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Joint Treatment in Addis Ababa Without Surgery

PRP and SVF cell therapy for many joints, from knee and hip to shoulder. First step: a free review of your imaging

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 regenerative
joint treatment?

Everything used in regenerative joint treatment comes from you: platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is made from your blood, and the stromal vascular fraction (SVF) from a little adipose tissue. The doctor injects it into the painful joint to lessen inflammation and pain and to support the joint's inner tissues.

  • 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

It is a doctor who decides if the treatment fits you — 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: a cold or flu, fever, inflamed skin above 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

First comes an examination: the doctor checks the joint and your X-ray, MRI or ultrasound images and decides whether the procedure fits. If you have scans already, send them in advance.

Blood sample for PRP2

Blood sample for PRP

The nurse takes a small amount of venous blood; platelet-rich plasma with growth factors is prepared from it afterwards.

Adipose tissue sample3

Adipose tissue sample

Around 30 ml of adipose tissue is taken through a single puncture on the abdomen or inner thigh under local anaesthetic, and the site needs no stitches.

Processing in a centrifuge4

Processing in a centrifuge

The sample goes into a centrifuge, where it separates into layers. The stromal vascular fraction is isolated and mixed with your platelet-rich plasma.

Injection into the joint5

Injection into the joint

The material, once prepared, is injected directly into the affected joint; ultrasound guidance helps place it precisely.

Follow-up6

Follow-up

No hospital stay and no crutches. After the procedure the doctor keeps in touch and follows how your 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

We rely solely on your own blood and adipose tissue, without donor or synthetic material

Cell therapy (SVF) from your own adipose tissue

Processing a small sample of adipose tissue yields the stromal vascular fraction (SVF), a blend of cells that help tissue repair. The doctor combines it with your plasma and injects it into the problem joint.

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

Usually it is selected where joint changes are more significant and a longer effect is the aim.

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

Your blood, in a small amount, is used to separate plasma rich in platelets and growth factors. This plasma is injected into the joint to help calm inflammation and support tissue repair.

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

It is suitable as a separate injection course or in combination with SVF.

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

Treatment covers large and small joints, with the joint, the method and the number of injections chosen after the doctor reviews your scans

  • KneeKneeWorn cartilage and meniscus issues, with pain on stairs and after walking
  • HipHipEarly hip osteoarthritis, groin pain, limited rotation
  • ShoulderShoulderPain on raising the arm and wear of the joint and nearby tendons
  • ElbowElbowSports strain or overuse pain and worn-down joint surfaces
  • Hand and wrist jointsHand and wrist jointsStiffness and pain in the small joints of the hand and wrist
  • AnkleAnklePain and stiffness after sprains and old injuries

Advantages

Why patients choose City Medical Centre

The goal is your own joint kept, not replaced, through treatment without surgery

Your own tissue

Your own tissue

We rely solely on your own blood and adipose tissue, without donor or synthetic material

No crutches

No crutches

Small punctures in place of incisions, local anaesthetic, no long recovery programme

Second opinion

Second opinion

Forward your X-rays, MRI or reports to get a free, independent assessment from a doctor

Support after the procedure

Support after the procedure

We follow the result after the procedure and stay in contact, not only on 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

Joint treatment prices

The cost is named by the doctor after the consultation, since it depends on the joint, the stage of the condition and the method

FAQ

Joint treatment: frequently asked questions

About the conditions

More about these conditions

Other services of our clinic

Joint treatment in Addis Ababa: what you should know

Joint pain does not always mean surgery. In Addis Ababa, many people with early or moderate changes in the knee, hip or shoulder first try to preserve their own joint. SVF and PRP injections aim to reduce pain and inflammation and to slow further wear of the cartilage.

It starts with a consultation: the doctor examines the joint and reviews your X-rays, MRI or ultrasound. Then a small blood sample and an adipose tissue sample are taken, processed in a centrifuge and injected into the joint under ultrasound guidance. For patients from Addis Ababa, everything is done in one day.

Patients from Addis Ababa can start with a free second opinion: send your X-rays, MRI, CT or reports, and a doctor will tell you whether SVF or PRP could help. The price of treatment is named at the consultation.

Addis Ababa and joint health: why the question comes up so often

Addis Ababa is the capital and largest city of Ethiopia, with an estimated population of 6,287,000 inhabitants as of 2025. It is a city of walkers, commuters, market traders, office workers, students and runners, and the knees and hips of its residents carry a great deal of that daily movement. Stairs in older buildings, uneven pavements, long days on foot between meetings and markets, and sloping streets all load the joints. When a knee starts to ache on the way down a slope or a hip becomes stiff after a day of sitting, many people first hope it will pass. Sooner or later they start asking what can be done.

