Dr. James Nelson

Dr. James Nelson

“I am passionate about connecting with my patients and using a holistic approach to improve their quality of life.”

ABOUT Dr. James Nelson
EDUCATION
TESTIMONIALS
MEMBERSHIPS & AFFILIATIONS
ABOUT Dr. James Nelson

Dr. Nelson specializes in non-surgical management of musculoskeletal and spine injuries. His broad medical expertise allows him to diagnose and treat a wide variety of injuries and illnesses with medications and minimally invasive procedures. His main areas of interest include spine disorders, stroke, sports medicine, and work-related injuries. He uses electrodiagnostics to accurately pinpoint the cause of pain, numbness/tingling, or strength loss.

Dr. Nelson is committed to ongoing research to advance medical knowledge and help people. He was an integral part of bringing Functional Orthopedic Research Center of Excellence (FORCE) Laboratory to The Center, which is a partnership between Oregon State University – Cascades, The Center, and Therapeutic Associates. The FORCE Lab provides cutting-edge research and seeks to optimize musculoskeletal function and performance, prevent injury, and promote general well-being through the study of human movement.

A competitive athlete in high school and college, Dr. Nelson enjoys running, triathlon, water and snow skiing, and spending time with his wife and two children.

EDUCATION

Board Certification: American Board of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation

Residency: University of California, Davis Medical Center

Medical School: University of California, San Diego

Undergraduate Education: University of California, Davis

TESTIMONIALS

“Growing up, I always wanted to be a professional athlete. I thought he would play football in college, but then work and life led me in different directions. As an adult, I continued to dream about pursuing athletics, but pain and injuries in my back, knees, and shoulders kept me from competing at a higher level. After having surgery on both of his shoulders, he discovered that he was able to start doing some of the activities he always wanted to do. I started participating in high intensity group workout classes until knee and back pain led me to seek treatment. I couldn’t run on the treadmill or even do a simple jumping jack without pain. Dr. Nelson said that I shouldn’t be running or doing anything that involved even the slightest impact and that I needed to modify his workouts. At the time I was very disappointed, but that led me to discover competitive indoor rowing. After rowing for a few months, my times were really competitive in my division. I was really nervous to tell Dr. Nelson about my new passion because I thought he was going to tell me to stop, but he was very supportive. Under Dr. Nelson’s care, in addition to incorporating stretching and pilates in his training regimen, my back felt great again. ” Read the rest of Steve’s story by clicking here.

“It was truly a pleasure experiencing your ablation procedure. Your staff went above and beyond to make this experience as enjoyable as an ablation can be. Also I want to personally thank you for making me feel I was your only patient that day. I know it may not seem like much, but placing your hand on my left shoulder during the ablation was very reassuring. I know that praise doesn’t always come to those that deserve it, but when I experience someone that instills confidence in the client, I feel it’s necessary to say so. You are truly a God-send to someone that has suffered for 60 years.”

“I have been treated by Dr. Nelson at the Center for 16 years for chronic pain and back issues from a work injury and multi-level spinal fusion. He and his staff have consistently met my needs. I strongly recommend them to others who I meet that are dealing with similar long term issues.”

“I have been struggling with an extremely painful back problem for the past five months and have seen a lot of medical professionals with various treatments, none of which were successful. My whole life has changed due to this problem, and not for the better. When I went to Dr. Nelson at The Center, I began to feel hopeful for the first time in a very long time, because he really listened to me, took the time to explain what was wrong and what options we had to reduce the pain. When I left The Center and began the treatment he prescribed, I was amazed because I could stand and walk without pain within 24 hours!! In addition, the people at The Center are so helpful and have such a “can do” attitude. The office has such a positive vibe, it just really was such a complete change from the other places I have been to for help with this problem. I wish I would have gone to The Center five months ago! I can’t say enough great things about my experience and I will never go anywhere else for my medical needs! Thank you Dr. Nelson!

“I have been a patient of Dr. Nelson over five years, and kudos to both him and his assistant Carla. Without their expertise, I would not be able to function! Their smiles help me forget about my pain for a while!”

“I have been a patient of the Center for almost 14 years. It keeps getting better and better. Special kudos to Dr. James O. Nelson and his entire team. I always feel listened to and cared for, and know I am in capable hands, especially when having what would otherwise be considered scary and painful procedures. Dr. Nelson and crew make everything stress-free.”

MEMBERSHIPS & AFFILIATIONS

Medical Director – Occupational Medicine Department

  • Clinical Research Study for Patients with Frozen Shoulder, Principal Investigators: James Verheyden, M.D., Tim Bollom, M.D., James Nelson, M.D.