City Medical Centre · multi-specialty surgery clinicOpen 24/7
EN
Message us on Telegram

Arthritis Treatment in Addis Ababa

A doctor looks at your case and tests first, then PRP and SVF cell therapy can become part of arthritis care for the knee, hand, shoulder or other joints

Knee joint: regenerative treatment without surgery
Joint treatment without surgery. Free consultation and review of your scans

Message our coordinator

Free online consultation · Reply within 15 minutes

Message us on Telegram

By messaging us, you agree to our Privacy Policy

What it is

What is arthritis
and when does this treatment fit?

Arthritis refers to inflammation within a joint. Typical complaints are resting and night-time pain, morning stiffness beyond half an hour, swelling, redness and warmth. It may be driven by autoimmune disease like rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis, by gout, by an infection or by a former injury.

  • No surgery — an injection instead of an operation
  • Own tissue — your blood and adipose tissue
  • Ultrasound guidance for every injection
Knee joint: an injection under ultrasound guidance

Who the treatment suits

It is a doctor who decides, after examining you and going through your scans, whether the treatment suits you

Suitable

A doctor reviews knee X-rays with a patient
  • Pain, crunching or stiffness in a joint
  • Painkillers only help for a short time
  • Recovery after injuries and surgery
  • You need a second opinion on your scans
  • You want to avoid or postpone joint replacement
  • Early or moderate arthrosis or arthritis
  • High load on the joints — sport or physical work

Not suitable

A doctor examines a patient's knee
  • Cancer
  • Pregnancy
  • Blood clotting disorders
  • Acute infections, including infection in or near the joint
  • Flare-up of a serious chronic illness
  • Temporary contraindications: skin inflammation over the joint to be treated, a fever, a cold or flu

Not sure the treatment is right for you?

Leave your number — the coordinator will ask for your scans (X-ray, MRI or ultrasound), and the doctor will tell you whether treatment without surgery suits you.

Find out if it suits me

What we treat

Conditions we treat

How it works

How the procedure goes: step by step

Consultation and scan review1

Consultation and scan review

First comes an examination of the joint and a look at your X-rays, MRI or ultrasound; then the doctor decides whether the procedure fits your case. Existing scans can be sent before the visit.

Blood sample for PRP2

Blood sample for PRP

A small blood sample is taken from a vein. Later, platelet-rich plasma with growth factors is prepared from this blood.

Adipose tissue sample3

Adipose tissue sample

A puncture on the abdomen or inner thigh, local anaesthetic and about 30 ml of adipose tissue taken — the site needs no stitches.

Processing in a centrifuge4

Processing in a centrifuge

The sample goes into a centrifuge and separates into layers; next, the stromal vascular fraction is isolated and combined with the platelet-rich plasma.

Injection into the joint5

Injection into the joint

Using ultrasound guidance to place it precisely, the prepared material is injected directly into the joint that is affected.

Follow-up6

Follow-up

There are no crutches and no hospital stay. After the procedure the doctor keeps in touch and follows how the joint responds.

Book a consultation

Call or message us — our coordinator will contact you shortly and book your consultation

A doctor talks with a patient about joint treatment
Book a consultation
A doctor talks with a patient about joint treatment

Results

After the procedure

  • Doctor talking warmly with a patient after the procedure

    1 week

    The joint may ache a little more — this is an expected reaction.

  • Doctor consulting an older patient one month after treatment

    1 month

    The pain usually eases.

  • Doctor explaining progress to a patient using a knee joint model

    ~3 months

    Mobility and activity improve.

  • Doctor and patient walking together at a follow-up visit

    ~6 months

    The full effect develops.

How long it lasts differs from person to person and depends on the stage of the condition, body weight, activity and other factors — no one can promise a fixed result.

Comparison

Methods we use

The treatment relies only on your own blood and adipose tissue, not on donor or synthetic material

Cell therapy (SVF) from your own adipose tissue

SVF, or stromal vascular fraction, is a mix of cells involved in tissue repair, isolated by processing a small amount of your adipose tissue. It is combined with plasma from your own blood and injected into the affected joint.

A doctor explains SVF cell therapy for the knee to a patient on a tablet

After the acute flare settles, inflammatory arthritis can be treated with it for its action on tissue repair and local inflammation.

Material
Your adipose tissue and plasma
How it is given
Into the joint, under ultrasound
Duration
The whole procedure is done in one day.

PRP — platelet-rich plasma from your own blood

Your blood, in a small amount, provides plasma rich in platelets and growth factors; injected into the joint, it helps ease inflammation and creates better conditions for repair of the tissues.

A doctor explains PRP therapy for joints to a patient on a monitor

For rheumatoid and other forms of inflammatory arthritis it may be suggested as one component of the overall plan of treatment.

Material
Your blood from a vein
How it is given
Into the joint, under ultrasound
Duration
The whole procedure is done in one day.

