How cortisone and PRP actually differ
Cortisone is a corticosteroid — a powerful anti-inflammatory. Injected into a joint or around a tendon, it can quiet pain and swelling quickly, sometimes within days. But it works by suppressing inflammation, not by healing the underlying tissue, so the relief is temporary. Repeated cortisone shots in the same area can also weaken cartilage, tendons, and ligaments over time, which is why most physicians limit how often they are used.
PRP takes the opposite approach. Dr. Hric concentrates the platelets and growth factors from about four tablespoons of your own blood and places them precisely in the injured area, ultrasound-guided when that improves accuracy. The goal is not to numb the problem but to stimulate your body's own repair. That means PRP usually works more slowly, can leave you sore for a few days as the response kicks in, and — honestly — does not help everyone.
Which one is "better" depends on the problem
There is no single winner. For a short, severe flare where you mainly need fast relief, a corticosteroid shot can make sense as a temporary bridge. Where the goal is to actually support healing — a loose or worn ligament, or mild-to-moderate arthritis — PRP fits the job better because it aims at repair rather than masking. It is worth being clear about the limits, though: PRP does not regrow cartilage or reverse advanced, bone-on-bone arthritis.
This is also why Dr. Hric offers prolotherapy as a deliberate alternative to repeated cortisone — small dextrose injections meant to prompt your body to strengthen the tissue instead of numbing it. Great Physician does not build its care around steroid shots. The three treatments offered here (PRP, prolotherapy, and focal sound wave therapy) are all aimed at healing rather than masking symptoms.
Our Conservative First answer
We will not oversell PRP. If a simpler, less expensive step is the smarter move for your situation — or if neither PRP nor cortisone is likely to help — Dr. Hric will tell you plainly. He performs every treatment personally and starts with the least invasive option that has real evidence behind it.
Because regenerative treatments generally are not covered by insurance, Great Physician is direct-pay, with clear pricing given up front. The honest next step is a consultation, where Dr. Hric can examine you and give you a straight read on whether PRP, prolotherapy, or a different path fits your situation best.
Reviewed by Dr. Jerry Hric, Great Physician Regenerative Medicine · Updated July 15, 2026. Educational information, not a substitute for an in-person evaluation.