Frequently Asked Questions
Answers, not a sales pitch.
Practical answers to the most common questions about Joint Freedom, our treatments, our process, and what working with us looks like.
Request ConsultationRichmond, VA · Clinically supervised · 4.9★ Google
About the practice
What is Joint Freedom?
Joint Freedom is a regenerative and restorative medicine practice in Henrico, Virginia, serving the greater Richmond area. We treat the kinds of musculoskeletal and metabolic problems that make active adults stop doing what they love. Joint pain, sports injuries, chronic inflammation, hormonal decline, and the quiet erosion of mobility, energy, and recovery that adds up over years.
Who runs the clinic?
Joint Freedom is led by April L. Ashworth, AGPCNP-BC, our Medical Director. April personally leads every consultation and oversees every treatment plan. She brings over a decade of clinical experience in regenerative medicine, hormone therapy, and precision pain management for active adults.
Where are you located?
2301 N Parham Rd, Suite 1, Henrico, VA 23229. We serve patients from Richmond, Henrico, Glen Allen, Short Pump, Midlothian, Mechanicsville, Chesterfield, and surrounding communities.
What are your hours?
Monday through Thursday: 9:30am to 4:30pm. Friday: 9:00am to 1:00pm. Closed Saturday and Sunday.
How do I contact you?
Phone: (804) 577-8900. Email: info@joint-freedom.com. Or schedule a consultation through the Request Consultation form on this site.
About your first visit
How do I schedule a consultation?
Online through the Request Consultation form, by phone at (804) 577-8900, or by email at info@joint-freedom.com. We typically schedule consultations within one week, with same-week appointments often available.
Is the consultation really free?
Yes. The first thirty-minute consultation is free, with no commitment to begin treatment. The goal is to give you an honest answer to the question that brought you in. If we can help, we walk you through your options. If we cannot, we tell you that and recommend what would help.
How long is the first visit?
About thirty minutes. We review your history, examine the affected area, and discuss your options. You leave with a clear understanding of what is happening and what your next steps could look like.
What should I bring?
A list of treatments you have already tried, recent imaging or lab work if available, current medications and supplements, and the specific questions you want answered. If you do not have all of this, we work with what you bring.
Will I have to commit to treatment at the consultation?
No. There is no commitment to begin treatment after the consultation. You take the information and decide what you want to do with it.
About treatments
What treatments do you offer?
Five evidence-based modalities: Class IV Laser Therapy, PRP Therapy (platelet-rich plasma), HA Injections (hyaluronic acid), Testosterone Therapy, and Weight Loss Support. Each is effective on its own for the right case. Many of our most successful protocols combine two or more in sequence.
How do you decide which treatment is right for me?
Your specific case determines the protocol. We evaluate the cause of your symptom, your physiology, your history, and your goals, then build a plan around that. We do not run default templates. The same condition can require different treatment in two different patients.
Can treatments be combined?
Yes, and we frequently do. Combined protocols often produce more durable outcomes than any single treatment alone. Laser to reduce inflammation, PRP to regenerate tissue, weight management to reduce load on weight-bearing joints, and HA to restore joint cushioning in knee osteoarthritis, are commonly used together.
How long does treatment take?
Highly variable by treatment and condition. Acute cases often resolve within a few weeks. Chronic conditions with regenerative therapy typically respond over two to four months. Hormone therapy and weight loss are typically multi-month protocols. Your consultation establishes a realistic timeline for your case.
Do treatments have side effects?
Most of our treatments have minimal side effects. Laser therapy has essentially none. PRP injections, and HA injections for the knee, may produce mild local tenderness or swelling for a day or two. Hormone therapy and weight loss medications have side effect profiles we discuss specifically during the consultation. We monitor for and manage side effects throughout treatment.
Will I need imaging?
Sometimes. We order imaging when it will change the treatment plan. We do not order imaging that will not. For straightforward cases, clinical evaluation is often sufficient. For complex cases or when results would alter the protocol, MRI, X-ray, or ultrasound may be appropriate.
About insurance and payment
Do you accept insurance?
Joint Freedom does not bill insurance directly. Most regenerative therapies (PRP) are not insurance-covered nationwide. HA injections for the knee may have partial coverage in some plans. Coverage for testosterone therapy and weight loss medications varies significantly by carrier and plan. We can provide receipts you can submit for potential out-of-network reimbursement.