The benefits and timings shown are averaged and given for guidance: the plan and recovery depend on your joint and individual features, and the doctor confirms them at the consultation.

At the consultation the doctor will review your scans and suggest a treatment plan

Free consultation

Book a consultation

Joints

Joints we treat

Any size of joint, large or small: your scans are reviewed first, then the doctor settles on the joint, the method and the number of injections

  • KneeKneePain climbing stairs and after walking, plus cartilage wear and meniscus problems
  • HipHipEarly hip osteoarthritis, groin pain, limited rotation
  • ShoulderShoulderWear in the joint and the tendons around it, painful arm raising
  • ElbowElbowPain brought on by overuse or sporting strain, with wear of the joint surfaces
  • Hand and wrist jointsHand and wrist jointsPain and stiffness affecting the small joints of the fingers and wrist
  • AnkleAnklePain and stiffness after sprains and old injuries

Advantages

Why patients choose City Medical Centre

Preserving your own joint, not replacing it, is the goal of our treatment without surgery

Your own tissue

Your own tissue

The treatment relies only on your own blood and adipose tissue, not on donor or synthetic material

No crutches

No crutches

No long rehabilitation — just punctures instead of incisions and local anaesthetic

Second opinion

Second opinion

A doctor independently assesses the X-rays, MRI or reports you send — free of charge

Support after the procedure

Support after the procedure

The result matters to us beyond injection day, so we stay in touch after the procedure

About the clinic

A clinic where you can feel at ease

Modern equipment, comfortable rooms and care for every patient

A doctor and a patient at the clinic

Contact us the way that suits you

We will answer your questions and find a convenient time for a consultation

Request a free call

Price

Arthritis treatment prices

The cost depends on the joint, the type of arthritis and the method, so the doctor names it after the consultation

FAQ

Joint treatment: frequently asked questions

About the conditions

More about these conditions

Other services of our clinic

Arthritis treatment in Addis Ababa: what you should know

The causes of arthritis vary: autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis, gout, infection or an old injury. In Addis Ababa, the doctor first confirms the type of arthritis, because treatment depends on it.

Treatment starts with a consultation and a review of your scans and tests. Then blood and a small adipose tissue sample are taken, processed in a centrifuge and injected into the joint under ultrasound guidance. For patients from Addis Ababa, it is done in one day.

Patients from Addis Ababa can start with a free review of their tests and scans: the doctor tells you whether regenerative treatment could suit your type of arthritis and what it would cost.

Addis Ababa and the question of painful joints

Addis Ababa is the capital and largest city of Ethiopia, with an estimated population of 6,287,000 inhabitants as of 2025. It is a city of walkers, market traders, office workers, students and diplomats, and almost everyone spends part of the day on their feet. The streets climb and fall with the foothills of Mount Entoto, buses and light rail are crowded, and many people cross uneven pavements on their way to work. When a knee, hip, ankle or the small joints of the hands begin to hurt, the effect shows up quickly in daily routine.

The city's name means 'new flower' in Amharic, and the Oromo name Finfinnee refers to a fountain of hot mineral water. Mineral springs shaped the early settlement, and the city still has a reputation for spas and warm baths. Many residents therefore try warmth, rest and massage first. That is understandable, but joint inflammation is a medical condition, and a warm bath does not tell you what is causing it. If pain, swelling and stiffness keep returning, the cause should be found properly.

This text is written for residents of Addis Ababa who are considering arthritis treatment and want a realistic picture of how the process fits into city life. It does not replace an examination. It explains what to observe, what to ask and how the free online consultation with the City Medical Centre coordinators works from your own home or office.

What arthritis is and when to seek an assessment

With arthritis, the joints are affected by inflammation. Typical signs are pain even at rest and at night, stiffness on waking that lasts more than 30 minutes, swelling, redness and a warm joint. This differs from the ache of an ordinary day on your feet, which usually eases with rest. If a joint hurts while you lie in bed in the cool Addis night, or if your hands feel stiff and slow after waking, that pattern deserves attention.

Possible causes include autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, infections, gout and psoriasis. Each of these needs different handling, so the first task is always to clarify the cause rather than simply to quiet the pain. A person from Addis Ababa who has a swollen, hot, red joint should not wait for the next season or the next holiday. Such a picture needs a doctor's examination in person, and tests ordered by the treating physician.

Patients in the city often ask whether the problem is just the cold. The cool highland weather can make joints feel worse, and many people notice this in the rainy months. But weather only changes how you feel. It does not explain inflammation that persists at rest and at night. Keep a short diary for two or three weeks: which joints, what time of day, how long the morning stiffness lasts, whether swelling appears. This diary is very useful for the remote consultation.

