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Arthritis Treatment in Tamale with PRP and SVF

Cell therapy (SVF) and PRP as one element of arthritis care — knee, hand, shoulder and other joints, with a doctor reviewing your tests beforehand

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?

An inflamed joint is the core of arthritis. Look for pain at night or when resting, stiffness in the morning for longer than half an hour, swelling, and a joint that is red and warm. The cause can be autoimmune (rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis), gout, infection or a long-past 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: fever, flu or a cold, or inflamed skin over the joint being 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

First comes an examination of the joint and a look at your X-rays, MRI or ultrasound; then the doctor decides whether the procedure fits your case. Existing scans can be sent before the visit.

Blood sample for PRP2

Blood sample for PRP

From a small amount of blood drawn from a vein, platelet-rich plasma with growth factors is prepared later on.

Adipose tissue sample3

Adipose tissue sample

A puncture on the abdomen or inner thigh, local anaesthetic and about 30 ml of adipose tissue taken — the site needs no stitches.

Processing in a centrifuge4

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

After the acute flare settles, inflammatory arthritis can be treated with it for its action 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

It helps calm inflammation and improves conditions for tissue repair: plasma rich in platelets and growth factors, separated from a small amount of your blood and injected into the joint.

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

It may form one part of the overall treatment plan in rheumatoid and other types of 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

Any size of joint, large or small: your scans are reviewed first, then the doctor settles on the joint, the method and the number of injections

  • KneeKneeStair and post-walking pain, worn cartilage and meniscus problems
  • HipHipEarly hip osteoarthritis, groin pain, limited rotation
  • ShoulderShoulderJoint and surrounding tendon wear, with pain on lifting the arm
  • ElbowElbowPain after overuse or sports strain, wear of the joint surfaces
  • Hand and wrist jointsHand and wrist jointsSmall joints of the fingers and wrist that stiffen and hurt
  • AnkleAnklePain and stiffness after sprains and old injuries

Advantages

Why patients choose City Medical Centre

Keeping your natural joint rather than having it replaced: 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

No long rehabilitation — just punctures instead of incisions and local anaesthetic

Second opinion

Second opinion

An independent assessment from a doctor, free of charge, once you send your X-rays, MRI or reports

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

The doctor names the cost after the consultation, because it depends on the joint, the type of arthritis and the method

FAQ

Joint treatment: frequently asked questions

About the conditions

More about these conditions

Other services of our clinic

Choosing arthritis treatment in Tamale

Regenerative injections are not done during an active joint infection or a severe flare. In Tamale, the doctor chooses the right moment, usually once the acute inflammation has settled.

The procedure is also not done with cancer, blood clotting disorders or during a flare-up of a serious chronic illness. The doctor checks this for every patient in Tamale at the consultation.

Patients from Tamale 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.

Arthritis in Tamale: why the question comes up so often

Tamale is the capital of the Northern Region of Ghana and the third largest city in the country, with 374,744 people at the 2021 population census. It has been described as the fastest-growing city in West Africa. A city of this size, with so many people working on their feet, carrying loads and moving between home, market and farm, produces a steady number of conversations about aching joints. Patients here often start by asking whether what they feel is ordinary wear, a passing strain or real arthritis.

The difference matters. With arthritis the joints are affected by inflammation. The 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. A knee that hurts after a long day and settles with rest is a different story from a joint that wakes you at night and feels stiff well into the morning. If you recognise the second pattern, a proper medical assessment is worth arranging soon.

City Medical Centre works with patients in Tamale through a free online consultation. Coordinators are available around the clock (24/7) on Telegram and Telegram, so you can describe your symptoms at a time that suits your working day instead of rearranging it around an appointment.

Heat, humidity and the joints: Tamale's climate through the year

Tamale has a tropical savanna climate with a single rainy season each year. Average monthly temperatures sit around 34 °C, and the minimum monthly temperatures are around 23 °C. The mean monthly rainfall is about 89 mm spread over 95 days of tropical showers. Relative humidity is usually lowest between December and March at 30%, and highest around August at 70%.

