As a naturopathic doctor specializing in regenerative medicine, I am partial to platelet rich plasma (PRP) when it comes to treating your joint and muscle pain. I want you to know the reasons WHY I prefer PRP over cortisone injections. There is a time and a place for each therapy. But when it comes to getting rid of pain for good, I believe there is a clear winner.
Cortisone: the breakdown
The standard of care in the conventional medical world is to treat joint/muscle pain and inflammation with steroid injections (cortisone). This is prescribed when NSAIDs, icing, and rest have failed to treat pain. If the cortisone injection does not work, your only other option is going to be surgery.
The good news about cortisone shots is that they decrease inflammation rapidly. This decrease in inflammation often leads to less pain. The bad news is that this reduction in inflammation may be short lived. Pain can be suppressed anywhere from 6 weeks to 6 months depending on the injury. Research shows that pain will often return.
The worst news: cortisone shots have been well documented to cause structural damage in areas where they are injected. In fact, it is not recommended to get more than 3 cortisone injections per year due to the accumulative damage. Here are the side effects of cortisone listed on the Mayo Clinic’s website:
- Cartilage damage
- Weakens tendons and ligaments
- Tendon rupture
- Death of nearby bone
- Nerve damage
What this means is that when you get a cortisone shot you are trading immediate pain relief for potential long-term structural damage of the tissue being injected. This does not seem like a fair trade. But when your only options are a cortisone shot and surgery, it might sound like a pretty good option.
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)
Platelet rich plasma (PRP) is a concentrated dosage of your own platelets that when injected into an area of injury can cause accelerated tissue healing. These platelets contain powerful growth factors that recruit your own stem cells to the site that is in need of repair. Learn more about what PRP is in my previous post!
PRP is different than cortisone in that it actually causes mild inflammation to your area of injury. This inflammation is actually a good thing because your immune system is waking up to the issue at hand. This is how your body knows how to deliver fresh stem cells and repair the damage. The goal with PRP is to rebuild tissue rather than just block inflammation.
Side effects? Nope. PRP comes from your body so it is an incredibly safe procedure. The risk of infection is far less because it comes from your own blood.
PRP takes more time to work than cortisone. It may take weeks to months to see significant improvement. Remember- you have to rebuild your own tissue and this can take time. Diet, exercise, lifestyle, and hormone levels all play a role in how well you are going to respond to this therapy. For this reason, PRP might not be the best treatment for everyone.
The verdict:
If a patient is having problems with joint or muscle pain, the majority of the time PRP reigns supreme. It is safe, builds rather than tears down, and gets to the root of the problem. It seems to me that cortisone shots are a Band-Aid with the potential to make things much worse in the long run.
Struggling with joint or muscle pain? Learn more about PRP treatments HERE.
Get evaluated! My clinic is located in Snoqualmie, WA and I am currently accepting new patients. Please CLICK HERE to schedule a Free Discovery Call to see if PRP or other regenerative therapies might be a good fit for you and your health.
