Why Cortisone Injections Provide Temporary Relief for Knee Pain—but Rarely Solve the Problem

If you’ve had a cortisone injection for knee pain… you probably remember thinking, “Wow, this actually worked.”

For a little while, your knee felt calmer. Less stiff. Less painful.

And then…
the pain slowly crept back in.

If that’s been your experience, you’re not alone. We hear this story all the time.

So let’s talk about why this happens.

Cortisone is a strong anti-inflammatory medication.

When it’s injected into the knee, it quiets inflammation. Less inflammation usually means less pain… at least temporarily.

But here’s the part most people aren’t told… Cortisone doesn’t heal tissue.

It doesn’t rebuild cartilage.
It doesn’t strengthen ligaments or tendons.
It doesn’t improve blood flow inside the joint.

It simply turns down inflammation for a period of time.

Over time, repeated steroid injections may:

• interfere with cartilage health

• weaken supportive tissue around the knee

• slow down natural healing

This is how many people end up stuck in a loop…

Pain → injection → temporary relief → pain again.

A Different Way to Think About Knee Pain

Instead of just asking, “How do we reduce pain?”
modern treatments ask…

“How do we help the knee heal?”

The focus shifts toward:

• improving circulation

• supporting tissue repair

• calming inflammation at the cellular level

This approach is especially appealing if you want longer-lasting relief… or you’re trying to avoid repeated injections or surgery.

Where SoftWave® Therapy Fits In

One option that fits into this regenerative approach is SoftWave® Tissue Regeneration Therapy.

SoftWave therapy doesn’t involve injections or medications.

It uses acoustic waves to stimulate biological activity inside the knee…
helping improve blood flow, reduce chronic inflammation, and activate the body’s natural repair processes.

Instead of masking pain, the goal is to improve tissue health over time.

Many patients use SoftWave alongside physical therapy or other treatments to support better results.

If Cortisone Isn’t Helping Anymore…

If cortisone injections don’t last like they used to…
or you’d rather not rely on them at all…

it may be time to look at options that do more than suppress symptoms.

Understanding why your knee hurts — and choosing treatments that support healing — can change the whole trajectory.

The Bottom Line

Cortisone injections can help in the short term.

But they were never designed to fix chronic knee pain.

If your pain keeps coming back, it doesn’t mean you’re out of options…

It just means your knee may need a different kind of support.

And today, that support exists.