surgery (this includes blood products like platelets, fresh frozen plasma, vitamin K, etc.). You can ask the other doctor about that when you see him/her. As doctors, we have to consider the risks of surgery. If the benefits don’t outweigh the risks, then naturally, it doesn’t makes sense to proceed with an invasive treatment that could result in serious harm or death. READ MORE

  • Should I see a doctor or chiropractor for hip pain?

    If you have a good relationship with your chiropractor, you can start there because sometimes hip pain is referred from a back condition. If the hip pain persists, then I would recommend seeing an orthopedic surgeon. READ MORE

  • Does ankle surgery require general anesthesia?

    No. Ankle surgery is usually done with a spinal nerve block where the anesthesiologist injects some numbing medicine around the nerves in your lower spine so that it makes the lower half of your body numb for about 1-1.5 hours. We also typically use nerve blocks around the leg that last longer so that pain is minimal for several hours after the spinal block wears off. READ MORE

  • Does acupuncture work for osteoarthritis of the knee?

    I don’t have a lot of personal experience with acupuncture because that is not something we are trained in or taught about in residency. I have had several patients try acupuncture and it can help with pain relief. The pain relief is usually temporary. It is important to understand that it doesn’t make the arthritis go away. It certainly shouldn’t make the condition worse. So, I would say try it and see how it helps you and if doesn’t then I would recommend being examined by an orthopedic surgeon. READ MORE

  • How long do you need physical therapy after knee replacement?

    The average time patients need physical therapy is 3 months (twice weekly). Nate Faulkner READ MORE

  • How long does it take to recover from ankle arthritis surgery?

    The recovery really depends on the type of surgery for ankle arthritis. The surgical treatment options are a fusion, which is often done arthroscopically, or an ankle replacement. The recovery is different for both of these surgeries, but is on average about 5-6 months. READ MORE

  • How long does tennis elbow take to heal?

    Tennis elbow (technically called lateral elbow epicondylitis) is an inflammation of the tendons that attach to the bony prominence on the outside of your elbow. Several tendons that are responsible for extending your wrist and fingers come together to attach at this point. It is a very common condition, which can take several weeks to resolve. Recommended treatments are a forearm band placed about an inch from the elbow crease, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen or Aleve, and activity modifications to avoid activities that involve extending the wrist and fingers (especially with weight). Hope this helps. Dr. Faulkner READ MORE

  • Does massage help tennis elbow?

    Massage isn’t something I typically prescribe for tennis elbow. Applying pressure over the outside of the elbow often causes more pain than benefit. I typically recommend a forearm band that is applied over the upper forearm below the elbow crease. I also recommend activity modifications to avoid repetitive wrist and finger extension. When patients still have pain despite this treatment, I recommend an injection of steroid or platelet rich plasma at the source of the pain. Hope this helps. READ MORE

Expert Publications

Data provided by the National Library of Medicine

Treatments

  • Total Hip Replacement, Total Knee Replacement, Hip Surgery And More
  • Total Shoulder Replacement
  • Reverse Shoulder Replacement Surgery
  • Reverse Total Shoulder And Total Shoulder Replacement

Professional Memberships

  • Arthroscopy Association of North America  
  • American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine  

Dr. Nathan D. Faulkner, MD's Practice location

Colorado Orthopedic Consultants

1411 S. Potomac St Suite 400 -
Aurora, CO 80012
Get Direction
New patients: 303-695-6060
Fax: 303-369-7776
http://www.cocortho.com

145 Inverness Dr E Ste 300 -
Englewood, CO 80112
Get Direction
New patients: 303-695-6060

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Media Releases

Get to know Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Nathan D. Faulkner, who serves patients throughout the State of Colorado.

A skilled orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Faulkner practices at Orthopedic Centers of Colorado, with office locations in Englewood and Aurora. He is known for being a compassionate physician who takes the time to educate his patients and their families about their orthopedic injuries. 

He is dedicated to providing the highest quality and most advanced orthopedic care to facilitate a quicker recovery and the best outcome for his patients. He specializes in comprehensive shoulder and knee surgery.

Throughout his academic career, Dr. Faulkner received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from the University of Utah in 2003, where he also graduated from medical school and was inducted into the esteemed Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society. He completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at the University of Wisconsin where he received several education and research awards. He received specialty training in sports medicine and arthroscopy during his fellowship at the world-renowned Southern California Orthopedic Institute (SCOI) in Los Angeles.

Distinguished as a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgery, he is board-certified in orthopedic surgery by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery (ABOS). The ABOS is an organization with the goal of establishing educational and professional standards for orthopedic residents and surgeons as well as evaluating the qualifications and competence of orthopedic surgeons.

On a professional level, Dr. Faulkner is actively involved in the Arthroscopy Association of North America, and the American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine.

Throughout his career, he has been involved in research and has authored several original scientific articles and book chapters. His work demonstrating a technique for grafting complex rotator cuff tears has been highlighted at the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgery national meeting.

Dr. Faulkner volunteers annually to train orthopedic surgeons worldwide in advanced shoulder surgery techniques at the Orthopedic Learning Center in Chicago. He has extensive experience covering high school, collegiate, and professional sports, and most recently was an Associate Team Physician for the professional lacrosse Denver Outlaws.

Orthopedic surgery is the branch of surgery concerned with conditions involving the musculoskeletal system. Orthopedic surgeons use both surgical and non-surgical means to treat musculoskeletal trauma, spine diseases, sports injuries, degenerative diseases, infections, tumors, and congenital disorders.

In his free time, Dr. Faulkner enjoys mountain biking, fly fishing, golfing, and skiing. He particularly enjoys exploring the outdoors with his wife, Jacey, and their two children.

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