Non-Surgical Shoulder Osteoarthritis Care In Reno, NV

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

5590 Kietzke Lane
Reno, NV 89511

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Doctors

Dr. Woolley brings a comprehensive approach to pain management and is well-versed in complex spine injections, joint injections, and regenerative medicine techniques. His goal is to help people manage and treat their pain so that they can regain function and enjoy life.

When asked about being part of the physician team at Sierra Neurosurgery Group, Dr. Wooley remarked, “I was initially drawn to Sierra Neurosurgery Group by the physicians themselves. Throughout my training I have spent a lot of time in the operating room, in clinics, and in hospital settings with neurosurgeons and I can say that the physicians and care teams at Sierra Neurosurgery Group are not only technically skilled, but they are also incredibly compassionate and put their patients first. I was also struck by how humble, and incredibly down to earth the team was. This combination is rare, and I consider myself lucky to join Sierra Neurosurgery Group.”

In his free time, Dr. Woolley enjoys golfing and is excited to experience the great courses in Reno.

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From a young age Dr. Blake knew he wanted to help others. Inspired by the example set by his mother, who provided legal counsel to the poor, he saw early on the positive influence one person could have on the lives of others.

His innate scientific curiosity drew him to the medical field. After a residency in anesthesiology at University of California, San Diego (UCSD) – where he was chief resident – Dr. Blake knew he had found his calling.

Originally from Denver, Colorado, Dr. Blake moved to Carson City, Nevada when he was 15.
At Sierra Neurosurgery Group, he helps patients manage acute and chronic pain. His practice is founded upon the core values of understanding, respect, and trust. He spends a good deal of his clinical time listening to patients in order to understand their experience both medically and emotionally and works with them to develop a custom treatment plan.

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Dr. Naomi Albertson is a dedicated non-surgical musculoskeletal specialist/sports medicine physician at Sierra Neurosurgery Group who has been serving the Reno community for 11 years. As a former NCAA athlete, with her own history of injuries, Dr. Albertson sought medical education to give her patients what she missed out on, a patient-centered, comprehensive approach to injury prevention, evaluation and treatment. Her Medical Doctorate, fellowship training and advanced Certificate of Added Qualification (CAQ) in sports medicine means she’s an expert in treating sports injuries, improving performance, and getting you back to the activities you love.

In addition to her 22 years of clinical practice, Dr. Albertson consults for several club sport programs in the area, assisting with injury triage and guiding athletes through safe return-to-play decisions. She also serves on the board of directors for Kime Peak, a sports performance software company. Dr. Albertson’s thorough, hands-on approach to treating injuries without surgery relies on options such as exercise, nutrition, physical therapy, regenerative and anti-inflammatory injections, weight management and when needed information about surgical interventions.

When she’s not in the office you can usually find her with her husband, Tim, either in the garden, sidelines watching her kids play sports, or on the trails in Reno walking, snowshoeing or skiing.

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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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