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PRP Injections for Joints in Reading

For the knee, hip, shoulder and other joints: PRP and cell therapy (SVF). Your scans are reviewed free before you commit

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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?

Material from your own body is at the heart of regenerative joint treatment — PRP, a platelet-rich plasma derived from blood, and SVF, the stromal vascular fraction derived from a small sample of adipose tissue. Placed into the affected joint by injection, it reduces pain and inflammation and supports the joint's 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

Your suitability for the treatment is decided by a doctor following 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: a cold, flu or fever, skin inflammation above 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

Your joint is examined and the doctor studies your X-rays, MRI or ultrasound to judge whether the procedure is suitable. Existing scans can be sent before the appointment.

Blood sample for PRP2

Blood sample for PRP

A small volume of blood is drawn from a vein, which is later turned into platelet-rich plasma with growth factors.

Adipose tissue sample3

Adipose tissue sample

Through a puncture on the abdomen or inner thigh, about 30 ml of adipose tissue is taken under local anaesthetic, and no stitches are required.

Processing in a centrifuge4

Processing in a centrifuge

Centrifugation divides the sample into layers, so the stromal vascular fraction can be isolated and then mixed with the platelet-rich plasma.

Injection into the joint5

Injection into the joint

Under ultrasound guidance, the ready material goes directly into the affected joint, so it can be placed accurately.

Follow-up6

Follow-up

You go without crutches and without a hospital stay; the doctor keeps in contact after the procedure and follows your joint's progress.

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 use nothing but your own blood and adipose tissue, with no donor or synthetic 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

It tends to be used when the joint is more visibly changed and a longer-lasting effect is being sought.

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

A small amount of your blood is processed to separate plasma rich in platelets and growth factors, which is then injected into the joint. It helps settle inflammation and gives the tissues better conditions for repair.

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

Used by itself as an injection course, or together 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

Large and small joints — the doctor chooses the joint, the method and the number of injections after reviewing your scans

  • KneeKneeWorn cartilage, meniscus problems, pain on stairs or after walking
  • HipHipEarly hip osteoarthritis, groin pain, limited rotation
  • ShoulderShoulderPain when you raise your arm, worn joint and surrounding tendons
  • ElbowElbowJoint surface wear and pain after overload or sports strain
  • Hand and wrist jointsHand and wrist jointsStiff, painful small joints in the fingers and wrist
  • AnkleAnklePain and stiffness after sprains and old injuries

Advantages

Why patients choose City Medical Centre

No surgery: our work is about keeping your own joint, not swapping it for an implant

Your own tissue

Your own tissue

We use nothing but your own blood and adipose tissue, with no donor or synthetic material

No crutches

No crutches

Done through punctures instead of incisions, under local anaesthetic, without long rehabilitation

Second opinion

Second opinion

A doctor gives a free, independent assessment of the X-rays, MRI or reports you send us

Support after the procedure

Support after the procedure

Contact continues after the procedure — we track the result, not just the injection itself

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

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Request a free call

Price

Joint treatment prices

How much it costs depends on the joint, the method and the stage of the condition — the doctor tells you after the consultation

FAQ

Joint treatment: frequently asked questions

About the conditions

More about these conditions

Other services of our clinic

Joint treatment in Reading: what you should know

Joint treatment in Reading is built around keeping your own joint. Instead of a long rehabilitation after surgery, you get injections under local anaesthetic, no crutches and no hospital stay, and the doctor stays in touch afterwards.

PRP can be given as a course of injections or together with SVF. The number of injections and the method are chosen individually for each patient from Reading after the examination and scan review.

Joint treatment in Reading: price at consultation, free scan review, own tissue only. Leave your name and phone number, or message us in any messenger.

Between two rivers: what the ground in Reading asks of your joints

The centre of Reading sits on a low ridge between the River Thames and the River Kennet, close to where they meet. The ground is 61 m above sea level, so the town is not mountainous. Even so, the suburbs rise towards the foothills of the Berkshire Downs, and north of the Thames the land climbs into the Chiltern Hills. For a knee or a hip, that means a short walk home can include a long, steady incline, and the descent can be harder than the climb. People with gonarthrosis (knee osteoarthritis) often describe pain on the way down, and the doctor asks about this during the consultation.

Along the Thames there is a chain of open spaces: Thameside Promenade, Caversham Court, Christchurch Meadows, Hills Meadow, View Island and King's Meadow. Soft, level riverside paths are a gentler surface than pavement and kerbs, and a joint that complains on hard ground may tolerate them better. Writing down which routes provoke pain and which do not is useful. It tells the doctor how much load the joint carries in a normal week, and that matters when a plan is drawn up.

