When joint, spine, or soft tissue pain won’t go away, your doctor may suggest an injection to help reduce inflammation and promote healing. At iSCORE (Interventional Spine Care and Orthopedic Regenerative Experts), we commonly use steroid injections and PRP (platelet-rich plasma) therapy to treat conditions like osteoarthritis, herniated discs, tendonitis, and more. While both options can offer relief, they work in very different ways—and choosing the right one depends on your condition, goals, and overall health.

Here’s what you need to know about PRP vs. steroids.

What Are Steroid Injections?

Corticosteroid injections (commonly called steroid shots) are powerful anti-inflammatory medications delivered directly into a painful joint or around a nerve. They are widely used to:

Reduce inflammation in arthritis

Relieve back or neck pain from disc issues or spinal stenosis

Calm irritated tendons or bursae

Pros:

Fast-acting relief (often within a few days)

Proven to reduce inflammation

Useful for acute flare-ups

Cons:

Relief may be temporary (weeks to months)

Repeated use can damage tissues or joints

Does not promote tissue regeneration

What Is PRP Therapy?

Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy is a form of regenerative medicine that uses your body’s own healing factors. Blood is drawn, spun in a centrifuge to concentrate the platelets, and then re-injected into the injured area. These platelets release growth factors that stimulate tissue repair and regeneration.

Pros:

Uses your own cells—minimal risk of rejection

Encourages long-term healing, not just symptom relief

May reduce or eliminate need for surgery

Cons:

Results take time (weeks to months)

May require multiple treatments

Not typically covered by insurance

So, Which Is Right for You?

Choosing between PRP (platelet-rich plasma) and steroid injections depends on several important factors:

Need quick relief?

Steroids typically offer fast-acting relief, while PRP works more slowly as it promotes the body’s natural healing processes.

Dealing with chronic or recurring pain?

Steroids can provide short-term help, but PRP aims to promote long-term healing and tissue repair.

Trying to avoid surgery or minimize downtime?

Steroid injections may delay the need for surgery, whereas PRP has the potential to prevent it altogether in some cases.

Is insurance coverage a priority?

Steroid injections are often covered by insurance, while PRP treatments are usually paid out-of-pocket.

Prefer a natural approach to healing?

Steroids involve synthetic medications, whereas PRP uses your own blood cells to support recovery naturally.

Our Recommendation

At iSCORE, Dr. Maxim Moradian and his expert team take a personalized approach to pain management. Some patients benefit from starting with a steroid injection to calm inflammation, followed by PRP to support long-term healing. Others may skip steroids entirely and go straight to regenerative options.

If you’re dealing with chronic joint pain, back issues, or a sports injury, we’ll help you weigh the pros and cons and choose the therapy that aligns with your recovery goals.

Serving Arcadia, Glendale, and Palmdale, CA. Call us at (818) 338-6860 or request an appointment online to find out if PRP, steroids—or a combination of both—can help you get back to living pain-free.

Request an Appointment: https://iscoreinc.com