The city stands at 2,355 metres above sea level on the edge of the Ethiopian Highlands and rises towards the Entoto Mountains in the north. Anyone who lives here knows how much the terrain asks of the legs. Climbing a hill to a neighbourhood home, walking to a bus or light rail stop, or carrying shopping uphill are everyday actions, and a painful joint turns each of them into a chore. This is why people from Addis Ababa tend to ask practical questions: will I be able to manage my usual route, my work and my family obligations, and which option fits my situation, from conservative care to arthroscopy to joint replacement.

City Medical Centre works with patients in Addis Ababa through a free online consultation. Our coordinators are available 24/7 on WhatsApp and Telegram, so you can send your question, your scans and your medical papers at a time that suits your working day. The aim of the first conversation is not to push you towards an operation. It is to understand what is happening in the joint, which options exist and what each one realistically asks of you at home and at work.

Climate of Addis Ababa and what it means for joint recovery

The city has a subtropical highland climate, and the height moderates temperatures all year. No month has a mean temperature above 22 °C, and the position near the Equator keeps temperatures steady from month to month. For someone recovering from a joint procedure this is a real advantage compared with places where heavy summer heat makes swelling, compression garments and bandages hard to tolerate. In Addis Ababa you rarely have to choose between wearing the garment your surgeon recommends and staying comfortable.

The seasons still matter. Mid-November to January is the dry season, with daily maximums usually not above 23 °C and cold nights that range from 5 °C to 10 °C and can drop to freezing. Cold mornings stiffen many joints, particularly in people who already have arthritis, so a warm layer over the knee or hip, a gentle warm-up at home and careful steps on cool pavements are sensible habits. The short rainy season runs from February to May, with warm temperatures and pleasant rain. The long wet season from June to mid-September is the coldest time of the year, with frequent rain, hail and cloud.

For recovery, wet and slippery surfaces are the main practical concern, more than the temperature. After an arthroscopy or a joint replacement, a fall on a wet step is the last thing anyone wants. Ask your surgeon how long you should use a stick, crutches or a walker, which footwear gives a stable sole, and how to manage the stairs of your own building. Think about the entrance to your home during the rainy months before the procedure, not after it.

Altitude is a topic patients often raise. If you are anxious about how the thin air of a high city interacts with anaesthesia or with breathing exercises after surgery, put the question directly to the surgeon and the anaesthetist during the consultation. They need your full history, including heart and lung conditions, to answer it properly.

Daily life, work and family routines in Addis Ababa while planning treatment

Addis Ababa has a diverse economy. Many residents work in trade and commerce, manufacturing, civil administration, transport, education, health services, and hotels and catering, and each of these jobs puts a different demand on the knees and hips. A shop assistant or market trader stands for most of the day. A driver sits for hours with the knee bent. A teacher or a nurse walks corridors and climbs stairs. An office employee in a tall new building may be seated for long periods, which stiffens a hip. When you talk to the surgeon, describe your working day in detail, because it shapes both the choice of treatment and the plan for returning to work.

Family life matters just as much. Households in the city are often large, and several generations may live together. That can help during recovery, because relatives can take over shopping, cooking and errands while you protect the joint. It also means you may be the person everyone relies on, and it is tempting to return to household duties too early. A frank family conversation before the procedure, about who will carry the heavy items, who will drive and who will help on the stairs, makes the first weeks calmer.

Religious and family occasions are a fixed part of the calendar in a city where Orthodox Christians, Muslims and Protestants live side by side. Fasting seasons, holidays, weddings and gatherings all involve long periods of standing, sitting on low seats or on the floor, and walking in groups. Tell the surgeon which occasions you cannot miss and ask how your recovery plan fits around them. Sitting cross-legged or kneeling for prayer, for example, may be difficult after some procedures, and it is better to know in advance which positions to avoid and for how long.

Food culture also plays a part. Shared meals around a large platter, often eaten seated low to the ground, and fasting periods with many plant-based dishes are familiar to most households. Good nutrition supports healing, and your surgeon or physician can tell you whether any adjustment is needed, for example around protein intake, around medication you take for arthritis, or around fasting if your health condition requires regular meals.

What patients from Addis Ababa usually ask about knees and hips

The first question is almost always whether surgery can be avoided. Conservative care, including activity changes, physiotherapy, weight management, supportive footwear, medication prescribed by a doctor and, in suitable cases, injections, is often the starting point. Surgery is considered when pain, stiffness and loss of function stay serious despite those measures, or when imaging shows damage that conservative methods cannot reverse. The decision belongs to you and your surgeon, based on your scans, your examination and your daily life.