The online consultation starts from this practical picture. The doctor asks about the slope you climb to the station or the shops, the stairs at home, the surfaces you walk on and how long you can stand before the ache begins. Pain on stairs or after walking is typical of knee problems. Groin pain and limited rotation point towards the hip. Pain when raising the arm points towards the shoulder. Your answers are then compared with the X-ray, MRI or ultrasound you send.

Treatment of the joint with your own blood and adipose tissue is not a substitute for a proper diagnosis. Before anything is decided, the doctor wants to know whether the problem is wear of the cartilage, inflammation, an old injury or damage to the meniscus. The route you walk every day helps to tell these apart.

When the wet months arrive: stiffness, damp and a symptom diary

The Met Office figures for 1991-2020, recorded at the University of Reading weather station, show 658.2 mm of precipitation a year spread over 113.9 days. October is the wettest month with 73.8 mm, and November follows with 73.1 mm. March (40.3 mm) and May (43.5 mm) are the driest. January is the coldest month, with an average daytime maximum of 8.0 °C and a minimum of 2.1 °C. December has the least sunshine, only 48.5 hours.

We do not claim that damp air causes arthritis. What many people report is that stiffness after rest is easier to notice in the cold, dull months. They tend to move less then, and the first steps after sitting feel heavier. The useful step is to record this rather than guess. A simple diary kept for a few weeks, covering the time of day, the joint, the kind of pain and what eased it, gives the doctor much better material than a general statement such as "it hurts in winter".

The details in the diary carry diagnostic weight. Morning stiffness that lasts longer than 30 minutes, pain at rest and at night, and swelling, redness or warmth over the joint suggest inflammation, which is arthritis in the narrow sense. Aching on movement, crunching and stiffness after sitting suggest osteoarthritis, which is wear of the cartilage and is not inflammatory. The approach to treatment differs, so the label comes first. This is why the free review of your scans and your description of symptoms is the first step.

Timing is worth planning around the calendar. If you are thinking about the procedure, remember that the joint may ache a little more for about a week afterwards, and that this is an expected reaction. Choose a period when you do not have to be on your feet all day. Some people prefer a quieter spell in the working year, and the coordinators, who answer on WhatsApp and Telegram round the clock, can fit the consultation into whatever time suits you.

A town of 183,762 residents: how common joint wear is

Reading borough had 183,762 residents in 2025, and the wider urban area had 355,596. The density is 4,549 people per km2. It is a compact, busy place, and a large share of ordinary movement is on foot, by bicycle or on public transport, with steps at stations and in buildings. These numbers do not tell us how many of those residents have a joint problem, and we do not invent such a figure. They do show how much daily movement there is for each joint to cope with.

The national picture comes from the NHS. Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis in the UK. The risk rises with age, it is higher in women than in men, and it is higher in people with obesity or a previous joint injury. A GP may suspect it in someone aged 45 or older. Arthritis UK reports that more than 10 million adults, young people and children in the UK live with arthritis. In other words, a stiff knee in Reading is an ordinary problem and not an unusual one.

Two of these risk factors can be worked on. Body weight changes the load on the knee and hip, and the doctor takes it into account when planning treatment, as the duration of the effect depends on the stage of the condition, body weight, activity and other factors. A joint injury from years ago is the other. Pain and stiffness after sprains and old injuries are among the reasons people ask about the ankle, and recovery after injuries and operations is one of the situations for which the treatment is considered.

Age alone is not a reason to refuse treatment or to accept it. The doctor looks at the scans, which show the stage of the changes. Chances of a lasting effect are higher at earlier stages, so a person of 50 with early wear may be a better candidate than a person of 40 with a badly damaged joint. The decision is individual, and the consultation exists to make it.

Running streets, festival crowds and the load on a joint

Reading Half Marathon is held on the town's streets every March and brings 16,000 competitors. Whenever a race like that is mentioned, runners with knee pain come to mind. The University of Reading, founded in 1892, brings a young population who play sport, and there is also the physical work of people who spend their days lifting and kneeling. High load on the joints, whether from sport or physical work, is one of the situations in which the doctor can consider treatment after reviewing the scans.

