Why Choose Stem Cells Over Cortisone Shots for Long-Term Joint Health?

• Stem cell therapy for joint pain can be an effective alternative to cortisone shots.
• Cortisone shots are not for everyone, and repeat injections can damage healthy tissue and may lead to infection.
• Regenerative medicine may treat joint pain at the source to provide lasting relief without side effects or risk of complications.

Cortisone shots are a standard treatment for joint pain, but they are not effective for everyone and can cause short- and long-term side effects. Stem cell therapies can help stimulate natural tissue regeneration and self-healing. As the leading cortisone shot alternative, they provide longer-lasting relief without the risk of complications. Compare stem cell injections versus cortisone injections to see which is best for your condition.

Regenerative Medicine & Joint Pain

An estimated 54.4 million Americans have been diagnosed with joint pain (Guglielmo, 2019). The condition reduces quality of life and increases the risk of additional health complications due to prolonged inactivity and adverse mental health effects.

Common treatments include physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications, including cortisone shots, opioids, and, as a last resort, surgery. Cortisone shots have been used to treat arthritis and joint pain since 1949 (Benedek, 2011). They are easy to administer and do not carry a risk of addiction, but effectiveness varies widely based on the underlying condition. Moreover, side effects ranging from mild to severe can inhibit patient recovery times and may even set some individuals back by damaging tendons.

These issues have led to a growing interest in cortisone shot alternatives, particularly stem cell therapy. While regenerative medicine for joint pain has yet to be approved by the FDA in the U.S., studies show it improves joint health by repairing damaged cartilage, with human clinical trials underway (Padda et al., 2021).

Compare stem cells vs cortisone shots to learn more about how these treatments affect your health and what they mean for your recovery.

Understanding the Treatments

What Are Cortisone Shots?

Cortisone shots inject a synthetic corticosteroid into the body. They produce a similar effect to the hormone cortisol, reducing inflammation. Some shots also include a local anesthetic to provide immediate pain relief. Cortisone shots are injected near the affected joint, such as the knees, wrists, shoulders, or back.

Cortisone shots are often used to relieve joint pain. They provide short-term relief ranging from several weeks to up to six months. The number of injections varies, but providers may apply two to three to the joint to minimize potential side effects and risks. Patients generally do not receive more than six shots annually for safety reasons.

What Is Stem Cell Therapy?

Stem cell therapy involves injecting stem cells into the affected joint. Stem cells are universal cells, able to signal repair in nearly any cell type, including muscle, nerve, cartilage, and bone. Injecting pluripotent stem cells triggers an anti-inflammatory response to remove harmful toxins from the body, reducing swelling around the joints. The cells signal repair in neighboring cells to regenerate healthy tissue, treating joint pain at the source. Healthy cartilage insulates the bones in joints to prevent them from pressing on the nerves, reducing pain and increasing mobility.

Stem cell injections are minimally invasive with no reported side effects or risk of complications. They relieve chronic pain by preventing ruptures and nerve damage that causes discomfort.

Comparing Short-Term and Long-Term Effects

Short-Term Relief with Cortisone Shots

Cortisone shots provide quick, temporary joint pain relief by reducing inflammation and administering a local anesthetic. However, the benefits rarely last longer than a few months as the medication wears off while doing little to treat the cause of pain.

Symptoms often return after a few weeks, requiring another round of injections. Patients may need more cortisone shots to produce the same effect as the underlying condition worsens and patients build a tolerance to the medication.

Long-Term Healing with Stem Cell Therapy

Stem cells could provide lasting joint pain relief by helping to treat the root cause. Joint pain increases with age as the cartilage between joints breaks down, damaging nerves and muscle tendons. Stem cell therapy regenerates damaged tissue while reducing inflammation to improve joint functionality. Patients could begin using the joint again without potential pain as they return to their usual activities.

Risks and Side Effects

Risks of Cortisone Shots

Cortisone shots carry risks that can make joint pain more severe. Repeat injections can lead to tendon rupture, accelerated osteoarthritis, hypertension, and osteoporosis (Kamel et al., 2023). If the cortisone enters the bloodstream, it can lead to swelling, bruising, mood changes, and weight gain in the neck, chest, and torso. In rare cases, they can also cause infection and allergic reactions, resulting in drowsiness, dizziness, and breathing irregularities. Taking other steroid medications can also lead to underactive adrenal glands.

Safety of Stem Cell Therapy

Stem cell therapy may carry little to no risk to your health. It has a high safety profile with no reported side effects besides mild irritation around the injection site. The process utilizes the natural healing properties of stem cells. 

Pluripotent stem cell therapy for joint pain does not require surgery. The stem cells are ethically sourced from donated blastocysts and are not extracted from the patient. They only need a minimally invasive skin biopsy to be matched to the patient.

Benefits of Choosing Stem Cells Over Cortisone Shots

Healing vs. Masking Symptoms

Stem cell therapy is the only noninvasive treatment for joint pain that treats the problem at the source. Without fresh stem cells, tendons do not typically heal on their own. The injected cells signal the body to regenerate healthy tissue to insulate the nerves properly.

Cortisone shots merely mask symptoms temporarily by reducing inflammation and applying an anesthetic. Without healthy tissue, the pain typically returns within several weeks or months and may be worse than before.

Long-Term Joint Health Solutions

Stem cell therapy may help relieve pain by improving joint health and increasing mobility. As the body repairs damaged tissue, patients can gradually resume an active lifestyle, which helps prevent joint atrophy.

Cortisone shots do not repair tendons or regenerate healthy tissue. Repeat injections can even damage joints by rupturing tendons and increasing swelling.

Avoiding Repeated Injections

Stem cell therapy could provide longer-lasting relief and may not require repeat injections as the underlying condition improves. Patients cannot become tolerant to stem cells. Each round of injections builds on their progress, bringing them closer to a full recovery.

Without a permanent solution, cortisone shots need to be repeated several times a year to relieve pain and may become less effective over time.

Start Your Long-Term Joint Health Recovery Today

Your path to recovery starts with stem cell therapy. This treatment may help relieve lasting pain and repair damaged joints without increasing your risk of complications. Schedule a free consultation with the professionals at Stemaid Institute to start your journey to living pain-free.

FAQs

Which treatment is better for overall long-term joint health?

Choosing stem cells over cortisone shots may improve long-term joint health by helping to regenerate healthy tissue. Insulating the joints with healthy cartilage increases mobility and helps relieve pain naturally to support an active lifestyle.

How long does the pain relief last for each treatment?

Cortisone shots typically provide pain relief for several weeks to several months. In most cases, the benefits do not last longer than six months.

Stem cell therapy may provide joint pain relief for longer than six months. The benefits may last several years or more and may be permanent as patients resume their usual activities.

Can stem cell therapy heal joint damage?

Yes, stem cell therapy may heal joint damage by regenerating healthy tissue in and around the joints. The treatment targets the cause of the damage to help reverse the effects of aging on joints.