Medically reviewed by Charles A. DeCook, MD ·
YOUR JOINT OPTIONS · DECISION GUIDE
PRP, cortisone, or gel injections for knee arthritis?
These injections are not interchangeable. Cortisone is used for short-term symptom relief; recommendations for gel injections and PRP differ. None should be presented as a proven way to regrow an arthritic joint. Selection depends on the joint, disease stage, risks, and goals.
Updated September 24, 2026 · Educational synthesis · People & medical review status
Cortisone: define the short-term goal
Discuss the specific medicine, your health history, and any planned operation. Ask what relief would help you do, what temporary effects to expect, and when to seek help after the injection. A repeat injection deserves a fresh review of benefits and risks.
Gel injections: ask about both evidence and coverage
AAOS does not recommend hyaluronic acid injections for routine use in knee osteoarthritis. A coverage decision answers a different question from a clinical guideline. The treatment page explains the evidence disagreements and Medicare qualification issues.
Read the supporting source ↗PRP: ask which patients and preparation were studied
PRP preparations vary, and the findings should not be generalized across all arthritis stages. AAHKS does not recommend routine biologic injections for advanced hip or knee arthritis. Cost, uncertain response, and alternatives belong in the conversation.
Read the supporting source ↗Make the comparison personal without guessing
Ask each provider the same questions: what exactly is injected, how many visits are planned, what the total cost includes, and how a disappointing result will be managed. Read the linked treatment evidence before comparing prices.
| Option | Clarify before deciding | Read the evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Cortisone | Short-term goal, medicine risks, repeat care and surgery timing. | Cortisone evidence |
| Gel injections | Guideline disagreement, exact product, course and coverage criteria. | Gel injection evidence |
| PRP | Arthritis stage, preparation, uncertain response and cash cost. | PRP evidence |
Questions to take to your visit
- Does the evidence match my joint and arthritis stage?
- What is the whole course likely to cost?
- Does this affect the timing of a planned operation?
Explore the treatment details
Compare practical expectations ↗Sources and limitations
These are selected references, not an exhaustive review. Guidelines address different populations and may disagree. Your clinician determines how evidence applies to you.
A CONVERSATION WITH A SPECIALIST
Meet the surgeons.
Explore the professional profiles of Charles A. DeCook, MD and the hip and knee surgeons at Total Joint Specialists.
Contact the practice directly about appointments, services, and coverage. A professional profile is not a personal treatment recommendation. Medical review attribution is shown separately on reviewed pages.