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Joint Inflammation Treatment in Takoradi

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?

In arthritis the joint is inflamed. People typically notice pain even at rest or at night, stiffness on waking that goes on for more than half an hour, swelling, and a red, warm joint. Behind it may be an autoimmune condition such as rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis, gout, an infection or old trauma.

  • 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 the treatment suits you is decided by a doctor after an examination and a review of your scans

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

Your X-rays, MRI or ultrasound are reviewed and the joint is examined, after which the doctor decides whether this procedure suits you. Already have scans? You can send them in advance.

Blood sample for PRP2

Blood sample for PRP

Blood is taken from a vein in a small amount, later to be turned into 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 placed in a centrifuge, where it splits into layers. From these the stromal vascular fraction is isolated and combined with the platelet-rich plasma.

Injection into the joint5

Injection into the joint

Direct injection into the affected joint under ultrasound guidance helps the prepared material land exactly where it is needed.

Follow-up6

Follow-up

No crutches and no hospital stay. The doctor stays in touch after the procedure and follows how the joint responds.

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

No donor material and nothing synthetic: just your own blood and adipose tissue

Cell therapy (SVF) from your own adipose tissue

The stromal vascular fraction (SVF) — a blend of cells involved in repairing tissue — is isolated by processing a small sample of your adipose tissue. Mixed with your own plasma, it goes into the affected joint by injection.

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

It is used in inflammatory arthritis — once the acute flare is over — for its influence on local inflammation and the repair of tissue.

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 separated from a small amount of your blood and injected into the joint. It helps calm inflammation and creates better conditions for tissue repair.

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

As one element of the whole treatment plan, it may be recommended in rheumatoid and other inflammatory arthritis.

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

  • KneeKneeMeniscus issues and cartilage wear, with pain after walking or on stairs
  • HipHipEarly hip osteoarthritis, groin pain, limited rotation
  • ShoulderShoulderPain lifting the arm, with wear of the joint and its surrounding tendons
  • ElbowElbowWorn joint surfaces and pain that follows overuse or sports strain
  • Hand and wrist jointsHand and wrist jointsStiffness with pain in the small joints of the fingers and the 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

No donor material and nothing synthetic: just your own blood and adipose tissue

No crutches

No crutches

Local anaesthetic and punctures in place of incisions mean no long rehabilitation

Second opinion

Second opinion

Send us your X-rays, MRI or medical reports for a free, independent assessment by a doctor

Support after the procedure

Support after the procedure

After the procedure we keep in touch and follow the result, not only 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

Because the joint, the type of arthritis and the method all affect the cost, the doctor names it after the consultation

FAQ

Joint treatment: frequently asked questions

About the conditions

More about these conditions

Other services of our clinic

What Takoradi residents ask about arthritis

Without treatment, rheumatoid arthritis can lead to permanent joint deformity, loss of function and damage to internal organs. Timely treatment matters for every patient in Takoradi.

PRP may be given as a course of injections or together with SVF. The method and number of injections are chosen for each patient from Takoradi after the examination.

Joint inflammation that does not settle? Book a free consultation in Takoradi: the doctor reviews your case and suggests whether PRP or SVF makes sense now. The price is set individually.

Arthritis and everyday life in Takoradi

Takoradi is the western half of the twin city Sekondi-Takoradi, the capital of Ghana's Western Region and an industrial and commercial centre on the coast. The 2021 census recorded 245,382 people for Sekondi-Takoradi. A city like this runs on physical work: the harbour, railway repair, timber, cocoa processing, shipbuilding, the oil industry and above all fishing, which is the most common occupation. Many people in Takoradi spend the day on their feet, lifting, climbing, kneeling or standing at a market stall, so a painful joint is a practical problem here before it is a medical one.

Arthritis means that 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. A person who notices these signs should not simply wait for the pain to pass or hide it with painkillers while work continues as usual.

City Medical Centre works with patients in Takoradi through a free online consultation. Coordinators are available around the clock (24/7) on Telegram and Telegram. You describe your symptoms from home, send your existing results, and receive a clear explanation of whether your situation fits the approach discussed here.

Climate in Takoradi and how it affects joints and recovery

Sekondi-Takoradi has a tropical savanna climate with a wet and a dry season, and it is hot all year. The average annual high is 28 °C and the average annual low is 22.2 °C. The hottest time of year is from January to May, around the time the wet season begins. The dry season is short and runs from December to March, while the wet season falls in May and June, with June the wettest month.

