Arthritis Treatment in Adelaide: Steps and Aftercare
For arthritis in the knee, hand, shoulder or another joint, PRP and SVF cell therapy form one part of care — starting with a doctor's review of your tests
No surgery — an injection instead of an operation
Own tissue — your blood and adipose tissue
Ultrasound guidance for every injection
Free consultation
and review of your scans
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.
PRP and SVF can support the tissues of the joint and help bring down inflammation and pain. They do not replace a rheumatologist when the disease is systemic. The doctor confirms your type of arthritis and the right timing first, and the procedure is not performed during a severe flare or an active joint infection.
No surgery — an injection instead of an operation
Ultrasound guidance for every injection
Free consultation and review of your scans
Joints we treat
We treat large and small joints; the joint, the method and the injection count are set by the doctor after a review of your scans
Elbow
Pain after overuse or sports strain, wear of the joint surfaces
Hand and wrist joints
Painful, stiff small joints of the wrist and fingers
Knee
Meniscus issues and cartilage wear, with pain after walking or on stairs
Hip
Early hip osteoarthritis, groin pain, limited rotation
Ankle
Pain and stiffness after sprains and old injuries
Shoulder
Joint and surrounding tendon wear, with pain on lifting the arm
Methods we use
Cell therapy (SVF) from your own adipose tissue
Processing a small sample of adipose tissue from your body isolates the stromal vascular fraction (SVF) — cells that play a part in tissue repair. This is combined with your plasma and injected straight into the affected joint.
After the acute flare settles, inflammatory arthritis can be treated with it for its action on tissue repair and local inflammation.
PRP — platelet-rich plasma from your own blood
From a small amount of your blood, plasma rich in growth factors and platelets is separated and injected into the joint. It helps to calm inflammation and creates better conditions for repairing tissue.
It can be advised for rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory arthritis, as a single element of the wider treatment plan.
How the procedure goes: step by step
Consultation and scan review
Examination of the joint and a review of X-rays, MRI or ultrasound let the doctor decide whether the procedure is suitable for you; scans you already have can be sent beforehand.
Blood sample for PRP
From a small amount of blood drawn from a vein, platelet-rich plasma with growth factors is prepared later on.
The doctor tells you in advance which tests are needed.
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 centrifuge
The sample is placed in a centrifuge, where it splits into layers. From these the stromal vascular fraction is isolated and combined with the platelet-rich plasma.
The whole procedure is done in one day.
Injection into the joint
Guided by ultrasound for accurate placement, the doctor injects the prepared material directly into the affected joint.
Follow-up
No hospital stay and no crutches. Once the procedure is done, the doctor remains in touch and tracks how your joint responds.
Consultation and scan review
Examination of the joint and a review of X-rays, MRI or ultrasound let the doctor decide whether the procedure is suitable for you; scans you already have can be sent beforehand.
Blood sample for PRP
From a small amount of blood drawn from a vein, platelet-rich plasma with growth factors is prepared later on.
The doctor tells you in advance which tests are needed.
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 centrifuge
The sample is placed in a centrifuge, where it splits into layers. From these the stromal vascular fraction is isolated and combined with the platelet-rich plasma.
The whole procedure is done in one day.
Injection into the joint
Guided by ultrasound for accurate placement, the doctor injects the prepared material directly into the affected joint.
Follow-up
No hospital stay and no crutches. Once the procedure is done, the doctor remains in touch and tracks how your joint responds.
Follow-up visits
Follow-up visits are there so the doctor can see the joint's response and adjust the plan. Expect pain to ease over the first month, mobility to improve over about three months and the full effect to develop over around six months.