If you run, the questions are specific. Does the pain begin at a certain distance? Is it on the inner side of the knee? Does it catch or lock, which can point towards the meniscus? Does it swell afterwards? Meniscus pathology and injury is one of the conditions that can be treated with injections of PRP and SVF, which are used to ease pain and support the joint. Whether this suits you depends on the MRI, which the doctor reviews first.

It is better to be realistic about the recovery timeline. After the procedure the typical course is as follows.

- In the first week the joint may ache a little more.

- By about a month the pain usually eases.

- At around 3 months, mobility and activity improve.

- At around 6 months the full effect develops.

Anyone who has entered a race in March should discuss the timeline with the doctor early. Training load in the first weeks is a medical question, and the doctor gives recommendations for load and exercise for that period. No one can promise a fixed result, and you should be wary of anyone who does.

The procedure itself is short for the patient. It is done in one day, with no hospital stay and no crutches. Blood is taken from a vein, about 30 ml of adipose tissue is taken under local anaesthetic through a small puncture in the abdomen or inner thigh, and no stitches are needed. The material is processed in a centrifuge, and the ready mixture goes into the joint under ultrasound guidance so that it is placed accurately. Normally people return to normal life within a day or two.

Waiting lists and the NHS route: a way to understand your options

The NHS England statistical notice of 10 September 2026 reports 7.3 million pathways waiting to start treatment at the end of July 2026, which corresponds to around 6.2 million unique patients. Of these, 111,379 had waited more than 52 weeks. These are national numbers and say nothing about a particular hospital or a specific wait in Reading, so we do not draw conclusions about any single case. They do explain why many people look for a second opinion while they wait.

The NHS describes hip replacement as an option when hip pain and stiffness have a big effect on life and other treatments have not worked. Osteoarthritis is named as the leading cause, and rheumatoid arthritis and hip injury are also listed. For a person in this position the question is often whether replacement really is the only route. Early or moderate changes may respond to injections of your own tissue, and the aim is to put off or avoid surgery. With a badly damaged joint replacement may be the more realistic option, and the doctor will say so honestly after seeing your scans.

The same applies to the question of a second opinion. A doctor will independently assess your X-rays, MRI, CT or medical reports free of charge once you send them. You will hear whether the procedure could suit you and what else may be needed. This does not replace the care that your GP or an NHS specialist arranges and is not intended to. It can sit alongside it. Many people use it simply to understand their scans better and to learn what stage the changes have reached.

Rheumatoid arthritis deserves a separate mention. The NHS states that there is no cure for it. Treatment is long-term medicine to relieve symptoms and slow progress, together with physiotherapy and occupational therapy, and surgery can fix joint problems that develop. Regenerative injections are not a replacement for that long-term medicine. If inflammatory joint disease is suspected, the doctor will say so, and the conversation will be about what can reasonably be added.

Getting ready for the online consultation

Everything starts with your scans. The coordinator asks for the X-ray, MRI or ultrasound you already have, and you can send them before the consultation by WhatsApp or Telegram. Reports are also welcome. If you do not have any, tell the coordinator and the doctor will explain what is worth arranging. A free review of the scans does not oblige you to book anything.

A short preparation list makes the conversation more productive.

1. Write down which joint hurts, on which side, and when the pain began.

2. Note what makes it worse (stairs, slopes, standing, cold mornings) and what helps.

3. List the painkillers you take and how long they help. Painkillers that only relieve pain for a short time are one of the reasons people seek this treatment.

4. Mention previous injuries and operations on the joint.

5. Note any fever, cold or flu, skin inflammation over the joint, or infection. These are temporary reasons to wait.

6. Mention cancer, pregnancy, blood clotting disorders or a flare-up of a serious chronic illness. The treatment is not done in these cases.

England and Wales have 8 bank holidays in 2026, and the winter ones are Christmas Day on 25 December and the substitute Boxing Day on 28 December. Public holidays are quiet times for appointments, but the coordinators answer round the clock, so a question sent in the evening or on a bank holiday does not have to wait. The online consultation also needs no journey across town, which helps when a painful hip makes getting around hard.

What the injections are, and what they are not

PRP is platelet-rich plasma prepared from a small amount of your blood. SVF is the stromal vascular fraction, a cell fraction from a small sample of your adipose tissue. In regenerative treatment the material goes into the affected joint by injection to help reduce pain and inflammation and to support the tissues inside it. Only your own blood and adipose tissue are used, with no donor or synthetic material. PRP can be given alone as a course of injections, or it can be combined with SVF.