For a person with arthritis, this means two practical things. In the hot months swelling in a joint can feel worse, and heavy clothing or a tight bandage becomes uncomfortable. If your doctor recommends a compression garment or a support for a limb, ask which fabric is suitable for constant heat and how long it should be worn each day. In the wet months, wet floors, muddy paths and slippery steps raise the chance of a fall, which matters especially when a knee or hip is already painful.

Humidity in the city is variable because of sea and land breezes. It is highest in August after the rains and lowest in December. Many patients feel that damp weather changes how their joints feel. This is a common impression, and the useful response is to keep a short diary of pain, stiffness and swelling together with the weather, and to share it during the consultation. It helps the specialist see whether your symptoms follow a pattern or keep a steady course whatever the season.

What the procedure involves, step by step

The approach discussed in the consultation is based on your 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. For a person in Takoradi who works with their hands or on their feet, this is a relevant point: the sampling site is small, and it is in a different area from the painful joint.

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. We say this plainly so that no one builds hopes on the wrong basis. The stage of the joint decides what is realistic, and that is why imaging and previous reports matter so much during the remote conversation.

Before any decision, ask the specialist to explain in simple words what exactly is taken, where it is taken from, what it is expected to do for the joint, and which signs would show that another type of treatment is needed instead. A good explanation lets you plan the weeks around work, family and church or mosque commitments without surprises.

Work in the harbour, on the water and at the market

Takoradi Harbour, the Takoradi Market Circle, the Albert Bosomtwi-Sam Fishing Harbour in Sekondi, railway workshops and plywood and timber work give the city a large group of people whose joints carry heavy loads every day. Fishing in particular means long hours in a fixed posture, repeated pulling and lifting, and constant contact with water. Shoulders, knees, hips, wrists and hands are the joints that people in such trades usually mention first.

If you work in these trades, tell the specialist exactly what your day looks like: how long you stand, how much you lift, whether you kneel or climb, whether your hands are wet for hours. This is not small talk. It helps to judge whether pain at rest and at night comes from inflammation or from simple overload, and it shapes the advice on when to go back to full duties.

Ask also how to organise the first days after the sampling. Employers in a harbour or workshop setting often want a clear note about what you can and cannot lift. Ask the specialist to give you wording that is simple and honest, so you can discuss lighter tasks with your supervisor. Self-employed people, such as traders and fishers, can plan the quieter days of their week for rest, and ask a family member to help with the heavy tasks for a short period.

Oil City, offices and study: sitting with a painful joint

Since the discovery of oil in 2010 the city has also been known as the Oil City, and a share of residents now work in offices, logistics, services and technical roles linked to the industry. Others study at Takoradi Technical University, the nursing and midwifery training college, the teacher training colleges and Sekondi College, or attend the many senior high schools. For these people the problem is different: long hours sitting, writing or typing with swollen finger joints, or stiffness in the hips and knees after a long lecture.

Stiffness on waking that lasts more than 30 minutes is one of the typical signs that points toward inflammation rather than ordinary tiredness. If you notice it, write down how long it lasts for a week and bring that to the consultation. A student or office worker can also note which activities are hardest, such as holding a pen, using a keyboard, climbing stairs or sitting on a hard bench.

When you plan the sampling procedure, look at your calendar. Examination periods, project deadlines and busy periods at work are poor times to start anything new. Choose a week when you can rest, keep movement gentle and be in touch with the coordinators on Telegram or Telegram if something is unclear. The coordinators are available around the clock, so you can ask a question in the evening when you finally have a quiet moment.

Family events, festivals, food and sport in Takoradi

The city is proud of its festivals, including the Ankos Festival and the Kundum Festival, and of its churches, mosques and family gatherings. The 2021 census shows that most residents are Christian, about 9% are Muslim, and the main peoples are the Fante, Ahanta, Nzema, Asante and Wassa. Such events bring long hours of standing, dancing, carrying dishes and travelling between homes. A person with an inflamed joint should plan around them honestly rather than push through and pay for it afterwards.

Food culture is part of daily life, and many people ask whether diet matters for arthritis. Gout is one of the possible causes of joint inflammation, and it is a question for a physician, not for guesswork at the dinner table. Ask the specialist whether blood tests for uric acid and inflammation markers are advisable in your case, and which foods and drinks, if any, you should limit. Do not change your treatment or medication without medical advice. Excess body weight also loads the knees and hips, and the WHO fact sheet on obesity and overweight is a reliable general reference on this subject.

