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Arthritis in Polokwane: When This Treatment Fits

Your case and test results are reviewed by a doctor before PRP and SVF cell therapy is offered as part of arthritis care for the knee, hand, shoulder and more

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?

Put simply, arthritis is joint inflammation. The joint may hurt at rest and at night, feel stiff each morning for more than half an hour, swell, redden and feel warm. Causes include autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis, as well as 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

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: flu, a cold or fever, and skin inflammation over the joint to be treated

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

A vein provides a small amount of blood, which is later used to prepare platelet-rich plasma rich in 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

In a centrifuge the sample separates into layers; the stromal vascular fraction is then isolated and mixed with the platelet-rich plasma.

Injection into the joint5

Injection into the joint

We inject the prepared material right into the affected joint, guided by ultrasound so that it is placed precisely.

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

For inflammatory arthritis it is applied after the acute flare has calmed, because of its effect on local inflammation and on 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

Plasma rich in platelets and growth factors is taken from a small amount of your blood and injected into the joint, where it helps calm inflammation and improves the conditions for tissue repair.

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

It can be advised for rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory arthritis, as a single element of the wider 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

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

  • KneeKneeWorn cartilage, meniscus issues and pain climbing stairs or after a walk
  • HipHipEarly hip osteoarthritis, groin pain, limited rotation
  • ShoulderShoulderPain lifting the arm, with wear of the joint and its surrounding tendons
  • ElbowElbowPain after strain in sport or overuse, and worn surfaces inside the joint
  • Hand and wrist jointsHand and wrist jointsFinger and wrist small joints that are stiff and painful
  • 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

Punctures, not incisions; local anaesthetic; and rehabilitation that is not long

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 stay in touch after the procedure and follow the result, not just the day of the injection

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

Cost varies with the joint, the arthritis type and the method, so it is named by the doctor after the consultation

FAQ

Joint treatment: frequently asked questions

About the conditions

More about these conditions

Other services of our clinic

Arthritis in Polokwane: types, methods and price

Arthritis is inflammation of a joint. For patients from Polokwane, 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 Polokwane, you receive recommendations on load and activity for the first weeks after the procedure.

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

Polokwane and what living with joint inflammation looks like here

Polokwane, the name meaning “Sanctuary” in Northern Sotho and formerly known as Pietersburg, is the capital of Limpopo Province and the largest urban centre in South Africa north of Gauteng. The population in 2011 was about 130,000. It is a working provincial capital where offices, schools, shops, farms and nearby game areas all draw on the same roads and the same daily rhythm. Many people spend long stretches of the day in cars, in classrooms, behind counters or on their feet outdoors, and that is the setting in which joint pain has to be managed.

Arthritis does not wait for a convenient moment. A knee that aches on the stairs of a government office, a hip that stiffens after a long meeting, or hands that cannot grip a steering wheel in the morning all feel different from one person to the next, yet the underlying issue is the same: the joints are affected by inflammation. Patients from Polokwane often tell our coordinators that they put up with symptoms for a long time because work, family duties and distances in the province made regular specialist follow-up hard to arrange.

This text explains how arthritis treatment can be planned from Polokwane: what to watch for in your own body, how local weather and daily habits fit with recovery, what to ask a surgeon or rheumatologist, and how the free online consultation with City Medical Centre works. It offers general orientation and does not replace an examination.

Recognising arthritis: the signs patients in Polokwane describe

With arthritis, 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. This differs from the tiredness that follows a long day of walking or standing. Pain that wakes you at night, or a stiff morning that does not ease within half an hour, is a reason to seek a proper assessment rather than wait for it to pass.

Possible causes include autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, infections, gout and psoriasis. Each has its own logic, and the choice of treatment depends on which one is behind your symptoms. For that reason a self-diagnosis based on internet reading or on what a relative with similar pain was told is unreliable. Blood tests, imaging and a careful history are what separate one cause from another.

In Polokwane, people often compare their symptoms with those of an older relative or a colleague and assume the problem is simply age or hard physical work. Some link it to a past injury on the sports field or on a farm. These explanations may be partly right, but inflammation can start at any age, and a swollen, warm, red joint should never be dismissed as ordinary wear. Writing down when the pain occurs, how long morning stiffness lasts and which joints are involved gives the doctor far more than a general statement such as “my joints hurt”.

SVF therapy at early stages and when surgery is needed

One option that may be discussed is SVF therapy. 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 for a patient in Polokwane, because the stage at which you seek advice largely decides which paths are still open to you.