Conditions we treat
Whether this treatment fits you is a doctor's decision, made after an examination and a scan review
What we work with
Arthritis
Arthrosis
Avascular necrosis
Osteoarthritis
Gonarthrosis (knee osteoarthritis)
Coxarthrosis (hip osteoarthritis)
Meniscus pathology and injury
Rehabilitation after injuries and surgery
Inflammatory joint conditions
Contraindications
Cancer
Pregnancy
Blood clotting disorders
Acute infections, including infection in or near the joint
Flare-up of a serious chronic illness
Cancer
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Serious heart, kidney or liver disease
Temporary contraindications: skin inflammation over the joint to be treated, a fever, a cold or flu
Book a consultation
Call or message us —
our coordinator will contact you shortly
and book your consultation
Book a consultation
Call or message us —
our coordinator will contact you shortly
and book your consultation
After the procedure
Going home the same day is the norm, and within a day or two most people are back to daily life; the punctures are covered with small dressings. For the first week the joint may ache a little more — this is expected. Pain usually eases over the first month; mobility and activity improve over about three months; the full effect develops over around six months. The effect lasts differently for each person, depending on the stage of the condition, body weight, activity and other factors, and no one can promise a fixed result. If you are under a rheumatologist, talk to them before stopping prescribed medication.
Why patients choose City Medical Centre
Your own joint stays: we work on keeping it rather than replacing it — treatment without surgery
Your own tissue
Nothing donor or synthetic — only your own blood and adipose tissue are used
No crutches
Punctures instead of incisions, local anaesthetic, no long rehabilitation
Second opinion
For a free, independent doctor's assessment, send us your X-rays, MRI or reports
Support after the procedure
The result matters to us beyond injection day, so we stay in touch after the procedure
Arthritis treatment prices
After the consultation the doctor names the cost, which depends on the joint, the arthritis type and the method
Service
Price
Book a consultation
Call or message us —
our coordinator will contact you shortly
and book your consultation
Book a consultation
Call or message us —
our coordinator will contact you shortly
and book your consultation
Joint treatment: frequently asked questions
What is arthritis and what are its symptoms?
With arthritis, the joints are affected by inflammation. Typical are pain even at rest and at night, stiffness on waking that lasts more than 30 minutes, swelling, redness and a warm joint. Possible causes: autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, infections, gout and psoriasis.
Can PRP help with rheumatoid arthritis?
It does not replace the treatment prescribed by your rheumatologist, but PRP can complement it: in rheumatoid and other inflammatory arthritis it may help reduce local inflammation, pain and swelling, as platelet growth factors influence the immune response and tissue repair.
Can psoriatic arthritis be cured?
A complete cure for psoriatic arthritis, a chronic disease, is not currently possible. What we aim for is long remission — control of inflammation and prevention of joint deformity — and regenerative injections can form one part of that plan.
How does SVF work in autoimmune arthritis?
SVF contains cells that can modulate the local immune response and support the repair of damaged tissue in the joint. Research in this area is ongoing, so the doctor will discuss realistic expectations for your type of arthritis.
When is the treatment not suitable?
It is not done during an active joint infection, a severe flare, pregnancy, cancer or blood clotting disorders. In these cases the doctor postpones the procedure or suggests another option.
How is knee arthritis different from osteoarthritis?
The difference: knee arthritis is inflammation from an autoimmune reaction, infection or gout (redness, warmth, marked swelling, tenderness to touch), while osteoarthritis is wear of the cartilage, usually with a dry crunch and aching pain on movement.
Why does an arthritic joint hurt even at rest?
Inflammation stimulates the joint's pain receptors non-stop: on movement, at rest, at night. Reducing the inflammation with treatment such as PRP and SVF can ease this pain.
Can joint injections be done during pregnancy?
No. In pregnancy, joint injections such as PRP and SVF are contraindicated, and any arthritis treatment is decided only together with a rheumatologist and an obstetrician.
Can I get a second opinion on my tests and scans?
Yes. Send your X-rays, MRI, ultrasound or blood test results, and a doctor will review them free of charge and tell you whether regenerative treatment could suit your type of arthritis.
What happens if rheumatoid arthritis is not treated?
Without treatment the condition can leave the joint permanently deformed, cause loss of function and osteoporosis, and damage internal organs like the heart, lungs and kidneys; timely treatment prevents these complications.
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Other services at our clinic
How PRP and SVF work in arthritis for Adelaide residents
Arthritis is inflammation of a joint. For patients from Adelaide, typical signs are pain at rest and at night, morning stiffness that lasts longer than half an hour, swelling, redness and warmth over the joint.
Follow-up visits help the doctor see how the joint responds and adjust the plan. In Adelaide, you receive recommendations on load and activity for the first weeks after the procedure.
Book a free consultation in Adelaide to find out whether PRP or SVF could help your arthritis. The doctor names the price after examining the joint.
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