Arthritis Treatment in Thembisa 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
No surgery — an injection instead of an operation
Own tissue — your blood and adipose tissue
Ultrasound guidance for every injection
Free consultation
and review of your scans
What is arthritis
and when does this treatment fit?
Arthritis refers to inflammation within a joint. Typical complaints are resting and night-time pain, morning stiffness beyond half an hour, swelling, redness and warmth. It may be driven by autoimmune disease like rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis, by gout, by an infection or by a former injury.
These injections — PRP and SVF — can reduce pain and inflammation and support tissue inside the joint, but a systemic disease stays under a rheumatologist's care. During an active infection of the joint or a severe flare the procedure is not done: the doctor first confirms the arthritis type and chooses when to act.
No surgery — an injection instead of an operation
Ultrasound guidance for every injection
Free consultation and review of your scans
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
Elbow
Overuse or sports-strain pain and wearing of the joint surfaces
Hand and wrist joints
Pain and stiffness in the small joints of the wrist and fingers
Knee
Meniscus issues and cartilage wear, with pain after walking or on stairs
Hip
Early hip osteoarthritis, groin pain, limited rotation
Ankle
Pain and stiffness after sprains and old injuries
Shoulder
Wear of the joint and the tendons around it, pain on raising the arm
Methods we use
Cell therapy (SVF) from your own adipose tissue
We take a small sample of your adipose tissue and process it to isolate the stromal vascular fraction (SVF), a mix of cells that take part in tissue repair. It is then combined with your own plasma and injected into the affected joint.
In inflammatory arthritis, after the acute flare has passed, it is chosen for how it acts on local inflammation and tissue repair.
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.
It may be advised for rheumatoid or other inflammatory arthritis, always as just one part of the overall plan of treatment.
How the procedure goes: step by step
Consultation and scan review
After examining the joint and reviewing your X-rays, MRI or ultrasound, the doctor decides whether the procedure is right for you. Scans you already have can be sent ahead of the visit.
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.
The doctor tells you in advance which tests are needed.
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 centrifuge
Centrifuging the sample separates it into layers, after which the stromal vascular fraction is isolated and mixed into the platelet-rich plasma.
The whole procedure is done in one day.
Injection into the joint
The prepared material is placed precisely: it is injected directly into the affected joint under ultrasound guidance.
Follow-up
There are no crutches and no hospital stay. After the procedure the doctor keeps in touch and follows how the joint responds.
Consultation and scan review
After examining the joint and reviewing your X-rays, MRI or ultrasound, the doctor decides whether the procedure is right for you. Scans you already have can be sent ahead of the visit.
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.
The doctor tells you in advance which tests are needed.
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 centrifuge
Centrifuging the sample separates it into layers, after which the stromal vascular fraction is isolated and mixed into the platelet-rich plasma.
The whole procedure is done in one day.
Injection into the joint
The prepared material is placed precisely: it is injected directly into the affected joint under ultrasound guidance.
Follow-up
There are no crutches and no hospital stay. After the procedure the doctor keeps in touch and follows how the joint responds.
Follow-up visits
At each follow-up visit the doctor checks the joint's response and adjusts the plan — over the first month pain usually eases, over about three months mobility improves, and over around six months the full effect develops.
Conditions we treat
An examination and a review of your scans come first; then a doctor decides whether the treatment suits you
What we work with
Arthritis
Arthrosis
Avascular necrosis
Osteoarthritis
Gonarthrosis (knee osteoarthritis)
Coxarthrosis (hip osteoarthritis)
Meniscus pathology and injury
Rehabilitation after injuries and surgery
Inflammatory joint conditions
Contraindications
Cancer
Pregnancy
Blood clotting disorders
Acute infections, including infection in or near the joint
Flare-up of a serious chronic illness
Cancer
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Serious heart, kidney or liver disease
Temporary contraindications: inflamed skin above the treated joint, fever, a cold or the flu
Book a consultation
Call or message us —
our coordinator will contact you shortly
and book your consultation
Book a consultation
Call or message us —
our coordinator will contact you shortly
and book your consultation
After the procedure
Most people go home the same day and return to normal daily activity within a day or two; the puncture sites are covered with small dressings. During the first week the joint may ache a little more — this is an expected reaction. Over the first month the pain usually eases, over about three months mobility and activity improve, and the full effect develops over around six months. 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. If you are being treated by a rheumatologist, do not stop your prescribed medication without talking to them.