Do you accept HSA or FSA?
Yes, for eligible treatments. We provide receipts and documentation for HSA and FSA reimbursement.
How does pricing work?
Pricing depends on which treatments we use and the length of your plan. We provide transparent pricing during your consultation so you know exactly what your plan costs before you commit. There are no hidden fees and no surprise charges.
Do you offer payment plans?
Yes, for qualifying treatment plans. We discuss options during the consultation when relevant.
Why do most regenerative therapies not have insurance coverage?
Insurance coverage decisions in the US are driven by cost, evidence thresholds, and policy choices that often lag behind clinical practice. Many treatments with strong evidence in their indication are not yet covered by insurance. The lack of insurance coverage is not a reflection of clinical effectiveness.
About who we treat
Who is Joint Freedom for?
Active adults whose bodies are not keeping up with their lives. Patients with chronic joint pain, sports injuries, hormonal decline, metabolic dysfunction, or the cumulative wear that comes with active living. Most of our patients have already tried other things and are looking for a clinic that addresses the underlying problem.
I have not tried other treatments first. Should I still come in?
Yes, if your case fits what we treat. There is no requirement that you try other things first. For some patients, our approach is the most appropriate first step.
My case is complicated. Will you still see me?
Probably. Complex cases are common in our practice. The consultation is where we determine whether we are the right fit. If we are not, we tell you honestly and recommend what is.
What if I am older?
Our patients range from age 14 to 99, from young athletes through senior patients. Age is not a disqualifying factor. The right treatment depends on your specific physiology and goals, not your chronological age.
Do you treat athletes?
Yes. We treat recreational athletes, weekend warriors, and adults who train seriously. Our regenerative therapies are particularly well-suited to keeping athletes in their sport rather than backing off from training.
About working with other providers
Do you coordinate with my primary care physician?
Yes. We share information with your primary care physician or specialist when that is helpful for your overall care. The goal is integrated care, not parallel care.
What if I am already seeing physical therapy or chiropractic?
We frequently work alongside PT and chiropractic care. Both work for some patients and plateau for others. We coordinate when continued movement-based care makes sense alongside our treatment.
Do you work with surgeons?
Yes. We coordinate with surgical care when appropriate, particularly for post-surgical recovery support and for patients evaluating whether surgery is the right path. We do not perform surgery.
Do you work with rheumatologists?
For inflammatory arthritis, we work alongside rheumatology. We do not adjust or recommend changes to disease-modifying medications. We provide complementary treatment that addresses joint mechanics and pain alongside your medical management.
About the practice philosophy
Why do you not bill insurance?
The insurance billing model often forces clinics to operate within narrow scopes that do not match how the body actually works. Time pressures, coverage requirements, and reimbursement structures can push providers toward symptom management instead of root-cause treatment. Operating outside the insurance billing system lets us spend the time required for comprehensive evaluation and build protocols that fit the case rather than the coverage.
Why do you not prescribe pain medication?
Pain medication has a role in acute care. For chronic pain management, it masks the symptom while the underlying problem progresses. Our practice is built around treating the cause. We refer patients who need pain medication management to providers whose practice is built for that.
Why is honesty so important to your practice?
Honesty is structural, not aspirational. Clinical practices that overpromise or run patients through default protocols generate short-term revenue but produce long-term dissatisfaction. Patients who trust their clinician's judgment, get honest answers, and see the results match the expectations come back, refer others, and stay engaged with their care over years.
Still have questions?
If your question is not here, the consultation is the place to ask. Free, thirty minutes, no commitment.
Ready to ask your question?
Free thirty-minute consultation. We will give you an honest answer to whatever brought you in.
Address
2301 N Parham Rd, Ste 1Henrico, VA 23229
Phone
Hours
Monday – Thursday: 9:30am – 4:30pm · Friday: 9:00am – 1:00pm · Saturday & Sunday: Closed
We proudly serve patients throughout the Richmond metropolitan area, including Richmond, Henrico, Glen Allen, Short Pump, Midlothian, Mechanicsville, and Chesterfield, and surrounding Virginia communities.