The procedure itself is modest in scale. 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. Because the material comes from the patient's own tissue and the intervention is small, people often ask whether it fits around a working week. Your specialist will explain how the material is processed and used in your particular case and what can reasonably be expected.

It is worth being realistic. SVF therapy is not a replacement for a full diagnosis, and it is not suitable for every form of arthritis or every stage. If the joint is already badly damaged, an honest specialist will tell you that surgery is the likelier route. Asking early, before the situation reaches a late stage, is the single most practical step a Polokwane resident can take, and the online consultation exists precisely to help you judge where you stand.

Climate of the plateau and its effect on recovery

Polokwane sits on the Tropic of Capricorn, yet the climate is tempered by a plateau position 1230 m above sea level. The city has a semiarid climate. Average temperatures reach around 21–22 °C in January and fall to 11 °C in July. The city has a dry climate with a summer rainy season and a pronounced dry spell during winter. Average annual rainfall is 495 mm, with December or, less often, January the wettest month and July the driest. Seasons have also been notably warmer over the last decade than the long-term average.

For someone planning arthritis treatment, summer means warm, humid spells and sudden storms. Heat can make a swollen joint feel heavier, and long periods in a car or an unventilated room can add to stiffness. General advice is to keep the treated area clean and dry, wear loose clothing, drink enough water and avoid direct midday sun on any puncture site. If your doctor recommends compression garments, choose breathable fabrics and ask how to manage them in warm weather.

Winter is dry and cool, with a clear difference between sunny afternoons and cold mornings. Many people with arthritis notice that stiffness feels worse after a cold night. Dry air and dust in the dry season can irritate skin, so keeping dressings protected and following wound-care instructions closely is sensible. Mild winter days are comfortable for gentle walking, which many specialists encourage as part of rehabilitation once they approve it. Your own surgeon or rheumatologist sets the limits, not the weather.

Choosing the season for treatment in Polokwane

No single month is right for everyone. The summer rainy season brings warmth that helps some patients feel looser, but it also brings heat, humidity and wet ground that can make walking less steady. Winter is dry and cooler, which suits a quiet recovery at home, yet cold mornings can emphasise stiffness. The sensible approach is to choose a period when your work, family commitments and general health leave room for rest rather than to chase an ideal temperature.

Think about the calendar of your own life. School terms matter for parents, and students at the satellite campuses of the Tshwane University of Technology, Capricorn TVET College or the University of South Africa have their own exam periods. The University of Limpopo's Turfloop campus lies about 30 km east of Polokwane, and anyone who commutes from there should consider how long journeys by car or minibus feel on a tender joint. Avoiding major deadlines in the weeks after the procedure reduces stress.

Because the intervention described here is small, it can often be scheduled without long absences, but each person differs, and your doctor will say what is realistic for your joint and stage. Ask the coordinators about the timing of the result as well, so you do not judge the outcome too early. Our team can help you compare options for a start date during the online consultation, taking into account the season, your commitments and any other treatment you are already receiving.

Work, study, sport and family life around recovery

Polokwane has a mix of office work, retail, public administration, agriculture and services linked to the wider province. Office staff can usually plan around a small procedure more easily than people whose jobs involve lifting, standing all day or driving long distances. If your work is physical, tell the specialist exactly what you do. Ask when you can return to work in your case, and whether temporary adjustments, such as lighter duties, are possible.

Sport is part of local life. Polokwane was one of the nine host cities of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, and football, running and weekend games remain popular. Those who enjoy the city's parks, the Polokwane Game Reserve or walking among the bushveld need a clear answer on when each activity is acceptable. Do not return to sport because a joint feels better on one good day. Inflammation can quiet down while the joint is still vulnerable, so follow the plan you are given.

Family gatherings and community events are central in Polokwane, and a braai or a long celebration often means hours on your feet or sitting on low chairs. Food is social here, and it is worth thinking about portions and weight, since extra body weight puts load on the knees and hips. The World Health Organization has published general material on obesity and overweight, and discussing a realistic, gentle plan for weight with your doctor can support joint health alongside any procedure. Ask relatives to help with lifting and driving in the early days.

Who may be a candidate and who should be cautious

In general terms, people with confirmed joint inflammation at an early stage, who want to support the joint and possibly delay the need for replacement, may be considered for SVF therapy after assessment. People whose pain began recently, who still have good movement and whose imaging shows limited damage are the group most often discussed. A specialist decides this after reviewing your tests, not on the basis of a conversation alone.

