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Joint Treatment in Thika: Methods and Steps

We treat the knee, hip, shoulder and other joints with SVF and PRP. Before anything is decided, your scans are reviewed at no cost

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?

This approach uses your own biological material — PRP, the platelet-rich plasma separated from blood, and SVF, the stromal vascular fraction taken from a small portion of adipose tissue. Injected into the affected joint, it helps reduce pain and inflammation and supports the tissues inside.

  • 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 decision on whether the treatment suits you is made by a doctor, after an examination and a look at 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: having a fever, a cold or flu, or inflamed skin over 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

Before anything else, the doctor examines the joint and goes through your X-rays, MRI or ultrasound to see if the procedure is suitable. Scans can be sent to us ahead of time.

Blood sample for PRP2

Blood sample for PRP

All it takes is a little venous blood; later on it becomes platelet-rich plasma containing growth factors.

Adipose tissue sample3

Adipose tissue sample

The doctor numbs the area with local anaesthetic and takes about 30 ml of adipose tissue through a puncture on the abdomen or inner thigh. Stitches are not needed.

Processing in a centrifuge4

Processing in a centrifuge

After centrifuging, the sample forms separate layers; the stromal vascular fraction is taken from them and combined with the 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 stay in hospital and no crutches are needed. The doctor stays in touch after the procedure to see 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

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 little of your adipose tissue is processed to isolate SVF — the stromal vascular fraction, which contains cells involved in repairing tissue. It is then combined with your own plasma and injected into the joint.

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

It is usually the choice when changes in the joint are more marked and the aim is a longer-lasting effect.

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

The joint receives an injection of plasma rich in platelets and growth factors, separated from a small amount of your blood. It helps soothe inflammation and creates better conditions for the tissues to 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

Both large and small joints are treated; the joint, the method and the number of injections are chosen by the doctor once your scans are reviewed

  • KneeKneeCartilage wear, meniscus problems, 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
  • ElbowElbowPain after overload or sports strain, worn surfaces of the joint
  • 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

We focus on preserving your own joint instead of replacing it, without surgery

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

Send your X-rays, MRI or reports and a doctor will give an independent assessment free of charge

Support after the procedure

Support after the procedure

We remain in contact after the procedure and track the result, not just the injection day

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

Pricing depends on the joint, the condition's stage and the method; you learn it from the doctor after the consultation

FAQ

Joint treatment: frequently asked questions

About the conditions

More about these conditions

Other services of our clinic

Joint treatment in Thika step by step

Knee problems are the most familiar reason to seek help: cartilage wear, meniscus damage, pain on stairs and after walking. Patients from Thika with hip, shoulder, ankle, elbow or wrist pain follow the same path — scan review, examination and a clear plan.

Keeping a healthy weight and regular, joint-friendly exercise help the result last longer. The doctor explains which activities suit your joint and which loads to avoid — the same advice applies to every patient in Thika.

A consultation is the first step for every patient from Thika. It is free, and after it you know the method, the number of injections and the cost.

Thika and why joint problems matter here

Thika is an industrial town and commerce hub in Kiambu County, Kenya, northeast of Nairobi, close to the point where the Thika and Chania Rivers meet. The 2019 National Census recorded a population of 279,429, and the town is growing rapidly. A town of this kind is full of people whose work depends on their knees and hips: factory and warehouse staff, traders on their feet all day, drivers, builders, teachers, farmers from the surrounding highlands and people who commute toward Nairobi.

When a knee or a hip begins to hurt, the effect in a working town is immediate. Climbing steps, standing at a counter, getting into a matatu, kneeling at home or walking on uneven ground all become harder. Many residents of Thika first treat the problem with rest and over-the-counter remedies and only then look for a proper diagnosis. This text is meant to help you take that step earlier: to understand the options for joint treatment, to prepare your questions, and to use the free online consultation of City Medical Centre from your own home in Thika.

Your contact with the centre is remote. Coordinators are available around the clock (24/7) on Telegram and Telegram, and the first online consultation is free. You send your history and images, and the discussion takes place without leaving your town.

The treatment ladder: conservative care, arthroscopy, replacement

Joint treatment is not a single operation. It is a ladder. The first step is conservative care: a clear diagnosis, adjustment of activity, weight management, physiotherapy, strengthening of the muscles around the joint, suitable footwear and, where the doctor judges it appropriate, medication or injections. Many people in Thika can stay on this step for a long time if the problem is recognised early.

The second step is arthroscopy, a keyhole procedure used for selected problems inside the joint, most often in the knee. It is not a universal answer to knee pain, and a good surgeon will explain honestly whether your particular picture justifies it. The third step is joint replacement, considered when the joint is badly worn and daily life, sleep and walking are seriously limited despite earlier measures.

