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Knee Arthritis Treatment in Makurdi

PRP together with SVF cell therapy supports arthritis care in the knee, hand, shoulder and other joints; first comes a doctor's review of your case

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?

When a joint becomes inflamed, doctors call it arthritis. Common signs include night and resting pain, morning stiffness longer than half an hour, swelling, and redness with warmth over the joint. It can stem from autoimmune disease (rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis), gout, infection or an earlier 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

Whether this treatment fits you is a doctor's decision, made after an examination and a scan review

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

The doctor decides on the procedure only after examining the joint and reviewing your X-rays, MRI or ultrasound. You are welcome to send any scans you have before the appointment.

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, a small portion of adipose tissue (about 30 ml) is taken through a puncture on the abdomen or inner thigh. No stitches are needed.

Processing in a centrifuge4

Processing in a centrifuge

Once the centrifuge has spun the sample into layers, the stromal vascular fraction is isolated and added to the platelet-rich plasma.

Injection into the joint5

Injection into the joint

Ultrasound guidance helps position it precisely as the prepared material is injected directly into the affected joint.

Follow-up6

Follow-up

The doctor follows how the joint responds and stays in touch after the procedure — and you need no crutches or hospital stay.

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

Nothing donor or synthetic — only your own blood and adipose tissue are used

Cell therapy (SVF) from your own adipose tissue

From a small sample of adipose tissue we isolate the stromal vascular fraction (SVF), a mix of repair-related cells. Combined with your own plasma, the material is injected into the joint that is affected.

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

Once the acute flare has settled, it is used in inflammatory arthritis for its effect 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

Injected into the joint, plasma rich in platelets and growth factors — separated from a small amount of your blood — helps calm inflammation and makes conditions for tissue repair better.

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

It may be recommended for rheumatoid and other inflammatory arthritis as one part of the overall treatment plan.

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

Small joints as well as large — the doctor reviews your scans and then chooses the joint, the method and how many injections to give

  • KneeKneeCartilage that has worn, meniscus trouble, pain after walks and on stairs
  • HipHipEarly hip osteoarthritis, groin pain, limited rotation
  • ShoulderShoulderPain lifting the arm, with wear of the joint and its surrounding tendons
  • ElbowElbowWear of the joint surfaces, and pain after overuse or strain from sport
  • 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

We aim to preserve your own joint instead of replacing it — treatment without surgery

Your own tissue

Your own tissue

Nothing donor or synthetic — only your own blood and adipose tissue are used

No crutches

No crutches

Instead of incisions we use punctures, with local anaesthetic and no long rehabilitation

Second opinion

Second opinion

Share your X-rays, MRI or reports and get a doctor's independent assessment at no cost

Support after the procedure

Support after the procedure

We remain in contact after the procedure and follow the result, well beyond the injection day

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

After the consultation the doctor names the cost, which depends on the joint, the arthritis type and the method

FAQ

Joint treatment: frequently asked questions

About the conditions

More about these conditions

Other services of our clinic

Arthritis treatment in Makurdi: what you should know

Growth factors released by platelets influence the immune response and tissue repair. For patients from Makurdi with rheumatoid and other inflammatory arthritis, PRP may be one part of the overall plan.

No crutches and no hospital stay are needed. The puncture sites are small and covered with dressings, and the doctor stays in touch with patients in Makurdi after the procedure.

The price depends on how many joints are treated and on the method. For patients from Makurdi, the doctor explains the plan and the cost at a free consultation.

Makurdi and joint health: why arthritis is a daily question here

Makurdi is the capital of Benue State, in the Middle Belt of central Nigeria, on the Benue River. In 2017 the urban population was 517,342. A city of this size has a large share of people who work on their feet, carry loads, farm, trade in markets or sit for long hours in offices, and all of these put steady demands on the knees, hips, hands and spine. When a joint starts to hurt, many residents first assume it is tiredness or age, and they wait.

Arthritis is not simply wear and tear. It means the joints are affected by inflammation. The typical picture is pain even at rest and at night, stiffness on waking that lasts more than 30 minutes, swelling, redness and a warm joint. If a resident of Makurdi recognises this combination, it is a reason to ask for a proper assessment rather than to keep taking painkillers bought at a market stall.

