Dr. Nelson Forrest Boland, MD is a sports medicine doctor in Santa Monica, CA specializing in sports medicine and family medicine. He graduated from Baylor College of Medicine in 2019 and has 7 years of experience. Dr. Nelson Forrest Boland, MD is affiliated with UCLA Health and THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA.
Joint Injections
A joint is any area of the body where two bones connect. Due to injury or disease, the space between the two bones can sometimes become swollen and inflamed, which leads to pain and a loss of mobility. Injection and aspiration are two tools that physicians use to treat joint pain locally without needing to perform surgery.
Both injection and aspiration are techniques that involve inserting a needle connected to a syringe directly into the joint. Aspiration involves the removal of excess fluid, and injection is the placement of medication directly into the joint space via the needle. Both procedures may be performed at the same time. In both cases a local anesthetic may be used, the skin will be cleaned and disinfected, and then the needle will be inserted. In some cases, especially if the injection or aspiration is in a large and deep joint such as the hip or spine, ultrasound may be used to guide the needle to the exact location desired.
In some cases, irritation to the joint can cause fluid to build up so significantly that the joint hurts and can no longer move well. Aspiration removes some of the excess fluid and relieves the pressure. In addition, aspiration can be used to provide a sample of joint fluid if it needs to be examined microscopically for the presence of white blood cells, bacteria, or crystal formations.
Certain injuries and diseases that affect joints are inflammatory in nature, such as rheumatoid arthritis, tendonitis or gout. These diseases may be helped by the local injection of anti-inflammatory medications directly into the affected joint. In this case, corticosteroids such as methylprednisone are usually used. Relief from the pain may be felt right away and may last for weeks or even months.
In some cases, such as with osteoarthritis, the cartilage buffer between the two bones wears down and pain comes from bones rubbing against each other. In this case, injection of a lubricating agent such as hyaluronic acid may be beneficial. It provides a slippery cushion between the bones to relieve pain that can last for months.
The top procedures that Dr. Nelson Forrest Boland, MD treated as a sports medicine doctor in Santa Monica, CA during 2023 were preventive care and vaccines.
Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Nelson Forrest Boland, MD for Medicare patients.
| doctor visit | 144 |
|---|---|
| preventive care | 16 |
| vaccines | 16 |
Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Nelson Forrest Boland, MD for Medicare patients.
The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Nelson Forrest Boland, MD treated as a sports medicine doctor in Santa Monica, CA were preventive care and vaccines.
| doctor visit | 144 |
|---|---|
| preventive care | 16 |
| vaccines | 16 |
Dr. Nelson Forrest Boland, MD graduated from Baylor College of Medicine in 2019. He completed residency at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Affiliated Hospitals. He is certified by the Family Medicine, American Board of Family Medicine and has a state license in California.
Medical School: Baylor College of Medicine (2019)
Residency: University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Affiliated Hospitals (2022)
Board Certification: Family Medicine, American Board of Family Medicine (2022)
Licensed In: California
Dr. Nelson Forrest Boland, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:
Dr. Nelson Forrest Boland, MD appears to accept the following insurance providers: Cigna, TRICARE, Private Healthcare Systems (PHCS), Aetna, Blue Shield of California, MultiPlan, Anthem, UnitedHealthcare, Medicare Advantage, Prime Health, First Health, HealthSmart, Health Net of California, Centivo and UFCM Health System.
According to our sources, Dr. Nelson Forrest Boland, MD accepts the following insurance providers:
Dr. Nelson Forrest Boland, MD has an exceptional overall rating with an average of 4.99 out of 5 stars based on 566 ratings. We collect ratings and reviews of Dr. Nelson Forrest Boland, MD from all over the web to help you find the right in Santa Monica, CA.
Dr. Nelson Boland's areas of specialization are family medicine and sports medicine; he sees patients in Santa Monica, CA and Malibu, CA. Patients rated him highly, giving him an average of 5.0 stars (out of 5). His areas of expertise consist of primary care, joint injections, and osteoarthritis. Dr. Boland is professionally affiliated with UCLA Health. He accepts several insurance carriers, including Anthem, UnitedHealthcare, and Blue California. According to UCLA Health, he is currently accepting new patients at his office in Malibu, CA. Dr. Boland studied medicine at Baylor College of Medicine. Dr. Boland's residency was performed at a hospital affiliated with the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
