Cortisone shots have been one of the most common pain-management tools used throughout Cleveland and Northeast Ohio for decades. They’re frequently recommended for chronic knee pain, hip pain, shoulder injuries, plantar fasciitis, tendonitis, and joint inflammation. And while cortisone injections may offer temporary relief, more and more patients are discovering their biggest limitation:

They don’t fix the problem.

In fact, repeated cortisone injections can weaken tissues, accelerate degeneration, and ultimately push some patients closer to surgery. That’s why so many people across Cleveland, Willoughby Hills, Mentor, Euclid, Mayfield Heights, Wickliffe, and Ashtabula are searching for a safer, more effective approach—one that actually helps the body heal instead of simply numbing pain.

That alternative is SoftWave Therapy at Cleveland Disc Center—a breakthrough regenerative treatment offering long-term, non-invasive relief without needles, steroids, or harmful side effects.

Why Cortisone Shots Are So Popular—But So Misunderstood

Cortisone shots are commonly recommended because they can provide quick, temporary relief. They reduce inflammation around joints, tendons, and nerves, which may decrease pain for a short period of time.

However, many patients are not told the full picture:

• Relief from cortisone typically lasts weeks—not months.
• Effects wear off faster with each shot.
• Repeat injections may weaken tendons.
• Cortisone can accelerate joint degeneration.
• Injections do nothing to repair damaged tissue.

This is why so many patients get stuck in a frustrating cycle of pain returning again and again—because the underlying issue is never fixed.

The Problems With Relying on Cortisone Shots

While cortisone can be effective for short-term inflammation, it also carries risks that many patients in Cleveland are not aware of.

1. Relief Is Temporary

In most cases, cortisone injections wear off within weeks or months. When the effect fades, pain returns—often worse than before.

2. Cortisone Doesn’t Heal Tissue

It reduces inflammation but does not repair tendons, ligaments, muscles, nerves, or joints.

3. Repeated Injections Can Be Harmful

Studies show that repeated cortisone injections can weaken tendons, damage cartilage, and contribute to joint deterioration.

4. Potential Side Effects

Side effects can include increased pain, nerve irritation, tissue breakdown, elevated blood sugar, and joint instability.

5. Doesn't Stop the Pain Cycle

Because the root cause remains untreated, patients often end up needing injections multiple times a year.

These drawbacks are a major reason Cleveland-area patients are now turning to regenerative therapy instead.

The Regenerative Alternative: SoftWave Therapy

SoftWave Therapy is quickly becoming Cleveland’s most trusted alternative to cortisone injections. This FDA-cleared, non-invasive treatment uses patented electrohydraulic supersonic acoustic waves to stimulate deep healing and regeneration inside the body.

Unlike cortisone, SoftWave works to repair damaged tissues instead of temporarily reducing inflammation.

SoftWave Therapy helps:

• Reduce chronic or acute inflammation
• Increase blood flow to damaged tissues
• Break down scar tissue and adhesions
• Stimulate stem-cell activity for regeneration
• Calm irritated or compressed nerves
• Improve joint mobility and flexibility
• Restore long-term function and relieve pain at the source

Sessions last 10–15 minutes and require zero downtime. Many Cleveland patients report relief during their very first SoftWave treatment.

Why Cleveland Patients Are Choosing SoftWave Instead of Cortisone

SoftWave Therapy is rapidly becoming the preferred treatment option for patients who want long-lasting, meaningful relief without injections. Here’s why.

1. It Treats the Root Cause

SoftWave helps repair damaged tissue, reduce chronic inflammation, and support real healing—something cortisone cannot do.

2. No Needles or Steroids

No injections. No medication. No harmful side effects.

3. Long-Lasting Results

Because SoftWave promotes regeneration, many patients experience long-term relief, not temporary symptom masking.

4. Prevents Surgery

Many Cleveland patients avoid knee, hip, shoulder, spine, and foot surgeries thanks to SoftWave’s regenerative effects.

5. Works for Acute and Chronic Pain

SoftWave is effective for new injuries and long-standing pain that cortisone cannot fix.

6. Safe for Repeat Use

Unlike cortisone, SoftWave can be used safely over time because it does not weaken or damage tissues.

Conditions SoftWave Helps Treat Without Cortisone

SoftWave Therapy is effective for conditions commonly treated with cortisone shots, including:

• Knee pain or arthritis
• Shoulder pain and rotator cuff irritation
• Hip pain or limited mobility
• Plantar fasciitis and heel pain
• Tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow
• Sciatica and nerve pain
• Chronic back or neck pain
• Bursitis or tendonitis
• Post-injury inflammation
• Degenerative joint changes

Because SoftWave reduces chronic inflammation and repairs tissue, it is especially effective for pain conditions that have not responded well to cortisone injections.

Serving Cleveland, Ashtabula, and All of Northeast Ohio

Cleveland Disc Center provides SoftWave Therapy to patients throughout Greater Cleveland—including Willoughby Hills, Mentor, Euclid, Mayfield Heights, Wickliffe, and beyond. The Ashtabula location serves patients along the Lake Erie shoreline and the northeastern corridor.

Patients travel from across Northeast Ohio because they want a treatment that helps them feel better naturally—not temporarily.

Are You a Candidate for SoftWave Therapy?

You may be an excellent candidate if:

• You’ve had cortisone injections but pain keeps returning
• You want to avoid injections or medication
• You’re experiencing chronic inflammation or recurring pain
• You want a treatment that helps you heal—not just feel better temporarily
• You’re hoping to avoid surgery
• You want long-lasting, natural pain relief

Most patients who are considering cortisone shots see significantly better results with SoftWave Therapy.

Request a SoftWave Discovery Day Here!

Before you schedule another cortisone injection—or your first one—discover a regenerative treatment option that helps your body heal itself naturally.

Request a SoftWave Discovery Day Here!

Find out why so many Cleveland-area patients are choosing SoftWave Therapy as their preferred alternative to cortisone shots—and getting long-term relief.