"I Got A Knee Injection... And My Pain Got Worse. Why?

“I Got a Knee Injection… and My Pain Got Worse. Why?

If you've ever said this to yourself, you're not alone!

Many people get knee injections hoping for relief — to move easier, sleep better, and get their life back. So, when pain or swelling actually gets worse, it can be confusing and frustrating. Being told “that’s normal” doesn’t always feel like a real answer. Understanding why this happens may change how you think about joint pain — and what you do next

For years, regenerative medicine treatments like PRP and bone marrow injections have been described as “working by creating inflammation.” Patients were often told that swelling, pain, or stiffness after an injection was a sign the treatment was doing its job.

But emerging research suggests that this belief may be incomplete—and in some cases causes more harm than good.

Understanding how inflammation affects cartilage is changing how we think about regenerative medicine for arthritis and chronic joint pain.

Inflammation and Arthritis: Helpful or Harmful?

Inflammation plays a role in healing—but inside an arthritic joint, too much inflammation can increase cartilage breakdown rather than repair it.

Recent studies show that certain commonly used regenerative treatments may increase inflammatory signals that are associated with:

• Cartilage cell death

• Breakdown of type II collagen (the cartilage that cushions joints)

• Joint swelling and prolonged pain

This helps explain why some patients experience worsening swelling or limited improvement after injections that were intended to heal.

Why Some Regenerative Treatments Work Better Than Others

Newer approaches focus less on “how many cells are injected” and more on how the immune system responds inside the joint.

Some therapies promote a calming, anti-inflammatory environment that supports cartilage health and repair. Others may unintentionally stimulate processes that break down and destroy cartilage—especially in joints already affected by degeneration and arthritis.

This difference matters, particularly for patients with:

• Persistent knee, hip, or shoulder pain

• Swelling after activity

• Arthritis that has not responded to prior injections

There Is No One-Size-Fits-All Treatment for Joint Pain

Osteoarthritis is not the same for everyone. Some joints are primarily inflamed. Others are structurally worn down. Many are a combination of both.

Effective regenerative medicine requires:

• Understanding the underlying cause of joint pain

• Matching treatment to the biology of the joint

• Avoiding cookie-cutter (one-size-fits-all) approaches.

When treatment is personalized, outcomes improve. When it’s not, patients are often left frustrated and discouraged.

A More Thoughtful Approach to Regenerative Medicine

At Regenerative Medicine of Raynham, we believe regenerative care should be guided by evidence—not marketing trends.

If you’re exploring regenerative options for arthritis or chronic joint pain, the most important question isn’t what’s being injected, it’s what that treatment is doing inside your joint.

If you’re living with joint pain and wondering why previous treatments haven’t helped—or whether regenerative medicine could still be an option—it may be worth a deeper, more personalized conversation.

Understanding your joint is often the first step toward changing your outcome.

Dr. Brian Petrie