NSAIDs, Steroid Injections, and Turmeric are Often Options Joint pain flares push many people toward two common options: Oral NSAIDs Intra-articular corticosteroid injections Both have been widely used for decades. Both temporarily reduce pain. And both have well-documented downsides for cartilage biology. Oral NSAIDs inhibit COX-1 and COX-2 and can impair: Cartilage cell metabolism Proteoglycan synthesis Collagen turnover Long-term cartilage recovery Repeated intra-articular

By Deborah Westergaard, MD | Pain Experts | Dallas–Plano Living with knee osteoarthritis means living with pain, stiffness, and the fear that surgery may be the only solution. The root problem? Loss of cartilage — the smooth cushion that protects your joints. Most treatments only manage symptoms. Patients often ask: “Can PRP actually help my cartilage grow back?” Does PRP Help Cartilage Grow Back? Insights From Some Studies Using MRI and ultrasound, multiple studies have repo

By Deborah Westergaard, MD Pain Experts The Problem: Incomplete Diagnosis and Treatment of Tennis Elbow Tennis elbow, or lateral epicondylitis, is often misdiagnosed or treated with outdated approaches. Many doctors rely solely on physical exams and blind injections into the extensor tendon using steroids or platelet-rich plasma (PRP). While this may provide temporary pain relief, it often misses key issues like joint involvement, ligament instability, or cartilage damage tha