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Arthritis Treatment in Lubumbashi: Steps and Aftercare

As part of arthritis care, PRP and SVF cell therapy for the knee, hand, shoulder and other joints — after a doctor has first reviewed your case and tests

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

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What it is

What is arthritis
and when does this treatment fit?

Arthritis is inflammation of a joint. 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. The causes vary: autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis, gout, infection or an old 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

The treatment is only offered once a doctor has examined you and reviewed your scans and found it suitable

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: inflamed skin above the treated joint, fever, a cold or the 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

Whether the procedure suits you is decided once the doctor has examined your joint and reviewed your X-rays, MRI or ultrasound. If scans already exist, you can send them before visiting.

Blood sample for PRP2

Blood sample for PRP

The doctor draws a small amount of blood from a vein, which later becomes platelet-rich plasma with growth factors.

Adipose tissue sample3

Adipose tissue sample

Under local anaesthetic we take roughly 30 ml of adipose tissue through a single puncture on the abdomen or the inner thigh — no stitches required.

Processing in a centrifuge4

Processing in a centrifuge

The sample is spun in a centrifuge and separates into layers. The stromal vascular fraction is isolated and mixed with the platelet-rich plasma.

Injection into the joint5

Injection into the joint

The prepared material is placed precisely: it is injected directly into the affected joint under ultrasound guidance.

Follow-up6

Follow-up

Crutches and a hospital stay are not needed. The doctor keeps in contact afterwards and monitors how the joint is responding.

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

Everything used comes from you — your blood and adipose tissue — with no synthetic or donor material

Cell therapy (SVF) from your own adipose tissue

The affected joint receives an injection of the stromal vascular fraction (SVF) — a set of cells involved in tissue repair, isolated from a small sample of your adipose tissue — combined with your own plasma.

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

In inflammatory arthritis, after the acute flare has passed, it is chosen for how it acts on local inflammation and tissue repair.

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

We separate plasma rich in platelets and growth factors from a small quantity of your blood and inject it into the joint. There it helps quieten inflammation and sets up better conditions for tissue repair.

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

From large joints to small ones — which joint, which method and how many injections is decided by the doctor once your scans are reviewed

  • KneeKneePain after walking and on stairs, meniscus problems and cartilage wear
  • HipHipEarly hip osteoarthritis, groin pain, limited rotation
  • ShoulderShoulderPain lifting the arm, with wear of the joint and its surrounding tendons
  • ElbowElbowPain from overuse or strain during sport, and 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

Your own joint stays: we work on keeping it rather than replacing it — treatment without surgery

Your own tissue

Your own tissue

Everything used comes from you — your blood and adipose tissue — with no synthetic or donor material

No crutches

No crutches

Under local anaesthetic, through punctures instead of incisions, with no long rehabilitation afterwards

Second opinion

Second opinion

Free of charge, a doctor gives an independent assessment of the X-rays, MRI or reports you send

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

Since the price depends on the joint, the method and the type of arthritis, the doctor gives it after the consultation

FAQ

Joint treatment: frequently asked questions

About the conditions

More about these conditions

Other services of our clinic

About arthritis treatment for patients from Lubumbashi

We work with inflammatory joint conditions of the knee, hand and wrist, shoulder, elbow, hip and ankle. Patients from Lubumbashi can send their test results and scans for a free review.

If you are being treated by a rheumatologist, do not stop your prescribed medication without talking to them. In Lubumbashi, regenerative injections are planned together with your ongoing treatment.

Arthritis treatment in Lubumbashi: price at consultation, free case review, own tissue only. Leave your name and phone number, or message us in any messenger.

Lubumbashi and joint health: why the question comes up here

Lubumbashi is the second-largest city in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It lies in the southeast of the country near the border with Zambia, and it is the capital of Haut-Katanga Province. The population of its urban area is estimated at around 2,584,000 in 2021. In a city of this size, many people live with aching joints and put off dealing with them, because work, family and study always seem more urgent.

