Knee replacement is one of the most common elective surgeries performed in the United States. Nearly 800,000 knee replacements are done each year, and that number is expected to reach 3.5 million annually by 2030. In the Phoenix and Scottsdale area, the Mayo Clinic performs more than 2,800 knee replacements every year while Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix reported a 400 percent increase in revision surgeries between 2020 and 2022. Pub Med report from NIH - knee replace statistics
Research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that up to one-third of hip and knee replacements may be inappropriate or unnecessary. pubmed JAMA article "Inappropriate knee surgeries"
One-third of knee replacement patients continued to have post-surgical pain. Patients with less severe arthritis found that knee replacement surgery had little or no effect on their quality of life.
The latest materials used in knee surgery lasts longer so surgeons are offering knee replacement surgery to younger patients. This creates a problem whereby patients are outliving their knee replacement components and after years of use, most will need a knee revision replacement.
Cortisone injections remain one of the most common quick fixes for knee pain, but multiple studies show that repeated steroid shots can accelerate cartilage loss, weaken ligaments, and delay true healing. A 2017 study in JAMA found that patients who received intra-articular corticosteroid injections every three months for two years experienced significantly greater cartilage volume loss than those injected with saline, with no lasting pain improvement.⁵ JAMA study "Cortisone damages knee, no lasting effects"
For more than 30 years, Dr. William Nelson, NMD, has helped hundreds of patients postpone or avoid knee replacement and thousands reduce their pain and return to active lives. His comprehensive approach evaluates each patient’s overall health—blood work, hormones, weight, inflammation, toxicity, nutrition, and lifestyle—before customizing an injection protocol.
Treatments may include:
Prolotherapy, which strengthens ligaments and reduces pain. A randomized controlled trial found significant improvement in pain and function for knee osteoarthritis after dextrose prolotherapy compared with exercise alone.⁶ pubmed study "Prolotherapy effective for knee pain and OA"
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP), which stimulates cartilage repair. A 2021 meta-analysis concluded that PRP significantly improved pain and function compared with hyaluronic acid or placebo in knee osteoarthritis.⁷
pubmed PRP study
Wharton’s Jelly–derived biologics, which provide regenerative growth factors and extracellular vesicles. A prospective study demonstrated improved WOMAC scores and cartilage thickness following Wharton’s Jelly injections for knee OA.⁸ PubMed – Wharton’s Jelly Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Knee Osteoarthritis
Hyaluronic acid (HA) injections, which lubricate and protect the joint surface. Multiple meta-analyses show modest but statistically significant pain reduction and improved mobility in mild to moderate OA.⁹
PubMed – Intra-Articular Hyaluronic Acid Injections for Knee Osteoarthritis
Peptide therapy, which supports cellular repair. Experimental data show that thymosin-β4 and BPC-157 peptides enhance tendon and cartilage healing and reduce inflammation in musculoskeletal injury models.¹⁰
PubMed – BPC-157 and Thymosin β4 in Tendon and Cartilage Healing
Nerve and perineural therapy, which calms neurogenic inflammation and restores normal signaling; studies report pain reduction in chronic neuropathic and musculoskeletal conditions.¹¹
PubMed – Perineural Injection Therapy for Chronic Pain
I-Wave regional hyperthermia, a localized thermal therapy shown to increase microcirculation, reduce inflammatory cytokines, and enhance regenerative outcomes in degenerative joint disease.¹²
PubMed – Regional Hyperthermia as Adjuvant Therapy for Degenerative Joint Disease
Cold-laser (low-level laser) therapy, which accelerates tissue repair and reduces pain by stimulating mitochondrial activity; systematic reviews confirm benefit in knee OA.¹³
PubMed – Low-Level Laser Therapy in Knee Osteoarthritis
Many of our patients thought that their knee replacement or surgery would get rid of their pain. Unfortunately, many patients continue to struggle with post-surgical pain for years before they realized that we can often help decrease their pain or help them become pain-free. Although the surgery replaced the bone-on-bone problem with a new knee joint, most patients still have ligament laxity and poor tendon attachments that keep the knee in proper alignment and move the joint in response to muscle contraction. Dr. Nelson is an expert at helping these patients get the results they were hoping for with a new knee by complementing the prosthetic joint with regenerative injection therapy.
That depends on your particular condition.
Many people are told they’re “bone on bone,” yet imaging often shows pockets of cartilage, inflammation, or ligament laxity that can still respond to regenerative therapy. Others may have referred pain from the hip, spine, or surrounding soft tissue that mimics severe knee degeneration.
The only way to know is with a proper evaluation that includes your history, imaging, and overall health profile.
To learn whether you could benefit from regenerative treatment, call or text 602-692-4626, or opt in for our free Knee Health Guide PDF. It explains how to interpret your imaging, understand degeneration, and explore the safest, most effective non-surgical options for lasting relief.
You can schedule a free 15-minute knee imaging review with Dr. Nelson.
Call or text 602-692-4626, or complete our short online form (name, email, phone, brief symptoms, and diagnosis). You can also upload your X-ray or MRI for review.
If you’re not ready to schedule, download our Free Knee Health Guide to learn how to understand your imaging, recognize degeneration, and explore natural strategies to reduce pain and prevent surgery.
Surgery will always have a place—but not before exploring safe, effective regenerative options.
If you live in Scottsdale or Phoenix and you’ve been told you need a knee replacement, take a moment to get a second opinion. It could change your life.
Call or text 602-692-4626 today, or complete the form online to schedule your free imaging review.
Dr. William Nelson, Scottdale's knee pain specialist, has been performing regenerative orthopedics since 1996 and continually is improving his craft by combining the time-honored materials and techniques of the original prolotherapist with the latest advances in regenerative injection therapeutic techniques.
Explore Health
7320 E Deer Valley Rd, Suite 100
Scottsdale, AZ 85255
(602) 692-4626
