Pain Treatment Q&A
Can I keep
getting injections?
All injections are not the same
Injections can help with pain. But there are injections that should not be repeated, and injections that can be safely repeated. It’s important to know the difference.
Quick Answer
Repeated steroid injections can damage tissues. Long-term steroid use weakens tendons, thins cartilage, and increases risk of rupture and inflammation.
✅ At Yonsei Shinmyung, we use steroid-free Circulation HD
Hydrodissection using only saline releases compressed nerves and restores blood flow. It can be safely repeated, and fundamentally improves tissues rather than just suppressing symptoms.
Why repeated steroid injections are problematic
Steroid injections temporarily reduce inflammation and suppress pain signals. But repeated use causes these problems:
① Tendon weakening and rupture risk
Steroids reduce collagen synthesis in tendons. With repeated exposure, tendons become weak and brittle. Particularly at risk: rotator cuff, Achilles tendon, patellar tendon.
Research shows steroid injections increase tendon rupture risk (especially within first few weeks after injection)
② Cartilage thinning and joint damage acceleration
Repeated steroid injections in joints can thin cartilage and accelerate joint degeneration. Particularly problematic in knee, hip, shoulder joints.
Studies suggest more than 3-4 steroid injections per year in joints accelerates cartilage damage
③ Fat atrophy and skin discoloration
Steroids can cause fat layer atrophy, leaving dents in skin and potentially causing permanent discoloration.
④ Blood sugar elevation and hormonal effects
Diabetics especially need to be careful, as steroid injections can spike blood sugar. They also temporarily suppress the body’s natural steroid hormone production.
❌ If you’ve already had multiple steroid injections in the same area, consider other options
Rather than continuing to suppress with steroids, focus on fundamentally improving tissues.
Yonsei Shinmyung’s steroid-free treatment
We don’t suppress symptoms with steroids. We fundamentally improve tissues.
❌ Traditional steroid injections
- Mechanism: Suppress inflammation, block pain signals
- Effect: Temporarily reduce pain
- Drawback: Repeated use weakens tendons and damages cartilage
- Limitation: Only suppresses symptoms, doesn’t address root cause
✅ Circulation HD (Hydrodissection)
- Mechanism: Use saline to release compressed nerves and adhesions
- Effect: Restore blood flow, improve tissue environment
- Advantage: No tissue damage, can be safely repeated
- Strength: Fundamentally restore tissue function
✅ Circulation HD can be safely repeated because it uses only saline
We don’t use steroids or other chemicals. We use only ultrasound-guided precise hydrodissection to fundamentally improve tissues.
When steroid injections may be appropriate
Steroid injections aren’t always bad. They can be helpful in certain situations:
- Acute phase severe inflammation: When pain is so severe you can’t even start treatment
- Conditions requiring inflammatory suppression: Rheumatoid arthritis, gout, severe bursitis, etc.
- Short-term emergency relief: When you need to attend an important event or have surgery scheduled
→ However, even in these cases, repeated long-term use should be avoided.
Use steroids for initial stabilization only, then transition to treatments that fundamentally improve tissues (like HD or PT).
Related Questions
Q. I’ve already had 5-6 steroid injections. Is it too late?
✅ It’s not too late. Stop steroid injections and focus on treatments that improve tissues. Circulation HD + PT can improve tissue function and restore weakened areas.
However, if tendons or cartilage are already significantly damaged, recovery may take longer. Get assessed early and start appropriate treatment.
Q. Isn’t Circulation HD an injection too?
Yes, Circulation HD uses a needle, but it’s fundamentally different from steroid injections.
- Steroid injections: Suppress inflammation with drugs
- Circulation HD: Use saline (hydrodissection) to mechanically release compressed nerves and adhesions
HD uses only saline, so there are no side effects from drugs, and it can be safely repeated. It’s a completely different treatment from steroid injections.
Q. Can I combine Circulation HD with other treatments?
✅ Yes. Circulation HD works best when combined with other treatments:
- HD + PT Combo: HD releases nerves, PT activates muscles for optimal results
- HD + Home Exercise: Combine HD treatment with home exercises recommended by therapist
- HD + Warm Compress: Warm compress after HD improves blood flow
→ Combining Downshift (HD) + Activate (PT) + Integrate (Movement Correction) gives the fastest and most complete recovery.
Q. I got steroid injection at another clinic. Can I get HD right away?
It’s best to wait 2-4 weeks after steroid injection before getting HD. This allows the steroid effect to fully wear off and tissue condition to stabilize.
→ Bring your treatment records to consultation. We’ll assess your condition and recommend optimal treatment timing.
Steroid-free treatment at Yonsei Shinmyung
We don’t just suppress symptoms with drugs. We fundamentally improve tissues.
- Initial Assessment — Check previous steroid injection history and tissue condition
- Circulation HD — Steroid-free hydrodissection to release nerves and restore blood flow
- Circulation PT — Wake up weakened muscles and restore movement
- Movement Correction — Fundamentally resolve root causes to prevent recurrence
- Long-term Plan — Teach self-care and prevention strategies
Related Articles
Steroid-free treatment
that fundamentally improves
No longer just suppress symptoms. Improve tissue function fundamentally.
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