Arthritis is not simply wear and tear. 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. Possible causes include autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, infections, gout and psoriasis. Because the causes differ so much, the first step is always a proper diagnosis rather than a guess based on what a neighbour or colleague was told.

City Medical Centre works with patients from Lubumbashi through a free online consultation. Coordinators are available around the clock (24/7) on WhatsApp and Telegram, so you can write when it suits your day, whether you finish early or work in shifts. You do not have to rearrange your week just to ask the first question.

Climate of Lubumbashi and what it means for joints

Lubumbashi has a dry-winter humid subtropical climate, with warm rainy summers and pleasant, dry winters. Most rain falls in summer and early autumn, and the annual average is 1,238 mm. The city lies at about 1,208 m above sea level, and this altitude cools a climate that would otherwise be very hot. Many people with arthritis notice that their joints feel different with the seasons, and the rainy months are when patients most often mention heavier, stiffer mornings.

Weather does not cause arthritis, but it changes how you feel and how you move. In the damp, warm rainy season, swelling can feel more noticeable, and people tend to move less when it pours. In the dry winter the air is pleasant and walking is easier, which is a good time to stay active within the limits your doctor sets. Keeping a short diary of pain, morning stiffness and swelling across the seasons gives the surgeon and rheumatology specialist something concrete to work with during the online consultation.

If you have been told that your joint is inflamed, do not assume the weather is the whole explanation. A joint that is red, warm and painful at night needs medical assessment in any season.

Daily life, work and the mining economy

Lubumbashi is the centre of mining in the region and a hub for many of the country's largest mining companies. It is also an important commercial, business and industrial centre, with textiles, food products and beverages, printing, bricks and copper smelting. The city distributes minerals such as copper, cobalt, zinc, tin and coal. Many residents therefore work in physical jobs, in workshops and plants, in logistics, or in offices connected to industry.

For these patients, joint pain is a work problem as much as a health one. Standing for long hours, lifting, climbing and repetitive hand movements all load the joints. Morning stiffness lasting more than 30 minutes can make an early shift hard. When you describe your condition to the coordinators, say exactly what your job demands: how long you stand, what you carry, whether you drive, and whether your hands or knees hurt first.

Office and bank staff, teachers and traders have different needs. A person who sits all day may notice hip and knee stiffness when standing up, while a person who stands may feel pain in the evening. Each of these descriptions helps the specialist decide what is inflammatory, what is mechanical, and what is worth investigating further before any procedure is discussed.

What SVF therapy involves and when it may be considered

The procedure begins with a small collection of 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. This is the entire collection step, and it is intentionally minimal compared with major surgery.

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 distinction matters a great deal. SVF therapy is not offered as a replacement for an operation in a joint that is already badly damaged, and an honest consultation will say so plainly.

From Lubumbashi you can send your existing results to the coordinators and ask whether your situation looks like an early stage. The specialist reviews the information during the free online consultation and tells you whether this approach is worth considering, whether further tests are needed first, or whether another type of treatment is more suitable. Nothing is decided in a rush.

Who is a candidate and who is not

In general terms, the people who ask about this approach are those with joint pain and inflammation who are at an early stage of damage, and who want to support the joint before it reaches the point of replacement. Age, general health, the exact joint involved, and the cause of the arthritis all influence the decision. A person with a hip problem will be assessed differently from someone with painful hands.

Several situations call for caution or for treatment of the underlying cause first. If your arthritis comes from gout, an infection or psoriasis, the underlying condition needs correct management. An active infection in the body, serious uncontrolled illness, or a joint that is already severely damaged are all reasons the specialist may advise against going ahead. Autoimmune forms such as rheumatoid arthritis require the involvement of a physician who manages the immune disease itself.

Be ready to share your full history during the consultation: current medicines, previous operations, allergies to local anaesthetic, and any blood-thinning treatment. Being open is not a formality. It is the basis of a sensible decision, and the coordinators will tell you which documents are most useful.