The second question is about the difference between the main options. Arthroscopy is a keyhole procedure used to look inside a joint and, in suitable cases, to deal with certain problems such as a torn meniscus or loose fragments. Joint replacement is a larger operation in which a damaged joint surface is replaced with an implant, and it is usually considered at advanced stages. Many people also ask about regenerative approaches. 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 is worth discussing early, because early assessment can open more options.

The third group of questions concerns practical life. Patients ask how they will manage stairs, how they will get to the market, whether they can keep up with a job that involves standing, and when they can play football with friends or join a running group. Addis Ababa has a strong running culture, with the Great Ethiopian Run and cross country races held in the city. Runners and walkers often ask whether they can go back to that level. The honest answer depends on the joint, the diagnosis and the procedure, and it should come from your surgeon after reviewing your scans.

Finally, many patients ask how a remote consultation works and whether it is serious enough to make decisions. It is a structured first step: you share your history and imaging, a specialist reviews them, and you receive an explanation of the likely diagnosis, the options and the questions that still need an in-person examination or additional tests.

Arthritis: signs to recognise and when to seek advice

Joint pain is not always wear and tear. Arthritis is an inflammatory disease of the joints. Typical signs are pain at rest and at night, morning stiffness lasting more than 30 minutes, swelling, redness and warmth over the joint. Causes include autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, infections, gout and psoriasis. If you recognise this pattern, especially if the joint is warm and swollen, have it assessed by a physician, because the treatment of an inflammatory process is different from the treatment of simple mechanical wear.

In a city where many people walk a lot, it is easy to blame a long day for every ache. Pay attention to a few signals: pain that wakes you at night, stiffness that does not ease quickly after getting up, a joint that is visibly swollen or hot, or several joints affected at once. Mention these details when you contact the coordinators, because they help the specialist decide which tests and which kind of specialist you need first.

Gout, infections and psoriasis-related joint disease are each treated differently, and an operation on a joint that is still actively inflamed is not the right first step. For that reason, blood tests and imaging are usually part of a careful assessment before anyone discusses arthroscopy or replacement. Do not stop or change any medication without your doctor's advice.

Residents of Addis Ababa who have had an old injury, for example from football, a fall or a traffic accident, should also mention it. A damaged joint surface or a torn ligament from years ago can be the origin of present pain, and the surgeon will want to know the full story.

Weight, activity and protecting the joints in a high-altitude city

Body weight is one of the factors that add load to the knees and hips. Overweight and obesity are recognised as health concerns worldwide, and the joints are among the structures that feel the extra load day after day. This is not a matter of blame. It is a practical point: modest changes in weight and regular, joint-friendly movement can reduce symptoms and improve how well a person tolerates both conservative care and surgery.

Addis Ababa offers good conditions for gentle activity. The moderate climate makes walking comfortable in most months, and the city has a strong tradition of exercise. Swimming and cycling in suitable conditions put less impact on the joints than running on hard surfaces. Ask your physician or physiotherapist which activities suit your diagnosis, and how to build up slowly, particularly because sloping terrain increases the load on the knees during descents.

Footwear deserves attention. Many people in the city walk long distances on mixed surfaces, and worn or unsuitable shoes change the way force passes through the knee and hip. A supportive sole, a stable heel and a comfortable fit help both before and after treatment.

If you are planning an operation, a surgeon will usually want your general health to be as stable as possible beforehand. That includes blood pressure, blood sugar, dental health and any chronic condition. Raise these topics early in the online consultation so that preparation can start while you are still at home and not under time pressure.

Choosing a season and planning the procedure around city life

Because temperatures in Addis Ababa stay moderate all year, there is no season when heat makes recovery impossible. The choice is more about rain, cold nights and your own calendar. The dry months from mid-November to January have fewer slippery surfaces, but cold mornings can make a recovering joint feel stiffer. The short rainy season from February to May is mild and pleasant. The long wet season from June to mid-September is the coldest and wettest part of the year, with frequent rain and hail, so walking with crutches or a stick needs extra care.

Think about your own year as well. Students and university staff will want to plan around exams and terms, since the city has many public universities and private colleges. Teachers, civil servants and business owners have their own busy periods. Parents may want to avoid school holidays when children are at home, or choose them precisely because help is available. Religious holidays and family events can also fix the dates when you most need to be mobile.

Preparation at home makes a real difference. Before the procedure, arrange the place where you will rest, make sure frequently used items are within reach, check the lighting on stairs, consider a stable chair with arms, and organise help with shopping and cooking. If you live on an upper floor without a lift, discuss with the surgeon how you will manage the first days and whether a temporary arrangement on a lower level is sensible.