For sport, Takoradi has the Essipong Stadium and Gyandu Park, and clubs such as FC Takoradi, Sekondi Hasaacas and Sekondi Wise Fighters give the city a strong football culture. Many patients play at weekends or coach local teams. Ask the specialist when light walking, swimming-style gentle movement and then football are reasonable for you. Return to sport should follow your joint's response, not the fixture list.

Who is a candidate and who is not

In general terms, people who consider this approach are those with joint inflammation who have been properly examined, and whose joint is at an early stage. For problems of the femoral head, the stage matters: at early stages (1–2), SVF therapy may be considered to support blood supply and delay the need for joint replacement. At later stages surgery is usually required, and it is better to hear this at the start than to lose months.

Contraindications are decided by the specialist after reviewing your records. In general, an active infection, an unclear diagnosis, uncontrolled chronic illness or the need for urgent surgery changes the plan. Because infections, gout, psoriasis and autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis can all cause arthritis, the cause has to be identified. A hot, red, very swollen joint with fever needs prompt medical examination in person, not a remote discussion alone.

Takoradi has a growing network of facilities: for example, a 60-bed polyclinic in New Takoradi was commissioned in June 2024 after an upgrade from a community health compound. Local examinations, blood tests and imaging can therefore be arranged near home, and you can share the results with us during the online consultation. Always keep your local physician informed about what you decide.

How the remote consultation from Takoradi works

The first contact is free and online. You write to the coordinators on Telegram or Telegram at any hour, since they work 24/7. You describe where the pain is, how long it has lasted, whether it is present at rest and at night, how long morning stiffness lasts, and whether there is swelling, redness or warmth in the joint. Photographs of the joint and scans of earlier reports, X-rays, MRI results and blood tests make the conversation far more precise.

The specialist then reviews your material and explains what is likely going on, which stage the joint seems to be at, and whether the approach with about 30 ml of adipose tissue taken under local anaesthetic is worth considering at all. You can ask as many questions as you need, in your own time, from home, and involve a spouse, a parent or an adult child in the call.

Useful questions to ask the surgeon: What is the working diagnosis and what else was ruled out? What stage is my joint? What is the aim of the therapy in my case? What would show that surgery is the better route? How should I plan work and family duties in the first days? What should I watch for, and whom do I contact if something changes? A clear answer to each of these is a good sign that you are being treated as an individual patient.

Is the first consultation really free for people in Takoradi?

Yes. The online consultation is free. You write on Telegram or Telegram, send your symptoms and any earlier reports, and a specialist reviews them. You decide afterwards whether to continue.

When can I reach the coordinators?

The coordinators are available around the clock (24/7) on Telegram and Telegram. You can write in the evening after work, early in the morning or on a weekend, and the conversation can be continued whenever it suits you.

Which symptoms suggest that 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. Possible causes include autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, infections, gout and psoriasis. Only an examination can confirm the cause.

What is taken from the body during the procedure?

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.

Can this approach help every stage 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. The specialist will tell you honestly which situation applies to you.

Is the warm, humid climate of Takoradi a problem for recovery?

The city is hot all year, with an average annual high of 28 °C, and the hottest period runs from January to May. Heat can make swelling more noticeable and tight garments uncomfortable. Ask the specialist about breathable clothing, rest in the shade, and how to protect the sampling site during daily activity. In the wet months, be careful on slippery ground.

I work at the harbour or in fishing. How should I plan the first days?

Describe your tasks in detail during the consultation. Ask which movements and loads to avoid at first and when you can go back to full duties. A written note from your physician for your employer or crew leader can make the conversation about lighter tasks easier.

Do I need local tests before the online consultation?

They are very helpful. Imaging such as X-ray or MRI, blood tests for inflammation and uric acid, and any earlier doctor's reports let the specialist judge the stage and the likely cause. If you do not have them, the coordinators can explain which ones are most useful to arrange locally.

Can I take part in festivals, football or family events soon after?

Ask this directly. Return to social events, walking and sport depends on how your joint responds, and the specialist gives advice for your individual case. In general, plan quiet days around the sampling and increase activity step by step instead of rushing back.