These conditions shape how people feel their joints and how they plan care. In the dry months, dust and strong heat make long walks tiring, and dehydration can make general fatigue and stiffness feel worse. In the humid rainy months, many patients report that they notice joint discomfort more, although the experience differs from person to person and should not be treated as a rule. What matters for planning is to be realistic about the days when you will want to stay indoors and rest.

If a minimally invasive procedure is being considered, the climate also affects the days right after it. A small puncture site should be kept clean and dry, so heavy sweating, dusty roads and open water are things to plan around. Light, breathable clothing and shade are sensible habits, and your surgeon or coordinator will tell you what applies to your case.

Everyday life in Tamale and what it means for planning treatment

The local economy is based on agriculture, followed by trading, teaching and manufacturing. Many residents spend their days in the market, in classrooms or in the fields around the city. Each of these jobs loads the joints differently. A teacher stands and writes for hours, a trader lifts goods and sits on low stools, and a farmer bends, digs and carries. When arthritis flares, the working pattern often has to change before anything else does.

Before a consultation, it helps to write down which movements hurt: climbing steps, kneeling, gripping, standing up from a low seat, or walking on uneven ground. This gives the doctor a clear picture of how the disease touches your daily life and not only what the scan shows.

The city is also an educational hub for Northern Ghana, and Education Ridge, a suburb, is known for many schools in a small area. Students and young teachers who develop joint symptoms often worry about missing a term. Talking through the calendar in advance, including exams and school holidays, is a practical way to choose a calmer window for any procedure.

Festivals, family gatherings and food: fitting care around Tamale's calendar

Tamale is the heart of the Kingdom of Dagbon, and its culture centre showcases the arts of the whole region. Dances such as the Baamaya and Tora are part of public life, and annual celebrations include the Bugum chugu, the Damba festival, Eid ul-Fitr and Eid Adha. Most of the population is Muslim, and these occasions bring together large families, long hours of standing, dancing, cooking and hosting.

Anyone with active joint inflammation knows that festival days can be both a joy and a strain. If you are planning treatment, it makes sense to avoid the weeks right before a major celebration, so that you are not tempted to push through a recovery period just to attend. Equally, a person who has been limited by pain may want treatment timed so that the next big family gathering can be enjoyed more comfortably.

Food culture matters too. Shared meals and festive dishes are central to social life here, and joint disease linked to gout is often connected with diet in patients' minds. Possible causes of arthritis include autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, infections, gout and psoriasis, so the cause must be established first. The WHO fact sheet on obesity and overweight is a useful reminder that body weight adds load to knees and hips, and a balanced diet supports joint care. No food by itself is a cure, and a doctor should guide any dietary change.

What the procedure involves and how it relates to arthritis

The method discussed in this context uses your own 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. The material is then processed in the SVF approach, which is the cell-based therapy the specialists consider for suitable joint conditions.

It is important to understand what is and is not being claimed. 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 means timing is central. A patient in Tamale who has put up with hip or groin pain for years and now cannot walk comfortably may already be beyond the stage where this therapy is an option, and an honest specialist will say so.

For this reason the first step is not the procedure but the assessment: imaging, your history, the pattern of symptoms and the likely cause. Arthritis from gout or psoriasis, for example, needs its own medical management, and an autoimmune form needs a rheumatology-led plan. Cell-based therapy is considered only where it fits the diagnosis.

Who may be a candidate and who should wait

In general terms, the people who may be considered are those with a confirmed diagnosis, joint changes still at an early stage, and realistic expectations. A person whose imaging shows only early changes and who has symptoms such as night pain and morning stiffness lasting more than 30 minutes should have the question put to a specialist without delay.

Caution is needed in several situations: an active infection anywhere in the body, a joint that is hot, red and swollen for reasons not yet explained, uncontrolled chronic illness, or a condition that affects healing. In those cases the underlying problem comes first. Patients living with an autoimmune disease should also make sure their treating physician knows about any plans.

