Non-Surgical Shoulder Osteoarthritis Care In Intuition Health – Helena, MT

3130 Saddle Drive, #2 Helena, MT 59601

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

3130 Saddle Drive
#2
Helena, MT 59601

Request an Appointment

Call to Schedule Schedule Online

Doctors

Becoming a physician was rooted in a desire to help people stay active and engaged in the things they love throughout their lives. My approach to care always starts with understanding a patient’s purpose and personal goals, as these are essential in guiding meaningful treatment decisions.

Originally from Minnesota, my husband and I have called Helena home for the past five years. We moved to Montana for better access to the outdoors, and when I’m not in the clinic, you’ll likely find me trail running, hiking, rucking, or tagging along fishing and hunting—often led by our adventurous son and our dog.

I’ve practiced in the field of interventional and regenerative orthopedics for nearly a decade, with prior affiliation and training under a physician in the licensed Regenexx network before relocating to Montana. My clinical interests also include longevity medicine, nutrition, targeted supplementation, and integrative approaches to health and healing.

View Full Profile

Areas treated: Elbow, Foot & Ankle, Hand & Wrist, Hip, Knee, Shoulder

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

TO TOP