Where SVF therapy may fit, and where it does not

Among the options discussed on this subject is SVF therapy, which uses the patient's own adipose tissue. Under local anaesthetic, a small portion of adipose tissue (about 30 ml) is taken through a puncture on the abdomen or inner thigh. No stitches are needed. The tissue is then processed, and the specialists plan how it is to be used according to your diagnosis.

The stage of the disease matters a great deal. At early stages (1–2), SVF therapy may be considered to support blood supply to the femoral head and delay the need for joint replacement. At later stages surgery is usually required. This is a frank limit, and a patient in Addis Ababa should hear it clearly during the first conversation. If imaging shows an advanced stage, the honest advice may be an orthopaedic operation and not a cell-based method.

SVF therapy is not a replacement for treating the cause. If the underlying problem is gout, an infection, psoriasis or an autoimmune condition, the treating physician in your own city remains central to the plan. The online consultation helps you understand whether the method is even relevant to your situation, and it does not promise an outcome. Bring your existing reports, so the discussion starts from facts and not from guesses.

Climate of Addis Ababa and recovery after the procedure

Addis Ababa lies at 2,355 metres in the Ethiopian Highlands and has a subtropical highland climate. Temperatures are very constant from month to month, and no month has a mean temperature above 22 °C. For someone recovering from a small puncture on the abdomen or inner thigh, this is a gentle setting. Extreme heat on the wound is unlikely, and heavy sweating is less of a concern than in lowland cities.

The dry season runs from mid-November to January. Daytime maximums are usually not more than 23 °C, while nights range from 5 °C to 10 °C and can drop to freezing. Cold nights may make joints stiffer, so plan warm clothing, a warm bed and a comfortable room, and keep the treated area clean and covered as the doctors instruct. The short rains from February to May bring warm days with pleasant rainfall, and the long wet season from June to mid-September is the coldest, with rain, hail and cloud.

In rainy weeks, damp clothes and mud on the streets are the practical issue. Choose dry, loose clothing over the puncture area, avoid long walks in wet shoes, and do not stand in cold crowded queues for hours if a joint is painful. Dust is common in dry months, so keep the wound protected and follow only the wound-care rules given by the medical team. Because the sun at altitude can be strong even on cool days, cover the treated area and use a hat when you go out.

Choosing the season in Addis Ababa

There is no single perfect month, and the choice depends on your work and family calendar. The dry months from mid-November to January are predictable: little rain, clear days, easy movement around the city. The cold nights are the drawback for painful joints, so a warm home matters more than the date itself.

The short rainy season from February to May is mild and warm, and the temperature difference between day and night is smaller, with minimums in the range of 10–15 °C. Many people find this period comfortable for resting at home. The long wet season, from June to mid-September, is the coldest time of year, with frequent rain and dark, chilly days. Those who feel their joints worsen in the damp may prefer to schedule treatment away from that period, but a worsening disease should not be delayed only for the weather.

The more important question is timing relative to the disease itself. Because SVF therapy is considered at early stages (1–2), waiting many seasons for a convenient month can mean that the situation changes. Discuss with the coordinators how urgent your case is, and plan the calendar around that, not around the weather.

Work, study and daily life during recovery

Addis Ababa has a diverse economy: trade and commerce, manufacturing, civil administration, transport, education, health and social services, and hotel and catering. A trader on their feet all day, a teacher in front of a class, a clerk at a desk and a driver in city traffic will have different needs. Describe your actual working day to the coordinators, including how long you stand, walk, lift and sit.

Since the procedure takes only a small portion of adipose tissue (about 30 ml) through a puncture, with no stitches, the point of discussion is usually how you will manage the first days: rest at home, light walking, avoiding crowded buses if you feel sore. The city has public buses, light rail and taxis, and rush hours can mean standing and pushing. Ask the surgeon what is reasonable for you and arrange a quieter way to move around if needed.

Students at the city's many universities and colleges should talk about exams, lab sessions and long hours on hard benches. Homemakers, who make up a large group in the city's statistics, often carry water, cook and look after children, and they should plan help in the household for the first days. Ask the coordinators for a written outline of the plan that you can share with your employer or family, and do not hide a swollen joint from your manager until it becomes severe.

Sport, running culture and activity

Addis Ababa is known for running. The Jan Meda International Cross Country takes place in the city, and the Great Ethiopian Run, a long-distance road race, is held each year in late October. Many residents jog in the morning in the cool highland air, join running clubs or simply walk long distances. For someone with an inflamed joint, the temptation to keep training is strong, and it can be harmful.

Pain at rest, pain at night, swelling and a warm joint are signals to stop high-impact exercise until the cause is clarified. Running on a swollen knee or ankle may worsen the situation. After any procedure, return to sport only on the surgeon's advice, step by step, starting with easy walking and moving to more load only if the joint stays calm. If you are preparing for a city race, ask honestly whether this season is realistic or whether a later event is wiser.