Food, family events and planning in Lubumbashi

Lubumbashi has its own social calendar. The city hosts the Biennale of Lubumbashi every two years across the city, which shows works by artists from the region, and it has a botanical garden, a zoo and the National Museum of Lubumbashi. Families gather for weddings, celebrations and weekend meals, and the city is known for Tembo beer from the Simba brewery. These occasions shape how patients plan anything medical.

Plan around the events that matter most to you, but do not let the calendar become a reason to delay for years. A family wedding or a large gathering means long hours of standing, sitting at tables and dancing, which can be hard for an inflamed joint. It is reasonable to ask the specialist how much activity to expect in the days after the collection of tissue and to schedule important events with some margin.

Food is part of joint care too. Excess weight places extra load on hips and knees, and the World Health Organization treats excess weight as a significant health concern. A candid conversation about diet, portions at family meals and alcohol is useful, and the coordinators can pass your questions to the medical team. Small, realistic adjustments are better than strict plans that fall apart at the first celebration.

Planning the season, work leave and return to activity

Because Lubumbashi has a rainy summer and a dry winter, many patients ask which season is better. From the medical side the collection of tissue is a small procedure, so the season is mostly a matter of comfort. The dry winter is pleasant for gentle walking afterwards, while in the rainy months wet ground and heavy downpours may make movement less convenient. Choose the period when your work and family obligations are lightest.

Ask the specialist about return to work in terms of your own job. A desk job and heavy physical work in a plant or workshop are very different, and the answer should be tailored. The same applies to sport. Teammates in a weekend football group or people who like long walks should ask exactly when they can resume and what to avoid at first, rather than rely on general advice from friends.

Keep the treated area clean and follow the instructions you receive. Loose clothing is usually more comfortable around the abdomen or inner thigh. If anything seems unusual, such as increasing redness, heat or pain at the puncture area, write to the coordinators at once, because they are available 24/7.

How the remote consultation works from Lubumbashi

The first contact is simple. Write to the coordinators on WhatsApp or Telegram, describe your symptoms in your own words, and send any results you have, such as imaging reports, blood tests and earlier doctors' notes. Photos of documents are normally enough. The consultation is free and online, so you stay in Lubumbashi, at home or at work.

Prepare a short summary: which joint hurts, when the pain began, whether it hurts at rest and at night, how long morning stiffness lasts, whether you see swelling or redness, and whether the joint feels warm. Mention any diagnosis, such as rheumatoid arthritis, gout or psoriasis. The more precise the picture, the more useful the answer.

Questions worth asking the surgeon: Which stage do my results suggest? Is SVF therapy suitable for my joint, or is surgery more realistic? What are the limits of this approach? What should be checked first? What can I expect in the days after the collection? Who do I contact if I have a concern? A good consultation answers these clearly and does not pressure you to decide on the same day.

Is the online consultation really free?

Yes. The first online consultation with City Medical Centre is free for patients in Lubumbashi. You send your questions and documents to the coordinators on WhatsApp or Telegram, and the medical team reviews them and replies.

When are the coordinators available?

They are available around the clock (24/7) on WhatsApp and Telegram. You can write in the evening after work, early in the morning, or at the weekend, and you do not need to adapt to office hours.

How do I know if my joint pain is arthritis?

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. These signs suggest inflammation, but only a medical assessment can confirm it and find the cause.

What can cause arthritis?

Possible causes include autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, infections, gout and psoriasis. Because the causes differ, treatment differs too, and the underlying condition must be handled properly.

What does the tissue collection involve?

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.

Is SVF therapy suitable at any stage?

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.

Does the rainy season in Lubumbashi make arthritis worse?

Many patients feel more stiffness and swelling in damp, rainy months, though weather does not cause the disease. Keeping a diary of symptoms across the seasons helps the specialist understand your pattern.

Which documents should I send first?

Send imaging reports, blood test results, notes from earlier consultations, and a list of current medicines and allergies. If you do not have everything, start with a description of your symptoms and the coordinators will tell you what is most useful.