Can I keep getting injections?

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I keep getting injections?

Pain shots, cortisone shots, that “magic injection”… Here we answer the questions so many people worry about when it comes to injections.

Short answer: It depends greatly on the type of injection.

  • Steroid injection (cortisone shot). Because of tissue damage and dependency concerns, it is not recommended.
  • Hydrodissection (Circulation HD). It uses saline and no steroids, so it is planned to fit your condition.

Characteristics by injection type

Steroid injection (cortisone shot, pain shot)

It can provide fast pain relief, but repeated injections raise concerns such as weakened tissue, so the decision should be made carefully.

Problems with steroid injections

  • Tendon/cartilage weakening. Repeated injections gradually weaken the tissue.
  • Skin atrophy, pigment changes: skin damage at the injection site
  • Elevated blood sugar. Especially dangerous for people with diabetes.
  • Dependency. It suppresses symptoms without solving the cause, so you keep needing it.
  • Possible delayed recovery. Even if pain eases, recovery can slow if the cause remains.
  • Not a root-cause treatment. It only hides the pain. The problem stays the same.

As a rule, Yonsei SM does not use steroids.
We pursue root-cause treatment rather than temporary effects.

Hydrodissection (Circulation HD)

A technique that separates tissue with saline. It does not use steroids.

Advantages

  • No tissue weakening
  • Can be repeated
  • Releases physical adhesions
  • Improves blood flow

Indications

  • Nerve compression (carpal tunnel, etc.)
  • Tendon/fascial adhesions
  • Frozen shoulder
  • Post-surgical adhesions

Because side effects are minimal, it can be repeated when needed.

Why should you avoid steroid injections?

“They say cortisone shots dissolve your bones. Is that true?”

“Bones dissolving” is an exaggeration, but it is true that repeated steroid injections weaken tendons and cartilage. The tissue around the injection site gradually weakens and can eventually lead to greater damage.

“Once I get one, do I have to keep getting them?”

Steroid injections focus on temporarily reducing pain rather than solving the cause. So over time the discomfort returns and some people end up repeating them. In such cases, an approach that addresses both the cause and function together can help, such as the Circulation Combo (Circulation HD + Circulation PT).

“I was advised to get a cortisone shot. Is it okay to get one?”

It can help temporarily when acute inflammation is severe, but it is not recommended over the long term. There are ways to control pain without steroid injections. Circulation HD releases adhesions and improves blood flow using only saline, without steroids.

Yonsei SM’s injection treatment principles

  1. NO steroid injections
    Yonsei SM does not perform steroid injections. We pursue root-cause treatment rather than temporary effects.
  2. Circulation HD only
    Hydrodissection using saline has no side effects, so repeated treatments place no burden on you.
  3. Ultrasound-guided procedure
    By injecting at the exact spot while watching real-time imaging, we maximize the effect and minimize side effects.
  4. Injection + rehabilitation
    Care does not necessarily end with an injection. Circulation PT addresses movement and functional factors that may affect recurrence risk.

When Circulation HD can help

Hydrodissection (Circulation HD) indications

  • Nerve compression syndromes (carpal tunnel, cubital tunnel, etc.)
  • Chronic tendon/fascial problems
  • Frozen shoulder, joint adhesions
  • Post-surgical adhesions
  • Nerve compression caused by a disc
  • Chronic pain that requires repeated treatment

Because it uses only saline, it can be repeated as much as needed.
You don’t have to worry about “Is it okay to get the injection many times?”

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References

  • Coombes BK et al. Efficacy and safety of corticosteroid injections and other injections for management of tendinopathy: a systematic review of randomised controlled trials. Lancet. 2010;376(9754):1751-1767. PMID 20970844
  • Gaujoux-Viala C et al. Efficacy and safety of steroid injections for shoulder and elbow tendonitis: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Ann Rheum Dis. 2009;68(12):1843-1849.
  • Mishra A, Pavelko T. Treatment of chronic elbow tendinosis with buffered platelet-rich plasma. Am J Sports Med. 2006;34(11):1774-1778. PMID 16735582
  • Smidt N et al. Corticosteroid injections, physiotherapy, or a wait-and-see policy for lateral epicondylitis: a randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2002;359(9307):657-662. PMID 11879861