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SoftWave Therapy vs. Steroid Injections for Osteoarthritis Pain Relief: A Better Long-Term Solution

Published April 10th, 2025 by Stoetzel Chiropractic Clinic

Knee Pain

SoftWave Therapy vs. Steroid Injections for Osteoarthritis Pain Relief: A Better Long-Term Solution

Why More Patients Are Choosing Regeneration Over Temporary Relief

Living with osteoarthritis can make everyday movements—walking, standing, climbing stairs, even getting out of bed—painful and frustrating. While steroid injections have long been offered as a standard treatment, more and more patients are turning to SoftWave Tissue Regeneration Technology (TRT) for a better, more sustainable path to pain relief.

At Stoetzel Chiropractic Clinic in Winston-Salem, NC, Dr. John Stoetzel and his team are helping patients with osteoarthritis experience lasting relief and true healing using SoftWave Therapy—without drugs, injections, or surgery.

Understanding the Limitations of Steroid Injections

Steroid (corticosteroid) injections are commonly used for joint pain, including in the knees, hips, shoulders, and spine. While they can temporarily reduce inflammation and provide short-term pain relief, they come with several significant drawbacks:

Downsides of Steroid Injections:

  • Temporary Relief Only: Most patients experience relief for only a few weeks to a few months. Repeated injections are often needed.

  • No Healing or Regeneration: Steroid injections do not repair cartilage, ligaments, tendons, or joints. They simply suppress symptoms.

  • Potential Side Effects: These may include elevated blood sugar, immune suppression, mood changes, weight gain, and more.

  • Tissue Damage Over Time: Repeated injections can actually weaken cartilage and connective tissue, worsening joint health over time.

  • Increased Risk of Joint Degeneration: Some studies link long-term steroid use to accelerated joint damage and higher risk of joint replacement surgery.

The SoftWave Advantage: Backed by Science, Chosen by Patients

SoftWave Therapy offers a completely different approach—one focused on healing the joint from within. Instead of masking symptoms, SoftWave stimulates your body’s own regenerative mechanisms to repair and restore damaged tissue.

Why Patients with Osteoarthritis Prefer SoftWave:

  • Drug-Free and Non-Invasive

  • No Injections, No Surgery, No Downtime

  • Activates Stem Cells to Regenerate Damaged Tissue

  • Improves Blood Flow and Circulation

  • Reduces Inflammation at the Source

  • Promotes Long-Term Joint Health and Function

SoftWave is FDA-cleared, safe, and trusted by some of the world’s leading healthcare institutions.

The Science Behind SoftWave Therapy

SoftWave Therapy uses electrohydraulic supersonic acoustic waves—traveling at over 3,000 mph—to reach deep into the joint. This creates a cascade of healing responses that work at the cellular level:

  • VEGF and eNOS Activation: Stimulates angiogenesis, or new blood vessel formation, improving circulation and tissue oxygenation.

  • Stem Cell Activation and Migration: Mobilizes the body’s resident stem cells to repair and rebuild cartilage, tendons, and ligaments.

  • PCNA and BMP Stimulation: Promotes cell proliferation and tissue regeneration in areas affected by arthritis.

  • Modulation of Inflammation: SoftWave downregulates pro-inflammatory cytokines and balances immune response at the joint.

  • Toll-Like Receptor Regulation: Reduces chronic pain signaling and hypersensitivity in osteoarthritic joints.

This science-backed process supports long-term relief and improved joint function, without the risks or limitations of steroids.

A Better Choice for Long-Term Relief

Patients at Stoetzel Chiropractic Clinic often tell us they wish they had tried SoftWave before starting injections. Many are now choosing to discontinue injections altogether because they find:

  • Relief that lasts longer than steroids

  • Better mobility and joint function

  • Fewer side effects and no downtime

  • A more natural healing process that fits their lifestyle

SoftWave doesn't just treat symptoms—it helps the joint heal.

Join the Movement: Choose Regeneration Over Suppression

If you're tired of the cycle of repeat injections, temporary fixes, and joint degeneration, SoftWave Therapy offers real hope. It's trusted by Cleveland Clinic, Mayo Clinic, Walter Reed Military Medical Center, Harvard, Stanford, UCLA, and used by elite sports organizations around the world because it works.

Request a SoftWave Therapy new patient visit online today

Contact Stoetzel Chiropractic Clinic

Stoetzel Chiropractic Clinic
3333 Brookview Hills Blvd, Suite 101
Winston-Salem, NC 27103
Phone: (336) 773-1177
Our Main Office Website: https://winston-salemchiro.com

Dr. John Stoetzel and his team are proud to offer a conservative, science-based solution for osteoarthritis that prioritizes healing, mobility, and quality of life. If you're ready to take control of your joint health, SoftWave Therapy may be the answer.

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