Why patients choose City Medical Centre
We try to keep the joint you have rather than replace it — with treatment without surgery
Your own tissue
Your own adipose tissue and blood are the only materials used, never donor or synthetic ones
No crutches
No incisions, only punctures; local anaesthetic; no long rehabilitation
Second opinion
Send us your X-rays, MRI or medical reports for a free, independent assessment by a doctor
Support after the procedure
Our contact does not end on the day of the injection — we stay in touch and follow the result
Arthritis treatment prices
The doctor names the cost after the consultation, because it depends on the joint, the type of arthritis and the method
Service
Price
Book a consultation
Call or message us —
our coordinator will contact you shortly
and book your consultation
Book a consultation
Call or message us —
our coordinator will contact you shortly
and book your consultation
Joint treatment: frequently asked questions
What is arthritis and what are its symptoms?
An inflammatory disease of the joints, arthritis typically causes resting and night-time pain, morning stiffness beyond 30 minutes, swelling, redness and warmth. Causes range from autoimmune conditions, for example rheumatoid arthritis, to infections, gout and psoriasis.
Can PRP help with rheumatoid arthritis?
PRP may help with local inflammation, pain and swelling in rheumatoid and other inflammatory arthritis. The platelets release growth factors that affect tissue repair and the immune response. Your rheumatologist's treatment stays in place — PRP complements it and does not replace it.
Can psoriatic arthritis be cured?
Regenerative injections can be one part of the plan for psoriatic arthritis — a chronic disease that cannot currently be cured completely, where the aim is long remission, controlled inflammation and no joint deformity.
How does SVF work in autoimmune arthritis?
In SVF there are cells that can influence the local immune response and help damaged tissue in the joint to repair. The doctor will discuss realistic expectations for your type of arthritis, since research in this area is ongoing.
When is the treatment not suitable?
It is not done if there is an active joint infection, a severe flare, pregnancy, cancer or a blood clotting disorder. The doctor then postpones the procedure or offers another option.
How is knee arthritis different from osteoarthritis?
The difference: knee arthritis is inflammation from an autoimmune reaction, infection or gout (redness, warmth, marked swelling, tenderness to touch), while osteoarthritis is wear of the cartilage, usually with a dry crunch and aching pain on movement.
Why does an arthritic joint hurt even at rest?
In an inflamed joint the pain receptors are stimulated all the time — during movement, at rest and at night. This pain can be eased by treatment aimed at reducing the inflammation, such as PRP and SVF.
Can joint injections be done during pregnancy?
No. Because pregnancy is a contraindication to joint injections, including PRP and SVF, arthritis treatment during pregnancy is only decided jointly by a rheumatologist and an obstetrician.
Can I get a second opinion on my tests and scans?
Yes. Send your X-rays, MRI, ultrasound or blood test results, and a doctor will review them free of charge and tell you whether regenerative treatment could suit your type of arthritis.
What happens if rheumatoid arthritis is not treated?
It needs timely treatment: otherwise it can lead to permanent deformity and loss of function of the joint, osteoporosis and damage to internal organs, including the heart, lungs and kidneys.
City Medical Centre licences
Other services at our clinic
What Thembisa residents ask about arthritis
Arthritis is inflammation of a joint. For patients from Thembisa, 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.
Pregnancy is a contraindication to joint injections, including PRP and SVF. For patients from Thembisa, arthritis treatment during pregnancy is decided only with a rheumatologist and an obstetrician.
Book a free consultation in Thembisa to find out whether PRP or SVF could help your arthritis. The doctor names the price after examining the joint.
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