Caution is needed in several situations. An active infection anywhere in the body, an unclear cause of swelling or a joint that is hot, red and painful with fever needs urgent medical examination before anything else. People with advanced damage are usually directed towards surgery. Bleeding disorders, blood-thinning medication, pregnancy and certain chronic illnesses are all points your doctor will want to know about. Tell the team about every tablet, supplement and herbal remedy you use.

Gout, psoriasis-related arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis each need their own medical management, and no single procedure replaces regular follow-up with a rheumatologist. In Polokwane, as elsewhere, some people stop prescribed medicines because they feel better or because getting to appointments is inconvenient. Do not change your treatment without medical advice. The online consultation can help you prepare for conversations with your local doctor and bring a clear set of questions to that appointment.

How the free online consultation works from Polokwane

The consultation is free and takes place online, so you stay in Polokwane. Coordinators are available around the clock (24/7) on Telegram and Telegram. You can write at any hour, which suits shift workers, farmers who start early and parents who only have a quiet moment late in the evening. There is no need to arrange transport or take time off simply to ask your first questions.

Prepare a short summary before you write: which joints hurt, when the pain appears, how long morning stiffness lasts, any swelling, redness or warmth, and what diagnoses or tests you already have. Photographs of the joint and copies of reports, such as blood tests and imaging results, are helpful. Mention previous injuries, chronic diseases and current medicines. The more precise the information, the more useful the guidance you receive.

After reviewing your material, the team explains what the proposed approach involves, which stage your situation suggests and what questions remain open. You decide whether to continue. It is a perfectly reasonable outcome to learn that you should first see a local specialist for further tests. The goal is clarity, and there is no pressure to commit to anything at the first conversation.

Questions to put to the surgeon or rheumatologist

Good preparation changes the quality of a medical conversation. Ask which type of arthritis you have and how it was confirmed. Ask which stage the joint is at, and whether SVF therapy is realistic at that stage or whether surgery is more likely. Ask what the procedure involves, including the small portion of adipose tissue taken under local anaesthetic, where it is taken from and what care the puncture site needs afterwards.

Ask about daily life as well: when you can return to work, how you should handle stairs, driving and long periods of sitting, and when it is acceptable to return to sport. Ask what warning signs mean you should contact the doctor, such as increasing swelling, redness, warmth or fever. Ask about the timing of the result, so you know when to judge progress, and what follow-up tests will be done.

Finally, ask about alternatives and limits. A candid specialist will explain what the procedure cannot do and what other treatments, including medication, physiotherapy and surgery, might be needed. Take notes or ask a family member to join the call. In Polokwane many households make health decisions together, and having a relative hear the same explanation often prevents misunderstandings later.

How do I know my joint pain could be arthritis and not just tiredness?

Arthritis means 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. Ordinary tiredness usually eases with rest and does not wake you at night. If you recognise several of these signs, ask for an assessment.

Can I use the online consultation from Polokwane?

Yes. The consultation is free and online, and you stay in Polokwane. Coordinators are available around the clock (24/7) on Telegram and Telegram, so you can write at any hour that suits your work or family routine.

What does the procedure 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. Your specialist explains how the material is used in your case and what follow-up is planned.

Is SVF therapy suitable at every 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. The stage is determined by examination and imaging, not by symptoms alone.

Does Polokwane's climate matter for recovery?

It can influence comfort. The city is on a plateau 1230 m above sea level, with averages around 21–22 °C in January and 11 °C in July. In the warm rainy season keep the puncture site clean and dry, wear loose breathable clothing and avoid strong midday sun. In the dry winter, protect the skin from dust and follow your doctor's care advice.

Which season is best for treatment?

There is no universally best month. Summer is warm and wet, winter is dry and cool. Choose a time when your work, study and family commitments allow rest, and discuss the date with the specialist and the coordinators.

When can I go back to work and sport?

This depends on your joint, your stage and the nature of your job. Office work is usually easier to resume than heavy physical work. Ask your doctor for clear dates for work and for each sport, and do not return to activity only because the joint feels better on a particular day.

Which conditions can cause arthritis?

Possible causes include autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, infections, gout and psoriasis. Each needs its own management, so a proper diagnosis comes first. Keep taking prescribed medicines unless your doctor tells you otherwise.

Does body weight matter for joint health?

Extra body weight puts additional load on weight-bearing joints such as the knees and hips. The World Health Organization publishes general information on obesity and overweight. Discuss a realistic plan with your doctor as a supporting measure alongside any procedure.

What should I send to the coordinators before the consultation?

Send a short description of the painful joints, when the pain occurs, how long morning stiffness lasts and any swelling, redness or warmth. Add photographs, blood test results, imaging reports, a list of current medicines and notes on earlier injuries or illnesses.