For many people struggling with chronic knee pain, corticosteroid injections are one of the first treatments offered. These injections can provide temporary relief from inflammation and pain—especially for those with osteoarthritis or meniscus damage. But what happens when steroid shots to your knees stop helping? Or worse, what if they cause side effects, accelerate joint breakdown, or leave you feeling like surgery is your only option?

At Sheen Vein & Cosmetics in St. Louis, we take a functional and regenerative approach to joint pain. Whether you’re dealing with arthritis, tendon degeneration, or post-surgical stiffness, there are alternatives when steroid injections fail.

Why Steroid Injections Stop Working

Steroid injections work by suppressing inflammation—but they don’t treat the root cause of joint degeneration. Over time, repeated use can:

• Diminish in effectiveness
• Thin cartilage and bone tissue
• Weaken surrounding tendons and ligaments
• Delay the body's natural healing response

For many patients, the first one or two injections offer short-term relief, but the benefits wear off quicker with each round. Eventually, your knees don’t respond at all—and you're left with the same pain and fewer options.

Step 1: Identify the Root Cause of Your Knee Pain

Not all knee pain is caused by arthritis alone. At our St. Louis clinic, we perform a detailed evaluation that may include:

• Physical examination and range of motion testing
• Vascular ultrasound to rule out circulatory causes of leg pain
• Joint ultrasound to evaluate soft tissue damage
• Lab testing for inflammation, autoimmune conditions, or chronic infections

We aim to answer the question: What’s really causing your pain—and what’s blocking your healing?

Explore more: Top 4 Causes of Joint Pain

Step 2: Consider Regenerative Therapies

If steroid shots no longer help, regenerative medicine offers a non-surgical path forward. These therapies support your body’s natural healing mechanisms rather than suppressing inflammation.

🩸 Platelet-Rich Fibrin (PRF) Therapy

Unlike platelet-rich plasma (PRP), PRF is 100% natural—no additives, no anticoagulants. It's rich in growth factors and healing platelets derived from your own blood.

PRF is injected directly into the knee joint, surrounding ligaments, or meniscus to:

• Stimulate tissue repair
• Improve collagen production
• Reduce inflammation long-term
• Enhance joint lubrication and mobility

It’s an excellent option for early to moderate osteoarthritis, chronic tendonitis, or failed steroid response.

Learn more: PRF for Joint Pain and Injury (Note: while this blog references under-eye PRF, the same healing principles apply to joints.)

🔴 Red Light and PEMF Therapy

We also use red light therapy (photobiomodulation) and pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy to reduce pain, accelerate healing, and increase cellular energy (ATP) in injured tissues.

These therapies are:

• Non-invasive
• Pain-free
• Backed by emerging science in joint and cartilage regeneration

Explore: Red Light and PEMF Benefits

Step 3: Support Healing from the Inside Out

Joint health isn’t just about what you inject or treat externally—it’s also about what your body needs internally to heal and rebuild.

Our functional medicine approach includes:

🧬 Anti-Inflammatory Nutrition

• Eliminating processed foods, excess sugar, and inflammatory oils
• Focusing on omega-3s, leafy greens, berries, and high-quality protein
• Evaluating food sensitivities that can increase systemic inflammation

💊 Targeted Supplementation

• Collagen + MSM for connective tissue repair
• Magnesium + vitamin D + K2 for bone and joint support
• Boswellia, turmeric, and PEA as natural anti-inflammatories
• Glucosamine + chondroitin sulfate for cartilage health

💪 Muscle Strength and Movement

Weak muscles around the knee (especially the quadriceps and glutes) can increase joint stress. We often refer to functional physical therapy or recommend low-impact strength training routines to restore proper biomechanics.

When to Consider Surgery

We work with many patients looking to avoid or delay knee surgery. However, if regenerative and functional therapies fail to provide relief after several months, a surgical consultation may be appropriate—especially in cases of:

• Bone-on-bone arthritis
• Advanced joint instability
• Mechanical joint locking

That said, many of our St. Louis patients experience significant improvement without needing surgery when they follow a personalized regenerative plan.

You Still Have Options—Even When Steroid Injections Stop Working

Don’t let knee pain define your future. If you're frustrated with temporary fixes and want a lasting, medication-free solution, we’re here to help.

📞 Call 314-842-1441 to schedule your consultation
💻 Visit www.sheenveinandcosmetics.com to explore our regenerative medicine services

Steroid shots aren't the end of the road. With the right approach, you can reduce pain, restore function, and get back to doing what you love—naturally.

‍