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- Ditch The Risk : Benefits of Regenerative Medicine vs Steroid Injections
Ditch The Risk : Benefits of Regenerative Medicine vs Steroid Injections
Straight Talk From an Expert Physician on all Things Stem-Cell Therapy
Exploring Safer, Smarter Alternatives to Steroid Injections for Lasting Relief
and … 👉 Neck Pain Holding You Back? Explore How Regenerative Medicine Could Offer Relief

🎯 Main Takeaway 🎯
Cortisone (steroid) injections have long been a go-to treatment for knee pain, but mounting research and clinical experience reveal a more troubling reality: while they may provide short-term relief, EVEN ONE OF THESE INJECTIONS can significantly accelerate cartilage loss, weaken soft tissues, and increase the risk of long-term joint damage. What was once considered routine is now being reconsidered, as safer and more regenerative options—like PRP and bone marrow concentrate—offer healing without harm.
💡Tip of the Day💡
If you're considering a steroid injection for knee pain, ask your physician: “Can we significantly reduce the dose—maybe even 1/80 of the usual amount?” Even small doses may offer relief while helping preserve your cartilage long-term. And remember—there are regenerative alternatives like PRP or bone marrow concentrate that support healing instead of accelerating joint wear.
💡
Ask questions before you agree to a regenerative medicine procedure.
“For years, cortisone injections have been the go-to for knee pain, but the data is clear - steroids are not benign. They accelerate cartilage loss, weaken muscles and ligaments, and ultimately fast-track you toward joint replacement. We now have safer, smarter, regenerative options that use your body’s own healing power to reduce inflammation and improve function without causing
long-term harm."
❓ Three Critical Questions to Ask—and What to Listen For ❓
Why are cortisone injections still used if we know they're harmful?
✅ It's tradition — “the way it's always been done.” But consensus is changing as studies and professional societies reveal their long-term damage.Do steroid injections actually speed up joint degeneration?
✅ Yes. MRIs show visible cartilage loss, bone loss, fractures and bone marrow lesions, especially with repeated injections. Here’s a 2025 study featuring this: Intra-articular Knee Injections and Progression of Knee Osteoarthritis: Data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative. Bharadwaj et al 2025. https://doi.org/10.1148/radiol.233081
What alternatives do patients have instead of steroids?
✅Regenerative treatments like platelet-rich plasma (PRP), bone marrow aspirate concentrate, hyaluronic acid, and even dextrose prolotherapy can reduce inflammation and promote healing without toxic effects.
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Are you exhausted from constant neck pain?
🔍 Neck discomfort often stems from wear-and-tear arthritis, disc degeneration, or trauma like whiplash and falls—each source affects treatment options differently.
💉 Steroid injections can reduce inflammation but don’t promote healing and can carry long-term side effects—this video explores better alternatives.
🌱 Learn how treatments like PRP or BMAC use your own blood and bone marrow’s growth factors to target damaged ligaments, discs, and muscles—aiming to restore function naturally and avoid invasive procedures.
🔑 SUMMARY: 5 Key Takeaways from the Cervical Spine Video 🔑
1. Steroids Only Mask Symptoms
Standard epidural steroid injections or steroid trigger points may reduce inflammation but do not promote healing of discs, ligaments, or soft tissues—and can carry risks with even one use.
2. Regenerative Medicine Targets Root Causes
PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) is injected directly into spinal ligaments, joints, and muscles—utilizing your own growth factors and anti-inflammatories to support natural healing from the inside out.
3. Guided Precision Requires Imaging + Exam
Effective regenerative treatments rely on a thorough musculoskeletal and neurological exam plus up-to-date MRI (ideally within 12 months) to accurately target injured structures.
4. Healing Without Destructive Treatments
PRP and bone marrow aspirate concentrate therapies offer an alternative to invasive procedures like fusion, RFA (radiofrequency ablation), or corticosteroid injections—while improving pain, range of motion, posture, and even reducing headaches or arm symptoms.
5. Neck Pain Has Many Origins
Neck pain can arise from everyday wear-and-tear (degenerative disc/joint disease), whiplash from accidents, or trauma like falls—even seemingly unrelated incidents such as extending your arm during a ride.
❓Q & A ❓
❓Q1: What are the most common causes of neck pain?
A: Neck pain can stem from age-related degeneration (like arthritis or disc disease), trauma such as whiplash, or even repetitive stress injuries. It may radiate to the head, shoulders, or arms and lead to symptoms like stiffness, weakness, or headaches.
❓Q2: How does regenerative medicine like PRP help with neck pain?
A: PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) therapy uses your own blood to concentrate healing growth factors and anti-inflammatory mediators. It’s injected directly into damaged ligaments, joints, and muscles to stimulate natural tissue repair and reduce inflammation—without using steroids or undergoing surgery.
❓Q3: Why is an MRI necessary before starting regenerative treatment?
A: An MRI (preferably less than 12 months old) to rule out any ominous pathology that would indicate a need for more urgent therapy such as surgery. It also better shows the discs and nerve roots which are often the source of pain to improve symptoms, status, and condition.
“True healing doesn’t come from masking pain with steroids or burning the nerves - it comes from activating your body’s own ability to repair, restore, and renew."
- Dr. Tammy Penhollow
Struggling with joint or spine pain? You’re not alone.
Dr. Penhollow, a joint and spine pain expert, explains how muscle tightness, weak glutes, poor squat form, and daily habits can contribute to knee discomfort. Learn how proper stretching, strengthening, and movement techniques can help you squat pain-free and keep your knees healthy. Learn how we use high quality high dose PRP and BMAC to reduce pain and inflammation and improve function!
Give your body the right tools and take control of your knee pain with these simple changes!
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