Your coordinators can help you list these questions and bring them to the specialist, so that the plan is built around your real life in Addis Ababa and not around an abstract schedule.

Return to work and sport, and questions to ask the surgeon

Return to work depends on the type of work and on the procedure. A desk job allows an earlier return than a job that requires hours of standing, lifting or climbing. Do not rely on general statements. Ask the surgeon for a personal plan: when you can sit at a desk, when you can drive, when you can use public transport such as the city buses or light rail, and when you can take on heavier tasks. Public transport in Addis Ababa can be crowded, and standing in a moving bus is difficult with a healing joint, so ask what is realistic in the early period.

Sport needs the same honest conversation. Recreational walkers, football players, runners who follow the city's long distance tradition, and people who enjoy dance or gym classes all have different goals. Ask which activities are encouraged, which are delayed and which may no longer be advisable for your joint, and how physiotherapy will guide the return. Rushing back is a common cause of setbacks.

Useful questions for the surgeon include: What is my exact diagnosis and stage? What are the alternatives to the proposed procedure? What does the procedure involve and what type of anaesthesia is planned? What will the early days of recovery look like at home? Which warning signs, such as increasing redness, heat, fever or severe pain, should make me call at once? How will the result be monitored, and what happens if the joint does not respond as expected? Write the answers down and share them with your family.

Remember that every plan is individual. The specialist will explain what applies to your joint, and any timing for recovery or follow-up should come from that discussion rather than from general expectations.

How the remote consultation from Addis Ababa works

The process starts with a message to the coordinators on WhatsApp or Telegram. They are available 24/7, so you can write when it suits you. You describe the problem: which joint, how long it has hurt, what makes it better or worse, what treatment you have tried, and what you hope to be able to do again.

Next you send what you have: X-ray images, MRI or CT reports, blood test results, discharge summaries from previous treatment and a list of your medications and allergies. Photos of the joint, particularly if it is swollen or red, can help too. If some documents are missing, the coordinators will tell you which are most useful, so you do not need to repeat tests without a reason.

A specialist then reviews your materials and holds a free online consultation. The conversation covers the likely diagnosis, whether conservative care is reasonable, whether arthroscopy or replacement should be considered, and what further examination is needed. If an in-person assessment is required before a decision, you will be told clearly. The consultation is a way to understand your options, not a commitment.

Throughout the process you can bring your family into the conversation. In many households in Addis Ababa, health decisions are shared, and having a spouse, a grown child or a sibling join the call often makes the plan easier to follow and to support.

Can I get a consultation about my knee or hip from Addis Ababa without leaving the city?

Yes. The consultation is online and free. You contact the coordinators on WhatsApp or Telegram, send your scans and medical documents, and a specialist reviews them and discusses the options with you.

When are the coordinators available?

The coordinators are available around the clock, 24/7, on WhatsApp and Telegram, so you can write at any time that suits your working day.

Does the cool, rainy climate of Addis Ababa affect recovery?

The moderate temperatures are generally helpful, because heat rarely makes compression garments or swelling hard to bear. Wet and slippery surfaces in the rainy season are the main concern, together with cold mornings in the dry months that can stiffen joints. Ask your surgeon about footwear, walking aids and warm-up habits.

What signs suggest arthritis and not simple wear?

Arthritis is an inflammatory disease of the joints. Typical signs are pain at rest and at night, morning stiffness lasting more than 30 minutes, swelling, redness and warmth over the joint. Causes include autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, infections, gout and psoriasis. A physician should assess these signs before any surgical decision.

Is surgery always needed for joint problems?

No. Many people start with conservative care such as activity changes, physiotherapy, weight management and medication prescribed by a doctor. Surgery is considered when symptoms remain serious or when imaging shows damage that conservative care cannot correct.

Is there anything for early-stage hip problems that might delay replacement?

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. 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. Whether it suits you is decided by a specialist after reviewing your scans.

Can I return to running or sport after joint treatment?

It depends on your diagnosis, the procedure and the condition of the joint. Addis Ababa has a strong running tradition, but you should ask the surgeon which activities are advisable and how the return will be guided by physiotherapy. Do not rush back without that plan.

How should I prepare my home in Addis Ababa before the procedure?

Arrange a comfortable resting place, keep everyday items within reach, check lighting and the steps at the entrance, especially for the rainy months, and organise help with shopping and cooking. If you live on an upper floor without a lift, discuss this with the surgeon in advance.

What should I send to the coordinators?

Send images and reports of X-ray, MRI or CT, blood tests, previous medical records, a list of medications and allergies, and a short description of your symptoms and daily needs. Photos of a swollen or red joint can also help.