H1: PRP vs Cortisone for Knee Pain: What’s the Difference?

If you’re dealing with knee pain, especially from arthritis or a chronic injury, you’ve likely heard about cortisone injections.

More recently, you may have heard about PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma).

Patients often ask the same question:

“Which one is better?”

The answer depends on your goals — and understanding the difference is critical.

What Cortisone Injections Actually Do

Cortisone is a powerful anti-inflammatory medication.

When injected into the knee, it works by:

• Reducing inflammation quickly

• Decreasing pain

• Improving short-term function

For many patients, cortisone can provide fast relief, sometimes within days.

However, it’s important to understand:

➤ Cortisone does not heal tissue

➤ It is designed to manage symptoms

For some patients, repeated cortisone injections may even contribute to tissue breakdown over time.

What PRP Does Differently
PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) is created from your own blood.

We concentrate the platelets and inject them into the knee under ultrasound guidance.

Platelets contain growth factors that:

• Support tissue repair

• Improve joint environment

• Promote long-term healing response

Unlike cortisone:

➤ PRP is not about quick relief

➤ It is about supporting your body’s healing process

Short-Term vs Long-Term Thinking

This is where most patients get confused.

Cortisone is:

• Fast

• Temporary

• Symptom-focused

PRP is:

• Slower

• Longer-lasting (in appropriate patients)

• Healing-focused

If your goal is only short-term pain relief, cortisone may make sense.

If your goal is long-term function and avoiding progression, PRP may be a better option.

Which Patients Do Better With PRP?

PRP tends to work best in:

• Mild to moderate arthritis

• Active patients

• Patients who want to avoid or delay surgery

• Patients who have failed basic conservative care

PRP is not ideal for:

• Severe, end-stage bone-on-bone arthritis

• Patients expecting instant results

Why Proper Diagnosis Matters More Than the Injection

This is where most clinics get it wrong.

They treat:

➤ the symptom (pain)

Instead of:

➤ the cause of the pain

At Joint Vitality Institute, we start with:

• A full evaluation

• Imaging when needed

• Understanding joint mechanics

Because not all knee pain is the same.

And not all patients benefit from the same treatment.

➤ Learn more about Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy

So… Which One Should You Choose?

There is no universal answer.

The right choice depends on:

• Your diagnosis

• Your goals

• The condition of your joint

What matters most is not choosing a treatment…

It’s choosing the right treatment for the right patient at the right time.

Start With a Real Evaluation

If you’re considering PRP or cortisone, the first step is understanding your specific condition

Request Your Evaluation.