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Hip Pain Specialist

Explore Health William D Nelson, NMD Our Services Hip Pain
William D Nelson, NMD - - Physical Medicine

Explore Health

William D Nelson, NMD

Physical Medicine & Addiction Medicine located in North Scottsdale, AZ & Flagstaff, AZ

Hip pain is a major challenge for many men and women as they age. If you’re thinking that it’s time to give up and get hip replacement surgery, take heart: There’s another way. William Nelson, NMD, the regenerative orthopedics specialist at Explore Health, knows how arthritis and other types of damage can ravage your hip joint. That’s why he designs customized regenerative medicine solutions to help you heal from the inside rather than suffering through hip replacement. Call the Flagstaff or Scottsdale, Arizona, office or use the online scheduler to book now.

Hip Pain Q & A

What causes hip pain?

Arthritis, including osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, is a very common reason for serious hip pain in adults today. Osteoarthritis, the more common of those two types, happens with wear-and-tear as you age and is often referred to as “bone on bone”.

Most adults over the age of 60 have at least some hip osteoarthritis. Unfortunately, for many men and women, the osteoarthritis in their hip grows so serious that they have hardly any hip joint lubrication left. This makes for very serious hip pain and stiffness.

There are several other reasons you might have chronic hip pain, including:

  • Bursitis
  • Tendinitis
  • Athletic injuries or auto accidents
  • Trigger points in the glut
  • Sprains and strains
  • Instability of the low back or sacroiliac joint
  • Nerve impingement of the lumbar spinal nerves or the sciatic nerve

Regardless of why you have chronic hip pain, you may be wondering if there’s a way to get pain relief without surgical hip joint replacement.

Explore Health focuses on non-surgical treatments that can do exactly that: give you a safe and effective way to relieve your pain without the risk, expense, and the extended recovery time required after hip replacement.

I've been told I need a total hip replacement.  I'd like a second opinion and would like to avoid surgery if possible. 

Many patients with hip pain have scheduled our free 15 minute second opinion via telemedicine.  Our doctor will review your symptoms and your Xray, MRI, CT or ultrasound imaging, and advise you if you are a candidate for non-surgical treatment.   For more information click here  Hip replacement details

To schedule your free 15 minute virtual second opinion click call 602-692-4626.

What is regenerative orthopedic medicine?

Regenerative orthopedic medicine is a completely nonsurgical approach for hip pain. At Explore Health, Dr. Nelson treats patients using a variety of injection therapies rather than surgical interventions. 

Regenerative therapies encourage internal healing using natural substances. Essentially, this approach captures and uses your body’s own recovery tools in a highly intensified and precise manner.

What can I expect during my hip pain treatment?

At Explore Health, Dr. Nelson tailors your treatment according to the cause of your hip pain and your symptoms. 

Prolotherapy

Many patients receive prolotherapy, a type of injection that includes a blend of healing ingredients. In addition to a local anesthetic, your prolotherapy injection often includes saline, dextrose, and an analgesic.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP)

PRP is made of a particular ingredient in your own blood, the platelets. Your platelets play a central part in healing because they’re full of natural growth factors that help you to recover rapidly. With PRP therapy, Dr. Nelson separates your platelets and concentrates them to create a solution with enormous healing capabilities. He injects the PRP into your hip joint to start repair and regeneration.

Stem cell-derived exosomes

Exosomes are the extraordinarily powerful vesicles that your stem cells produce. The exosomes communicate with other cells to activate a large number of cells to join the regenerative process, thus enacting faster healing. 

Viscosupplementation

Viscosupplementation, combined with prolotherapy, PRP, and stem cell-derived exosomes, is the most effective comprehensive treatment for hip osteoarthritis. In viscosupplementation, Dr. Nelson injects hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring substance, into your hip joint. This restores a healthy level of hyaluronic acid and, in turn, allows for smooth joint movement again. 

With a combination of regenerative medicine treatments, you can actually help your hip heal itself. By strengthening and healing the damaged ligaments and tendons that support your hip, you stabilize the joint and reclaim normal movement. Regenerative medicine can also help you regrow the joint cartilage to truly restore your joint function and eliminate your pain.

After regenerative medicine treatments at Explore Health, many hip replacement candidates have canceled their elective hip replacement surgery. Find out how regenerative orthopedics can help you by calling Explore Health, or you can click the online scheduling tool anytime.