Gentle activity matters too, since complete immobility can make stiffness worse. Ask your doctor which movements are suitable: short walks on flat surfaces, simple range-of-motion exercises, swimming or stretching if allowed. The high altitude also means breathing is harder during effort, so do not judge your joint condition by how tired you feel on a hill.

Food, fasting and family events

Food in Addis Ababa is a social matter. Meals are often shared from a common plate with injera, and coffee ceremonies bring family and neighbours together for long sittings. Sitting on low stools or on the floor for a long time can be uncomfortable with painful knees or hips, so choose a higher seat and change position regularly. Tell your family beforehand that you need to move and stretch.

Many residents are Ethiopian Orthodox, and many are Muslim or Protestant, so fasting periods and religious holidays are part of the calendar for a large share of the city. If you fast, tell the coordinators and your treating physician, because medication timing and general strength during recovery should be discussed, and no one should change medicines by themselves. Weddings, funerals and holiday gatherings are important and long, so plan the procedure so that you are not standing for many hours or dancing before the puncture area has settled.

Body weight also matters for joints. Obesity and overweight put extra load on the hips and knees, and the World Health Organization publishes a fact sheet on obesity and overweight. A sensible, balanced diet supports recovery, but no particular food replaces medical treatment. Ask the doctors about general eating habits during recovery, and avoid extreme diets.

How the remote consultation works from Addis Ababa

You contact the City Medical Centre from your own city. The online consultation is free, and the coordinators are available 24/7 on WhatsApp and Telegram, so you can write after work or late in the evening when the house is quiet. You do not need to visit anyone in person to start. Send a short description of your complaints, your diary of symptoms, and any reports, scans or laboratory results you already have.

The specialists review the material and tell you whether SVF therapy may be considered at your stage, or whether a different path, such as surgery, is more appropriate. If the stage is advanced, you will be told so. Prepare your questions in advance: what is the likely cause of my joint inflammation, which stage does the imaging suggest, what exactly would be done, what follow-up do I need with my own physician in Addis Ababa, and what warning signs should make me seek urgent help?

Keep your own doctor informed. The remote team does not replace local examination, blood tests or emergency care. If a joint becomes suddenly hot, red, swollen and very painful, or if you develop fever, seek urgent medical help in the city without waiting for an online reply.

How do I know if my joint pain in Addis Ababa is arthritis?

Typical signs of arthritis are pain even at rest and at night, stiffness on waking that lasts more than 30 minutes, swelling, redness and a warm joint. Ordinary tiredness after a long day usually eases with rest. If you recognise the first group of signs, ask for a medical examination and describe your symptoms to the coordinators.

What causes arthritis?

Possible causes include autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, infections, gout and psoriasis. Each cause needs its own approach, so the diagnosis comes first. Treatment of the underlying condition remains with your treating physician.

Is SVF therapy suitable for everyone?

No. At early stages (1–2), SVF therapy may be considered to support blood supply to the femoral head and delay the need for joint replacement. At later stages surgery is usually required. The specialists will tell you honestly which situation applies to you after reviewing your reports.

How is the tissue taken?

Under local anaesthetic, a small portion of adipose tissue (about 30 ml) is taken through a puncture on the abdomen or inner thigh. No stitches are needed. Ask the surgeon how to care for the puncture area during the first days.

Does the cool climate of Addis Ababa affect recovery?

The highland climate is moderate, and no month has a mean temperature above 22 °C, so overheating of the wound is rarely an issue. Cold nights from mid-November to January, and the cold wet season from June to mid-September, may make joints feel stiffer. Keep warm, dry and clean, and follow the wound-care instructions of the medical team.

Which season is better for the procedure?

Each season has advantages. The dry months are predictable, the short rains from February to May are mild, and the long wet season is the coldest. The stage of your disease is more important than the weather, so discuss urgency with the coordinators before choosing a month.

Can I keep running or training in the city?

If a joint is swollen, warm or painful at rest, high-impact exercise should be paused until the cause is clear. After any procedure return to sport step by step, only with the surgeon's agreement. Gentle walking and the exercises recommended by your doctor are usually better than complete immobility.

Can I fast or follow religious traditions during treatment?

Many residents of Addis Ababa fast at certain times. Tell your doctors and coordinators in advance, because general strength, medication schedules and recovery should be discussed. Do not change or stop any prescribed medicine by yourself.

How do I start the online consultation?

Write to the coordinators on WhatsApp or Telegram. They are available around the clock (24/7), and the consultation is free. Send your symptom diary, existing scans and laboratory results, and your questions, and the specialists will explain whether SVF therapy may be considered at your stage.

What if my symptoms suddenly get worse?

If a joint becomes suddenly hot, red, swollen and severely painful, or if you have a fever, seek urgent medical help in Addis Ababa at once. The online consultation is not an emergency service and does not replace in-person care.