SVF is usually considered when changes in the joint are more marked and the aim is a longer-lasting effect. The effect of PRP often lasts several months to about a year, and SVF can last longer. These are averaged figures given for guidance, and the real course depends on the stage of the condition, body weight, activity and other factors. The doctor confirms the plan at the consultation.

Safety needs a calm explanation. Because the material is your own, the risk of rejection or an allergic reaction is very low. As with any injection, temporary pain, swelling or bruising are possible, and infection is rare. This is why acute infection, including infection in or near the joint, rules the procedure out, and why a fever or skin inflammation over the joint means waiting.

Avascular necrosis of the hip is a special case. 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. Honesty about the stage is part of the doctor's job.

Does the hilly ground around Reading make knee or hip problems worse?

There is no claim that the slopes cause joint disease. The centre of Reading stands on a low ridge, the suburbs reach the foothills of the Berkshire Downs, and north of the Thames the land rises towards the Chilterns. If your daily route includes a climb, the load on the knee and hip is higher, and many people notice pain mostly on the way down. Describe your route to the doctor during the consultation, and send your scans, because the stage of the changes decides what can be offered.

Do the wet autumn months matter for planning a procedure?

October and November are the wettest months in Reading, with 73.8 mm and 73.1 mm of precipitation on average, and the year has 113.9 rainy days. The weather does not decide whether treatment is suitable. What matters is your own condition and the scans. Practical planning is another matter: the joint may ache a little more for about a week afterwards, so choose a period when you do not need to be on your feet for long. The doctor gives load and exercise recommendations for the first weeks.

I run in the Reading Half Marathon every March. Should I stop training if my knee hurts?

Do not decide this on your own. Pain that begins at a certain distance, catching or swelling after a run can mean cartilage wear or a meniscus problem, and the MRI shows which. After the consultation the doctor will tell you whether injections could help and how much load is sensible while they take effect. Remember that after the procedure the pain usually eases by about a month, mobility improves at around 3 months and the full effect develops at around 6 months, so a race in March needs early planning.

At what age is osteoarthritis usually suspected, and does it matter for treatment?

According to the NHS, a GP may suspect osteoarthritis in people aged 45 or older. The risk grows with age, is higher in women than men, and is higher with obesity or a previous joint injury. For this treatment, age matters less than the stage of the changes: chances of a lasting effect are higher at earlier stages, and the doctor assesses the stage from your scans.

The NHS waiting list is long. Can I use the online consultation while I wait?

Yes, as a second opinion. NHS England reported 7.3 million pathways waiting at the end of July 2026, and 111,379 of them had waited more than 52 weeks. Sending your X-rays, MRI or reports to be reviewed free of charge does not interrupt your NHS care. You will hear whether injections of your own tissue could suit you, or whether replacement looks more realistic.

Can I use these injections if the NHS has suggested a hip replacement?

Sometimes, but not always. The NHS says a hip replacement may be considered when pain and stiffness have a big effect on life and other treatments have not worked. If the changes are early or moderate, the doctor may suggest trying to preserve your own joint first. If the joint is already badly damaged, replacement may be the more realistic option, and the doctor will tell you honestly once the scans have been reviewed.

Is the treatment suitable for rheumatoid arthritis?

The NHS says there is no cure for rheumatoid arthritis and that treatment is long-term medicine plus physiotherapy and occupational therapy. Injections do not replace that medicine. The doctor reviews your scans and your history, tells you whether any injection could be added and says clearly if it is not advisable, especially during a flare-up of a serious chronic illness.

What should I send to the coordinator before the consultation?

Send existing X-rays, MRI, CT or ultrasound images and any written reports through WhatsApp or Telegram, where the coordinators reply round the clock. Add a short note on the joint, the side, when the pain started, what makes it worse and which painkillers you use. Mention any recent fever, cold or flu, skin inflammation over the joint or any of the conditions that rule the procedure out.

Will I need crutches or a hospital stay afterwards?

No. There is no hospital stay and no crutches. The doctor takes blood from a vein and, under local anaesthetic, about 30 ml of adipose tissue through a small puncture, with no stitches. The prepared material is injected under ultrasound guidance in one day. Most people return to normal life within a day or two, and the doctor stays in touch afterwards and follows how the joint responds.

How is a bank holiday or a quiet week handled if I have questions?

Coordinators answer on WhatsApp and Telegram 24/7, including on bank holidays such as Christmas Day on 25 December and the substitute Boxing Day on 28 December in 2026. You can send scans and questions when it suits you, and the consultation is arranged for a time that works for you.