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Non-Surgical Shoulder Osteoarthritis Care In Waterloo, IA

3630 W. 4th Street Waterloo, IA 50703

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Patient FAQs

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

3630 W. 4th Street
Waterloo, IA 50703

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Doctors

Dr. Ashar Afzal practices Interventional Pain Medicine with UnityPoint Health in Waterloo, Iowa. He graduated from Allama Iqbal Medical College/Punjab University, Lahore, Pakistan. He completed his residency at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA for Anesthesiology. Dr. Afzal completed Pain Medicine fellowship at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA. In 2005, Dr. Afzal became American Board Certified in Anesthesiology/Pain Medicine. In 2021, he received specialized training at Centeno-Schultz Clinic in Denver, Colorado for procedures using Regenexx injectates.

Dr. Afzal has interest in Chronic Pain Management, Regional Anesthesia, Perioperative Pain Management and has a special interest in Regenerative Medicine, which includes the use of biologics such as Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP), Super Concentrated Plasma (SCP), and bone marrow concentrate which contains stem cells to treat acute and chronic conditions and arthritis. In 2021, Dr. Afzal started to include Regenerative Medicine into his Interventional Pain Medicine Practice and was the first physician in Waterloo, Iowa. Dr. Afzal’s staff also received specialized training at Centeno-Schultz Clinic in Denver, Colorado.

Dr. Afzal lives in the Cedar Valley with his family. He enjoys spending time with his family, golfing, swimming, and squash.

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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.

Treating Shoulder Arthritis Without Surgery

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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Please note our procedures are only covered by self-funded health plans at this time.

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How will we communicate with you and provide information about Regenexx? Text is available for quicker response. Message and data rates may apply. Frequency varies. Reply HELP for help, STOP to unsubscribe. We may also reach out via email, phone, or other electronic means.

What about health insurance or medical benefits? What may be covered or reimbursed depends on the details of your plan. Insurance typically covers evaluations and diagnostic testing (if recommended) but most do not cover Regenexx Procedures. Some Employer specific Regenexx Benefits plans do also cover Regenexx Procedures. Your plan’s representative can help verify your benefits, out-of-pocket costs, and coverage.

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