Arthritis Treatment in Barcelona
Arthritis care for the knee, hand, shoulder and other joints can include PRP and SVF cell therapy, always after a doctor checks your case and 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 are there to help calm inflammation and pain and to support the joint's tissues; they do not stand in for a rheumatologist treating a systemic disease. The doctor first confirms what kind of arthritis it is and chooses the right time — never during an active joint infection or a severe flare.
No surgery — an injection instead of an operation
Ultrasound guidance for every injection
Free consultation and review of your scans
Joints we treat
Both large and small joints — after reviewing your scans, the doctor decides on the joint, the method and how many injections you need
Elbow
Pain after strain in sport or overuse, and worn surfaces inside the joint
Hand and wrist joints
Stiffness and aching in the wrist and in the small finger joints
Knee
Wear of the cartilage, problems with the meniscus, pain after walking and on stairs
Hip
Early hip osteoarthritis, groin pain, limited rotation
Ankle
Pain and stiffness after sprains and old injuries
Shoulder
Pain lifting the arm, with wear of the joint and its surrounding tendons
Methods we use
Cell therapy (SVF) from your own adipose tissue
A small sample of your adipose tissue is processed to isolate the stromal vascular fraction (SVF) — a mix of cells involved in tissue repair. Combined with your own plasma, it is injected into the affected joint.
In inflammatory arthritis it is used for its effect on local inflammation and tissue repair, once the acute flare has settled.
PRP — platelet-rich plasma from your own blood
A small amount of your blood is used to separate plasma rich in platelets and growth factors, which is then injected into the joint. It helps settle inflammation and gives tissue repair better conditions.
It may be advised for rheumatoid or other inflammatory arthritis, always as just one part of the overall plan of treatment.
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
A little blood is drawn from a vein, and from it platelet-rich plasma containing growth factors is later prepared.
The doctor tells you in advance which tests are needed.
Adipose tissue sample
Roughly 30 ml of adipose tissue is removed through a puncture on the abdomen or inner thigh under local anaesthetic, and no stitches are needed afterwards.
Processing in a centrifuge
A centrifuge spins the sample until it forms layers. The stromal vascular fraction is isolated from them and mixed with platelet-rich plasma.
The whole procedure is done in one day.
Injection into the joint
The prepared material is injected directly into the affected joint under ultrasound guidance, which helps place it precisely.
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
A little blood is drawn from a vein, and from it platelet-rich plasma containing growth factors is later prepared.
The doctor tells you in advance which tests are needed.
Adipose tissue sample
Roughly 30 ml of adipose tissue is removed through a puncture on the abdomen or inner thigh under local anaesthetic, and no stitches are needed afterwards.
Processing in a centrifuge
A centrifuge spins the sample until it forms layers. The stromal vascular fraction is isolated from them and mixed with platelet-rich plasma.
The whole procedure is done in one day.
Injection into the joint
The prepared material is injected directly into the affected joint under ultrasound guidance, which helps place it precisely.
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
At follow-up visits the doctor sees how the joint is responding and adjusts the plan. Pain usually eases in the first month, mobility improves over about three months, and the full effect builds over around six months.
Conditions we treat
After an examination and a look at your scans, a doctor decides if the treatment is right for you
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: fever, flu or a cold, or inflamed skin over the joint being treated
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
Most people go home the same day and return to normal daily activity within a day or two; the puncture sites are covered with small dressings. During the first week the joint may ache a little more — this is an expected reaction. Over the first month the pain usually eases, over about three months mobility and activity improve, and the full effect develops over around six months. 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. If you are being treated by a rheumatologist, do not stop your prescribed medication without talking to them.
Why patients choose City Medical Centre
We work on keeping your own joint rather than replacing it — treatment without surgery
Your own tissue
Just your blood and your adipose tissue; donor and synthetic materials are not used
No crutches
Punctures in place of incisions, under local anaesthetic, without a long rehabilitation
Second opinion
Send your X-rays, MRI or reports and a doctor will give an independent assessment free of charge
Support after the procedure
We remain in contact after the procedure and follow the result, well beyond the injection day
Arthritis treatment prices
Because the joint, the type of arthritis and the method all affect the cost, the doctor names it after the consultation
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?
PRP is sometimes used in rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory arthritis to help reduce pain, swelling and local inflammation, since the growth factors released by platelets influence tissue repair and the immune response. It complements your rheumatologist's treatment rather than replacing it.
Can psoriatic arthritis be cured?
Being chronic, psoriatic arthritis cannot at present be cured completely. The target is a long remission in which inflammation is controlled and joint deformity prevented; regenerative injections can be one element of the plan.
How does SVF work in autoimmune arthritis?
The cells in SVF can modulate the immune response locally and support repair of damaged joint tissue. As research in this area continues, the doctor will discuss what you can realistically expect for your type of arthritis.
When is the treatment not suitable?
With an active joint infection, a severe flare, pregnancy, cancer or blood clotting disorders, the procedure is not done — the doctor either postpones it or suggests an alternative.
How is knee arthritis different from osteoarthritis?
With knee arthritis, an autoimmune reaction, infection or gout causes inflammation — redness, warmth, marked swelling, tenderness to touch. Osteoarthritis is different: the cartilage wears, and the usual signs are a dry crunch and aching pain during movement.
Why does an arthritic joint hurt even at rest?
Because inflammation keeps the joint's pain receptors stimulated all the time — moving, resting or at night — treatment aimed at reducing it, including PRP and SVF, can ease the pain.
Can joint injections be done during pregnancy?
No. Pregnancy rules out joint injections, including PRP and SVF, and arthritis treatment in pregnancy is decided only jointly with a rheumatologist and an obstetrician.
Can I get a second opinion on my tests and scans?
Yes — send us your X-rays, MRI, ultrasound or blood test results. A doctor reviews them free of charge and tells you whether your type of arthritis could suit regenerative treatment.
What happens if rheumatoid arthritis is not treated?
Left untreated, it can cause permanent joint deformity, loss of function, osteoporosis and damage to internal organs like the heart, lungs and kidneys. Timely treatment is needed to prevent these complications.
City Medical Centre licences
Other services at our clinic
Arthritis treatment in Barcelona: what you should know
We work with inflammatory joint conditions of the knee, hand and wrist, shoulder, elbow, hip and ankle. Patients from Barcelona can send their test results and scans for a free review.
Most patients in Barcelona go home the same day and return to normal daily activity within a day or two. During the first week the joint may ache a little more — this is an expected reaction.
Patients from Barcelona 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.
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use it, you agree to the Privacy Policy and data processing terms
Get a consultation
Apply before the end of the year and get a consultation at the clinic's expense!