At our Columbus location, Dr. Joseph Wilcox has 25+ years of experience as a shoulder specialist and has performed 100+ surgeries, offering minimally invasive and advanced procedures that preserve shoulder strength, stability, and function.
Shoulder conditions can have overlapping symptoms. Our patients usually experience one or more of the following:
Shoulder keeps popping out of place, feels loose or unstable, or dislocates when throwing or reaching back.
Deep shoulder pain with clicking or catching when lifting overhead, throwing, or serving in sports.
Pain in the front of the shoulder with lifting, curling, or a snapping feeling when rotating the arm.
Pain in the back of the shoulder with bench press, push-ups, or feeling like it slips backward.
Pain on the outside of the shoulder at night, with weakness or pain lifting the arm overhead
Sudden sharp shoulder pain that makes it hard to move the arm, sometimes waking you up at night.
Pain right on top of the shoulder or a painful bump, worse when reaching across the chest.
Shoulder or chest deformity with bruising, a collarbone sticking up, or loss of pec muscle after injury.
An accurate diagnosis is the first step toward healing. With the right specialist, you’ll understand your condition and have a clear, personalized plan to relieve pain and restore shoulder function.
There are over 20,000 orthopedic surgeons in the U.S.; but only a small percentage specialize in shoulder procedures — and fewer still have deep experience with advanced, minimally invasive techniques.
Need shoulder surgery? The difference between short-term relief and long-term success often comes down to one thing: Who’s holding the scalpel.
Meet Dr. Wilcox. His mastery of minimally invasive arthroscopic techniques means smaller incisions, less post-operative pain, and faster recovery — without compromising long-term shoulder health.
Board-Certified Orthopedic Surgeon | Fellowship-Trained Shoulder Specialist.
Dr. Joseph Wilcox is a recognized expert in arthroscopic shoulder procedures. Over his 25+ year career, he has successfully performed hundreds of shoulder surgeries for athletes, active adults, and patients who simply want to move without pain.
After earning his medical degree from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, Dr. Wilcox completed his orthopedic surgery residency at Emory University in Atlanta and advanced fellowship training at The Ohio State University Hospital, focusing on sports medicine and shoulder preservation.
As a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the Arthroscopic Association of North America, Dr. Wilcox stays at the forefront of surgical innovation.
For more than 15 years, Dr. Wilcox has also served as a team physician for high school and collegiate athletes, treating complex shoulder injuries with the goal of helping every patient return to the activities they love — with a shoulder they can trust for years to come.
At The Joint Preservation Center, we take time to evaluate your shoulder thoroughly by following these steps:
Your Story: We ask about when your pain started, what makes it worse, and how it affects your daily life.
Physical Exam: We check your shoulder for strength, range of motion, clicking, popping, or instability.
Imaging Tests: X-rays, MRI, or ultrasound may be used to look closely at bones, tendons, and ligaments.
Specialized Tests (if needed): In some cases, minimally invasive procedures or other tests help pinpoint the exact problem.
Personalized Plan: Combining all this information allows us to accurately diagnose your condition and create a treatment plan tailored to you.
Note: We can order imaging tests, help you understand the results, and guide you on the next steps.
At The Joint Preservation Center, we tailor the treatment plan for shoulder conditions to each patient. We consider factors such as:
The specific diagnosis and severity
Your activity level and lifestyle
Your personal goals
In general, treatment falls into non-surgical (conservative) and surgical options. Some patients benefit from a stepwise approach:
Start with physical therapy, activity modification, and medications
Use injections or imaging-guided procedures if needed
Proceed to surgery only if symptoms persist or shoulder function remains limited
Early and accurate diagnosis maximizes the chance of success with non-surgical care and ensures that any surgical interventions are as effective as possible.
If pain continues, your shoulder feels unstable, or your daily activities are limited — surgery may be the next best step. At this point, you deserve more than just clinical expertise. You deserve time, clarity, and extraordinary care.
At The Joint Preservation Center, our job is to guide you with empathy and transparency.
We will:
Review your MRI and explain exactly what it shows in plain, simple language.
Help you understand treatment options based on your goals and particular needs.
If surgery is needed, walk you through our procedures and techniques.
Answer every question until you feel confident and supported in your decision.
When surgery is necessary to heal a shoulder injury, arthroscopy is widely considered the most effective — and least disruptive — option available today.
Unlike traditional open surgery, arthroscopic surgery is minimally invasive. It uses tiny incisions, a high-definition camera, and specialized tools to access your shoulder with remarkable precision.
This means less trauma to the surrounding tissue, fewer complications, and a smoother path back to recovery.
Each of our specialists has over 25 years of experience and has performed 1,000+ orthopedic surgeries individually — with a focus on joint preservation and shoulder injuries.
We use advanced, state-of-the-art methods that result in smaller incisions, less pain, and a faster return to normal activity.
You don’t just get one opinion — you get the benefit of a team that works together behind the scenes, combining experience and insight to guide your care.
We operate in leading surgical centers equipped with the latest technology to ensure your safety, comfort, and the best possible outcome.
As a private, out-of-network practice, we’re able to offer more time with your surgeon, personalized attention, and a care plan tailored to your goals.
From first consultation to post-op recovery, we combine smart digital tools with personal guidance to make every step easier, faster, and more connected.
While all surgeons should be tracking their results, most don’t.
We do things differently.
To hold our surgeons accountable, we use OutcomeMD, a HIPAA-compliant platform that independently measures and verifies each patient’s symptoms, function, and shoulder-related quality of life both before and after surgery for 5 years. This certification allows us to:
Tracking your progress over time means ensuring your treatment is not only successful — but meaningful in the long run.
We know it’s not always easy to take time off or travel just to get answers.
That’s why our doctors offer virtual consultations via Zoom for eligible patients.
If you have a PPO insurance with out-of-network benefits, you will only be responsible for your in-network copay/deductible (if you proceed with surgery) and there is no charge for the office visits.
Dr. Wilcox exclusively works with surgery centers that are in-network with the following insurances:
Dr. Wilcox accepts most PPO insurances that have out-of-network benefits.
Note: If you do not have a PPO with out-of-network benefits, you can still see Dr. Wilcox and the surgery center will still be in-network. In this case, he charges $350 for the initial office visit (all follow ups are included at this price). Surgery is typically in the range of $7k – $15k depending on what you need done.
Here are a few hotels near the surgery center that we recommend:
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