If you’ve been told a cortisone injection is your best option for joint pain—especially in the knees—it might be time to reconsider.
Yes, cortisone can reduce inflammation. Yes, it may offer quick pain relief. But here’s the reality: new research is confirming what we’ve seen firsthand at mPower Physical Therapy in Dallas for years—these injections may actually be accelerating the very joint damage you’re trying to prevent.
Let’s break down the latest findings, why cortisone might be making your joints worse, and what real alternatives exist for long-term joint relief and healing.
Cortisone Injections: Common, But Not Harmless
Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disease in the U.S., affecting over 32.5 million adults. When it strikes, many people are quickly referred for cortisone shots.
It’s the standard playbook:
Joint pain? Let’s numb it.
Inflammation? Let’s knock it down with chemicals.
Discomfort with movement? Here’s a quick fix.
But quick fixes often come with long-term consequences.
What the New Research Says (and Why It Matters)
A landmark May 2025 study in Radiology followed 210 people with symptomatic knee OA. Researchers found that even a single cortisone injection led to a faster breakdown of the knee joint compared to those who had no injections—or received hyaluronic acid instead.
Translation?
Cortisone shots may ease pain now, but they’re likely speeding up the progression of joint degeneration—especially in the knees.
The Real Problem with Cortisone
The issue extends beyond short-term versus long-term outcomes. Cortisone is a chemical treatment. And the truth is, not all joint pain is chemically driven.
So, how do you know the difference?
- Constant, aching pain at rest? That might be chemically driven—where cortisone could provide temporary relief.
- Pain that increases with movement but feels better with rest? That’s likely a mechanical problem—which cortisone won’t fix.
Worse yet, repeated cortisone injections can weaken cartilage and soft tissue, making your joint less able to heal and more prone to further degeneration.
It’s like putting a silencer on your car’s check engine light instead of fixing the engine. The problem’s still there—you’re just less aware of it.
So What Should You Do Instead?
If you’re tired of band-aid fixes and want a treatment that actually helps your body heal, this is where Regenerative Shockwave Therapy comes in.
At mPower, we’ve seen shockwave therapy help people avoid surgery, delay or eliminate injections, and regain mobility and confidence—even when other treatments like PRP or stem cells haven’t worked.
Why We Love Shockwave Therapy for Joint Pain
✓ It repairs tissue by stimulating cellular regeneration
✓ It activates your body’s natural stem cells
✓ It improves blood flow to damaged tissue, especially in areas that don’t heal well on their own (like tendons and cartilage)
Real Patient Wins:
Take Stacy, for example.
She was told she was “bone on bone” and could barely walk 3 miles.
After Shockwave Therapy? She’s now comfortably walking 7 miles—and it’s her “good” knee that’s complaining now!
[Watch Stacy’s full story here] (Insert YouTube link)
Why This Matters (and What Makes mPower Different)
We just returned from advanced training with some of the top Shockwave Therapy experts in the country. mPower is now one of the only clinics in DFW offering both Radial and Focused Shockwave Therapy—a powerful combination that delivers even better results.
Unlike cortisone shots that mask symptoms, we treat the root cause. We look at how your body moves, where it compensates, and what’s not working—and we fix it with real, lasting solutions.
Ready to Ditch the Cortisone Cycle?
If you’ve been told cortisone is your only option, it’s time for a second opinion. At mPower, we help people find alternatives to cortisone shots that actually support healing—not breakdown.
Book a Free Discovery Visit
We’ll evaluate your movement, listen to your goals, and help you determine if Shockwave Therapy for arthritis is right for you.