The possible causes differ a great deal: autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, infections, gout and psoriasis. Each needs a different approach, so the first task of any consultation is to understand which kind of arthritis is present. The City Medical Centre coordinators help patients from Makurdi prepare for exactly this conversation, online and free of charge.

How the online consultation works from Makurdi

You do not need to leave the city to start. The consultation is free and online, and the coordinators are available around the clock (24/7) on Telegram and Telegram. For someone in Makurdi this matters in practical terms: you can write in the evening after work, or early in the morning before the day at the market or the university begins, and you do not have to rearrange your schedule around a waiting room.

A useful first message is short and factual. Describe which joints hurt, since when, whether the pain wakes you at night, how long the morning stiffness lasts, and whether any joint is swollen, red or warm. Add any diagnoses you already have, and attach photos of existing results, scans or laboratory reports if you have them. The more clearly the history is written, the more useful the first reply will be.

The coordinators then arrange a review of your documents by a specialist and explain the possible directions in plain language. This does not replace a physical examination by a local doctor, and a good plan usually combines the two: your own doctor in Makurdi examines you and does the routine tests, while the remote consultation helps you understand the options and prepare your questions.

Climate in Makurdi and its effect on joints and recovery

Because the city lies in the valley of the Benue River, Makurdi has warm temperatures most of the year. The period from November to January, when the harmattan is felt, is relatively cooler. Many people with arthritis notice that their joints feel different between the warm months and the harmattan, and some report more stiffness on cool mornings. It is worth keeping a simple diary of symptoms across the seasons and sharing it with the specialist.

Heat affects any recovery period in practical ways. In warm weather swelling can feel worse by the evening, and sweating can irritate the skin around a small puncture. After a minimally invasive step, keep the puncture area clean and dry, wear loose breathable clothing, avoid strong direct sun on the area, and follow the dressing advice you are given. Dusty harmattan days call for the same care: do not touch the puncture area with dirty hands or cloth.

Hydration matters in a hot river-valley city. Drink water steadily through the day, rest in shade, and plan walking for the cooler parts of the day. These are general suggestions only; your doctor will give the instructions that apply to your own case.

What SVF therapy means and where it fits

Patients in Makurdi often ask whether there is something between tablets and joint replacement. For one specific situation, there may be. 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 an honest boundary: the earlier a problem is recognised, the more options remain, and the later it is found, the fewer there are.

The material for SVF comes from your own fat 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. For a busy person in Makurdi, a procedure that uses local anaesthetic and a puncture rather than an incision is easier to fit into life, though the specialist decides whether it suits you.

It is not a treatment for every kind of arthritis. Inflammation caused by an infection, gout or psoriasis must be dealt with according to its cause. SVF is discussed only after the type and stage of the problem are clear, and many patients will be told that another route is more suitable. That outcome is a normal and useful result of a consultation.

Planning around work, study and family life in Makurdi

Makurdi is a commercial hub for the Middle Belt. The economy is driven by trade and agriculture, and the Makurdi Modern Market is a key distribution point for produce such as yams and cassava. People who lift, carry, stand behind a stall or work in the fields need to ask the surgeon very concrete questions: when can I lift sacks again, when can I stand for a full day, and what should I avoid while the puncture area heals.

Students at Benue State University, the University of Agriculture and Akawe Torkula Polytechnic have a different calendar. Many would prefer to plan around lecture periods and examinations, and long sitting in a lecture hall can itself increase stiffness. Tell the coordinator about your timetable so that the discussion of timing is realistic.

Family occasions are also part of planning. Weddings, funerals and festive gatherings bring long hours of standing, dancing, cooking and hosting, and the communities of Makurdi, including Tiv, Idoma, Igede and others, value these gatherings highly. If you have a big event approaching, say so openly. It may be wiser to schedule the procedure after the event than to push through pain or to rush back to activity too soon.

