When Short-Term Relief Becomes Long-Term Damage
Have you received multiple cortisone injections for the same injury? Do the cortisone shots seem to work just temporarily? If you’re answering yes to these questions, you should probably look into other cortisone injection alternatives. In fact, there is a chance you may be doing more harm than good by having multiple cortisone injections over a long period of time. At the Michigan Center for Regenerative Medicine, our focus is on healing or repairing damaged tissue, which is why we often recommend regenerative medicine procedures if cortisone injections aren’t providing the results you’re looking for.
What Cortisone Injections Actually Do
Cortisone is a corticosteroid that is meant to reduce inflammation. These injections work quickly, often providing fast pain relief. Injected directly into an affected joint, cortisone can reduce swelling and inflammation, but it does not heal or repair the damaged tissue.
Common Uses for Cortisone Shots
Below are some common uses for cortisone injections:
- Tendinitis
- Bursitis
- Arthritis flare-ups
- Acute injuries
- Quick relief before important events (sports, weddings, etc.)
When Cortisone is Appropriate
Cortisone injections are good for quick, fast-acting relief. For instance, you hurt your knee, but you have to fly to Denver the next day for a big presentation. In this instance, a cortisone injection may be a good option to dampen the pain.
Below are a few legitimate scenarios where cortisone could be useful:
- Cortisone is beneficial as a diagnostic tool. After an injection, if the pain subsides, inflammation is likely the issue.
- Cortisone can be used to bridge the gap while you’re waiting for other treatment options.
- Acute injuries that require immediate relief can often be good options for cortisone injections.
The bottom line is that cortisone is appropriate for more acute conditions but should not be used as an ongoing treatment strategy. In fact, cortisone is actually toxic to chondrocytes, which are cells that make cartilage. Because of this, repetitive use of cortisone injections can lead to advanced arthritis.
The Regenerative Medicine Difference – Healing vs. Masking
The primary goal of regenerative medicine as opposed to corticosteroids is to heal the affected area as opposed to simply mask the pain. For those looking to avoid surgery, and powerful medications, regenerative medicine can be a way to get back to your active lifestyle while also avoiding further joint degeneration.
There are several different regenerative medicine approaches that you can discuss with one of our board-certified physicians, including Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP), Regenerative Orthobiologics using bone marrow concentrate, Lipoaspirate, Shockwave, as well as prolotherapy.
At The Michigan Center for Regenerative Medicine our team has been working on providing the highest level of care to our patients for over 10 years. In this time, we’ve developed our processes, launched a state-of-the-art in-house lab and began to track our patient outcomes using DataBiologics, which is a third-party, impartial patient reporting tool. Our patient results have been completely transparent since Day 1, which is why we continue to be excited about the future of this burgeoning field.
Cortisone Injections Have Their Place but Regenerative Medicine is the Future
There’s no doubt that cortisone has its place for acute relief, but repeated use can cause long term damage. Regenerative medicine offers a different approach focused on healing as opposed to masking symptoms. If you’ve had multiple cortisone injections and are seeing reduced results, it’s likely time to try a different approach. Schedule a comprehensive evaluation today with one of our board-certified physicians by calling (248) 216-1008. We’ll help you determine whether regenerative medicine is the proper path for you based on your history and current condition.