Where the joint is already badly damaged, the honest message is that surgery is usually required. Hearing that is hard, but it saves time and effort. Our coordinators and doctors would rather explain this clearly during a free remote consultation than let a patient in Tamale organise their work and family around a method that no longer suits their stage.

Planning the season, work and return to activity

Choosing the time of year in Tamale is partly about weather and partly about the working calendar. Farmers and traders usually have busy and quieter periods tied to the single rainy season, and the dry months from December to March, with the lowest humidity, can feel easier for staying clean and dry after a small puncture. During the rainy season, mud, storms and heavy showers can complicate movement. Neither period is wrong, but each needs a plan.

Return to work depends on what you do. A desk or classroom role usually differs from field work or lifting goods in the market. Ask the doctor in advance how long you should reduce load on the treated joint and what a gradual return looks like for your specific job. Do not assume a colleague's experience will match yours.

Sport is a big part of local life, from football to casual games in the neighbourhood. Tamale has its own football tradition, and many patients are keen to know when they can kick a ball again. The answer depends on the joint, the stage and your general health. Ask for a written plan with stages instead of a single date, and increase activity gradually.

How the remote consultation works from Tamale

The consultation is free and takes place online, so you stay in Tamale, near your family and routine. You contact the coordinators on Telegram or Telegram, where they are available 24/7. This is helpful in a city where working hours and prayer, school and market schedules differ widely and where mobile messaging is a natural way to communicate.

Prepare a short summary: when symptoms started, which joints are affected, whether pain occurs at rest and at night, how long morning stiffness lasts, any swelling, redness or warmth, and any earlier diagnoses. Photographs of the joint and copies of recent scans or laboratory results, if you have them, make the discussion much more useful. Keep a list of medicines you take now.

After reviewing your information, the specialists explain whether the stage and the cause suggest that SVF therapy may be considered, whether another approach should come first, or whether surgery is the realistic route. You can ask follow-up questions in the same chat, take time to discuss with relatives, and decide without pressure.

Questions to put to the specialist

A good consultation is a two-way conversation. Useful questions include: What is the most likely cause of my arthritis, and has it been confirmed? Which stage is my joint at? Is the early stage (1–2) relevant to me? What is expected of the procedure, and what is not? What would happen if I choose to wait?

Ask also about the details of the procedure: where the tissue of about 30 ml would be taken from, the abdomen or inner thigh, how local anaesthesia is used, and what care the puncture site needs afterwards in a hot and dusty climate. Ask what signs after the procedure should make you contact the coordinators at once.

Finally, ask about the longer plan. Arthritis is a condition that needs monitoring, and any single treatment fits inside a wider programme of medication, movement, weight management where relevant, and regular review. A specialist who explains this plainly is giving you a realistic picture.

How do I know if my joint pain in Tamale is arthritis?

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. If this matches what you feel, describe it to a specialist in a free online consultation.

What can cause arthritis?

Possible causes include autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, infections, gout and psoriasis. Finding the cause is the first step, because it determines what treatment is appropriate.

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. The tissue is then used for SVF therapy.

Is SVF therapy suitable for 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.

Does the hot climate of Tamale affect recovery?

It can affect comfort and care. Average temperatures are around 34 °C, so light breathable clothing, shade, good hydration and keeping the puncture site clean and dry are sensible. Your doctor will give specific instructions.

Is the dry or the rainy season better for planning?

Both can work. The dry months from December to March have the lowest humidity, around 30%, while the rainy season brings showers and higher humidity, up to about 70% around August. Choose according to your work calendar and the advice of your doctor.

Can I plan treatment around festivals such as Damba or Eid?

Yes, and it is wise to. Avoid scheduling a recovery period right before a major celebration so that you do not push yourself too early. Discuss dates with the coordinators during the consultation.

How soon can I return to work or sport?

This depends on your job, the joint involved and your general health. Ask for a stepwise plan that fits your work, whether in the classroom, the market or the field, and increase activity gradually.

How do I start a consultation from Tamale?

Write to the coordinators on Telegram or Telegram. They are available around the clock, 24/7, and the online consultation is free. Prepare a short symptom history, any scans or test results and a list of your medicines.