Food culture, weight and joint load

Local food in Benue State rests on staples such as yams and cassava, with rice also grown in the region. These are filling, energy-dense foods, and portion size and frequency of meals matter for body weight. Extra weight loads the knees and hips, which is one reason weight is part of any joint conversation. The WHO fact sheet on obesity and overweight is a reliable general reference on this subject.

This is not a call to give up traditional dishes. A practical approach is to adjust portions, add vegetables and beans, prefer boiled or grilled preparation over heavy frying, and keep sugary drinks occasional. If gout is one of the possible causes, the specialist may also discuss which foods and drinks are worth limiting, because gout responds to such changes differently from other forms of arthritis.

Ask the specialist for a plain written list of dietary advice that fits what you actually buy and cook in Makurdi. General advice that does not match your local market is rarely followed.

Season, recovery and returning to normal activity

There is no single best month. The relatively cool harmattan period from November to January may feel more comfortable for rest and for wearing any supportive clothing, but dust and dry air then need attention. In the warm months, heat and sweating require more care with the puncture area and more rest in shade. Discuss your own plan with the coordinator rather than choosing by season alone.

After a procedure through a small puncture with no stitches, daily life usually resumes sooner than after open surgery, but the exact pace is set by the doctor. Do not copy what a neighbour did. Ask specifically: when may I return to desk work, when to physical work, when to walking longer distances, and when to sport. For sport, ask about each activity separately, since football, running and gym work load the joints differently.

Keep following the treatment of the underlying cause during recovery. If the arthritis is autoimmune, your regular medicines and follow-up are not replaced by any single procedure. Bring your full medicine list to the consultation so that interactions and timing can be reviewed.

Questions to ask the surgeon and who may not be suitable

Prepare a short list before the online consultation. Which type of arthritis do I have, and has it been confirmed by tests? At which stage is the joint? Is SVF therapy realistic for me, or is another approach more suitable? What exactly is done during the procedure, and what do I feel? What are the possible complications? What follow-up is needed, and who in Makurdi can examine me afterwards? What would signal that I should contact the coordinators urgently?

In general terms, the best candidates are people with a clear diagnosis whose joint problem is at an early stage and who are ready to follow instructions. Active infection, an untreated cause of inflammation, serious general illness or unrealistic expectations are reasons for caution or for choosing another route. Pregnancy, blood-clotting problems and some chronic conditions also need to be discussed openly.

Be wary of anyone who promises certainty. Honest medicine explains what may help, what may not, and what remains uncertain. A good consultation leaves you with a clearer picture, whatever the decision.

Is the consultation really free for someone in Makurdi?

Yes. The online consultation is free, and the coordinators are available around the clock (24/7) on Telegram and Telegram. You can send your first message at any hour and attach existing reports or scans.

What symptoms should make me seek an arthritis assessment?

Pain even at rest and at night, stiffness on waking that lasts more than 30 minutes, swelling, redness and a warm joint are typical signs of inflammation in the joint. If you notice this combination, ask for a proper assessment rather than relying on painkillers alone.

What can cause arthritis?

Possible causes include autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, infections, gout and psoriasis. Because treatment depends on the cause, the first step is always to find out which type you have.

Can SVF therapy help with every kind of arthritis?

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. Other causes of inflammation are treated according to their type.

How is the material for the procedure 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.

Does the Makurdi climate matter for recovery?

It can. Makurdi is warm most of the year, with a relatively cool harmattan period from November to January. Heat, sweat and dust call for clean, dry skin around the puncture, loose clothing, shade and enough water. Your doctor gives the exact instructions.

I work in a market or on a farm. How should I plan?

Tell the coordinator what you lift and how long you stand. Ask the specialist in advance when you may return to each kind of task, and arrange help at your stall or on your land for the first days of recovery.

Will I still need my own doctor in Makurdi?

Yes. A local doctor can examine you, run routine tests and monitor you afterwards. The remote consultation helps you understand the options and prepare, and the two work together.

Does diet matter for arthritis?

It can. Body weight affects the load on knees and hips, and in gout certain foods and drinks matter. Ask for dietary advice that fits local staples such as yams, cassava and rice, rather than generic lists.