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Non-Surgical Shoulder Osteoarthritis Care In Phoenix, AZ – Active Life

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Patient FAQs

At Active Life Physical Medicine & Pain Center in Phoenix, AZ, physicians in the licensed Regenexx network offer nonsurgical procedures for individuals experiencing pain and mobility issues due to shoulder osteoarthritis. These treatments utilize image-guided delivery of Regenexx injectates, customized concentrations prepared from a patient’s cells, to help support the body’s natural healing response and preserve joint function.

Shoulder osteoarthritis affects nearly 1 in 4 adults, and traditional approaches like corticosteroid injections or shoulder replacement may offer limited long-term benefits. Research indicates that corticosteroids can accelerate joint damage by harming cartilage cells¹ and harm cartilage cells in arthritic joints²

Shoulder joint anatomy graphic with labels.
Shoulder joint anatomy – arthritis pain

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Treating Shoulder Arthritis Without Surgery

Regenexx patients benefit from reduced pain and improved function, helping them avoid shoulder surgery.

Am I a candidate?

Surgery is not always the best path forward for managing shoulder arthritis. A long-term 2015 study followed 100 individuals for 13 years after undergoing shoulder surgery and found that levels of arthritis were no different than in those who had not had surgery³.

Shoulder replacement involves removing natural joint components and replacing them with artificial implants. This major procedure is invasive, carries a lengthy recovery period, and may lead to complications such as infection, nerve damage, and prosthetic failure. Notably, research shows that up to 40% of shoulder replacements in individuals under age 55 may fail within 10 years³.

Physicians at our Phoenix location offer procedures using Regenexx injectates as an alternative approach to managing degenerative shoulder arthritis. These image-guided treatments use concentrated platelets or bone marrow-derived cells to support the body’s ability to maintain and repair joint tissues.

This non-surgical option is particularly suited for individuals who want to:

  • Avoid major surgery
  • Reduce dependence on long-term prescription medications
  • Maintain joint stability and shoulder function
  • Remain active with fewer recovery disruptions

Because the procedure does not alter joint structure, it may help preserve natural biomechanics, key to maintaining long-term mobility and reducing the risk of future complications.

The cartilage in your shoulder is there to help reduce the friction in the joint and to cushion the bone. When cartilage starts to wear down or is injured by metabolic syndrome (i.e., overweight, high blood pressure, and high triglycerides), that’s called arthritis. It leads to chronic shoulder pain, stiffness, limited shoulder function, and decreased mobility.

What might surprise you is that it’s not the lost cartilage that causes the pain but rather the chemicals your body releases in response to inflammation.

Research suggests that those who have shoulder osteoarthritis before rotator cuff surgery for massive tears are at greater risk for retears and a much higher risk for progression of arthritis after surgery.(3) Additionally, a percentage of patients who don’t have shoulder arthritis prior to rotator cuff repair will develop it after the surgery.

When a bone begins to get spurs (osteophytes) — extra extensions of the joint that are your body’s reaction to instability — it is trying to stabilize the joint. So removing spurs is rarely a good idea

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