Non-Surgical Shoulder Osteoarthritis Care In Atlanta, GA

371 E Paces Ferry Rd NE, Suite 802 Atlanta, GA 30305

Regenexx procedures are non-surgical alternatives that use precise image-guided injections of your body’s own natural healing agents to treat shoulder injuries.

Shoulder arthritis impacts nearly 25% of adults, yet many of the other treatments still used today deliver less than ideal results. Research has shown that surgery is unreliable and that commonly used nonsurgical alternatives can do more harm than good. For example, steroids can break down cartilage1 and kill cartilage cells in arthritic joints.2

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

371 E Paces Ferry Rd NE
Suite 802
Atlanta, GA 30305

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Doctors

When working with patients, Dr. Williams wholeheartedly believes in a holistic approach to medicine and takes pride in building a partnership with each patient so that they can learn the skills to be able to achieve their functional goals in life.

He is the founder and medical director of Interventional Orthopedics of Atlanta, the first physician in the licensed Regenexx network in the state of Georgia, and his research interests include polypharmacy in the elderly, musculoskeletal ultrasound education, and regenerative medicine for orthopedic conditions.

Originally from Jacksonville, Florida, Dr. Williams enlisted into the Air Force after high school.
Before attending medical school, he taught elementary school science to at-risk youth for a year. Then, while in residency for physical medicine and rehabilitation, he was awarded the resident of the year award three years in a row.

During his personal time, he enjoys traveling with his family, weight lifting, cooking, and outdoor activities.

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Dr. Virlyn L. Bishop has been a well-respected Interventional Pain Management Physician in the Atlanta area for over 10 years. His experience in Interventional Pain Management has included traditional interventional techniques. Over the course of his private pain practice, he also developed expertise in performing minimally invasive surgical techniques for spine pain.

In the latter years of his traditional interventional pain management career, Dr. Bishop became more acutely aware of the trusted and excellent results that Interventional Orthobiologics (PRP, Bone Marrow Concentrate, which contains Stem Cells, Prolotherapy) offered to patients seeking trusted alternative therapeutic options to traditional interventional pain management therapies and to avoid major surgical interventions.

Looking to build upon and further improve patient outcomes that traditional approaches to treatment of spine and orthopedic pain were unable to address, Dr. Bishop began to study medical disciplines that focused on more holistic and nonsurgical approaches to treating patients. This pursuit naturally led Dr. Bishop into the field of interventional orthopedics. Dr. Bishop is excited to join the Interventional Orthopedics of Atlanta and the Regenexx team to further his goal of partnering with patients and empowering them in their pursuit of not just a longer lifespan but a higher quality health span.

A native Georgian, Dr. Bishop completed his undergraduate and medical school education at Emory University in Atlanta, GA. He then completed his Anesthesia Residency and Pain Medicine Fellowship through the Emory University School of Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology. Dr. Bishop has further expanded his education post residency/fellowship with ongoing courses through the Interventional Orthopedics Foundation in regenerative medicine techniques as well as courses through the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine. He is a Contributing Editor to “Advanced and Emerging Interventional Techniques” Chapter 35 Williams, C. et al., Atlas of Interventional Orthopedics Procedure, Elsevier. 2023

Dr. Bishop resides in Marietta, GA with his wife and 4 children. His personal interests include reading, gardening, musical instruments, exercise and spending time with his family.

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My father was a physician, and his connection with and ability to help his patients initially sparked my interest in medicine. By the time I was six, I was positive I wanted to become a physician as well. I am fascinated by the mechanics of the human body and employ a holistic, science-based approach to my practice. I have an upbeat, hopeful, and positive attitude with patients and am passionate about providing care that improves quality of life and function so people can be healthy, move, and enjoy life.

Originally from Houston, TX, I have lived in Atlanta for 19 years. I love Atlanta’s vibrant culture, mild seasons, green landscape, and access to travel.

I am in my 19th year of practice as a physician. I hold a BS in Biomedical Engineering, which informs my structural and mechanical understanding of the human body. Between college and medical school, I worked for Lockheed Martin as a Mission Support Scientist on the Shuttle-Mir Space Program in Houston and Moscow. I am double board certified in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and Pain Medicine. I served as Chair of the AAPM&R Opioid Task Force, penning the opioid position paper. I am a member of the American Medical Association Pain Care Task Force. I have held multiple other leadership roles at AAPM&R and North American Neuromodulation Society (NANS), am active in research in spinal cord stimulation, peripheral nerve stimulation, intrathecal therapy, and spinal cord injury, and have been an active lecturer at regional, state, national and international meetings over the past two decades. I have expertise in complex neuropathic pain phenomenon, such as spinal cord injury, CRPS, MS, and brain injury. I have served as an adjunct assistant professor at Emory University School of Medicine for nearly 19 years.

I cherish time with my wonderful wife and our three amazing children. I also enjoy daily exercise, reading, traveling, watching movies, and walks with my family and our dog. I have not served in the military, but I have tremendous respect for those who have. My father, grandfather, and grandfather-in-law were veterans.

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Areas Treated

Cervical Spine (Not Upper Cervical or CCI)*, Elbow, Foot & Ankle, Hand & Wrist, Hip, Knee, Lumbar Spine, Shoulder, Thoracic Spine

*This provider is NOT authorized by Regenexx to treat the C0-C1 or C1-C2 levels of the neck or CCI (craniocervical instability).

Woman in telemedicine consult with physician to see if she's a candidate for Regenexx for knee osteoarthritis.

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

Am I a candidate?

A 2015 study looked at 100 shoulders 13 years after they were treated surgically. The research found that the operated shoulders had just as much arthritis as that reported by other studies in patients who didn’t get surgery.3

Moreover, shoulder replacement is a major surgery involving amputation of the shoulder joint and insertion of a prosthesis. Such an invasive surgery involves a long recovery time and the risk for serious complications. In addition, 40% of shoulder replacements in patients younger than 55 fail within 10 years.3

Regenexx’s procedures for degenerative arthritis of the shoulder joint can be a better alternative for people looking to avoid surgery, lengthy recovery, and overuse of prescription pain medication. Best of all, Regenexx procedures spare normal body biomechanics helping you to remain active for your lifetime.

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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