The aim of the online consultation is to tell you which step you are actually on. Someone who has had stiff knees for a few months needs a different conversation from someone who can no longer walk to the market without stopping. Bring your imaging, previous reports and a list of treatments already tried.

Early stages, hip joint and SVF therapy

For the hip there is one medical point worth knowing. 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 is why timing matters: a person in Thika who has had groin pain and a limp for months and keeps waiting may move from a stage with wider options to a stage with narrower ones.

The technique behind SVF is simple to describe. 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 specialist will tell you, after reviewing your images, whether this approach is relevant to you at all, since it depends on the stage and cause of the problem.

Do not read this as a promise for every hip. It is a reason to get imaging interpreted early and to ask the surgeon directly: what stage is my joint, and what is realistic for it?

Arthritis or wear: recognising the difference

Not every painful joint is worn out. 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.

This matters because inflammatory arthritis is treated first by finding and managing its cause, not by operating. If you notice in Thika that a joint is hot, swollen and stiff each morning, or that several joints are involved, say so clearly during the consultation. Pain that appears only after a long day on your feet and settles with rest points more toward mechanical wear.

Describe your pattern in simple terms: when the pain starts, whether it wakes you at night, how long the morning stiffness lasts, and whether there has been swelling. These details help the doctor decide whether you need further tests before any procedure is discussed.

Climate of Thika and recovery

Thika has a subtropical highland climate with sunshine most of the year and an average annual temperature of 19.8 °C. The hottest period is March and April, leading into the long rains, and the coolest month is July. The short rains run from October to November or December. The town lies about 1,631 metres above sea level on a gentle plain before the ascent into the central highlands.

For recovery this is a mild setting, but it still affects planning. In the warmer weeks of March and April, swelling around a knee or hip can feel worse by evening, and a compression garment or bandage, if your surgeon prescribes one, can be uncomfortable; plan rest with the leg raised during the cooler part of the day. During the long rains, wet and slippery ground in yards and on unpaved paths is a real hazard for someone using crutches or a stick, so think about entrances, steps and footwear before the procedure.

The cooler weeks around July are comfortable for staying indoors and doing prescribed exercises, but cool air can make an operated joint feel stiff in the morning. Follow the surgeon's general advice on warming up gently, and ask about sun on healing skin if you will spend time outdoors.

Choosing the season for treatment

There is no single best month in Thika. Because the climate is moderate, the choice depends more on your work and family calendar than on the weather. Some patients prefer the drier stretch between the long and short rains because paths are firmer and moving with a walking aid is easier. Others prefer the cooler period for the comfort of rest at home.

Think about the rain pattern when you plan the first weeks after a procedure. During the long rains, from March or April to May or June, and the short rains from October to November or December, movement outside can be harder and check-ups need more planning. Discuss your calendar with the coordinator so that follow-up questions can be handled by message without depending on the weather.

For joint replacement in particular, give yourself a calm period: no major deadlines at work, no large family events immediately afterwards, and someone available at home to help in the first days.

Work, study, sport and family life in Thika

Thika is a commercial and industrial town, and many jobs involve standing, lifting or walking. Return to work after joint treatment depends on the procedure and on what you do. A desk or shop-counter role is different from heavy lifting or long hours on a production line. Ask the surgeon to describe, for your exact job, when light duties are reasonable and which movements to avoid at first.

Students and teachers should ask about sitting for long periods, using stairs in school buildings and carrying bags. Farmers and people who work on the land around Thika should ask about uneven ground and kneeling. Golfers, walkers and people who like to visit waterfalls such as Fourteen Falls and Chania Falls will want to know when gentle walking and later sport are realistic; do not decide this alone, and do not return to impact sport until the surgeon agrees.

Family events such as weddings, funerals and church gatherings often involve long standing and shared meals. Try not to schedule treatment right before one. If you cannot avoid it, tell relatives beforehand that you will need a chair, short breaks and no obligation to carry or serve.

Food, weight and the joints

Body weight places load on the knees and hips, and the World Health Organization treats overweight and obesity as a major public health topic. In Thika, as elsewhere, everyday food often includes starchy staples, fried snacks and sweet tea, alongside fresh produce from the surrounding highlands. You do not need a dramatic diet, but ask the doctor for realistic advice on gradual weight management, because it can make conservative care more effective and recovery after surgery easier.

Think also about meals during recovery. Cooking means standing at the stove, and carrying pots is awkward on crutches. Plan simple meals, arrange help from relatives, and keep water and light food within reach. Good nutrition, enough protein and fluids support healing in general terms, and your surgeon can give more specific guidance for your case.

How the remote consultation works from Thika

You start by writing to the coordinators on Telegram or Telegram, at any hour, since they are available 24/7. Describe the joint, how long it has hurt and what you have tried, and attach existing X-rays, MRI images and reports. A specialist reviews them and then speaks with you online. The first consultation is free.

In the conversation you can ask which stage the joint seems to be at, whether conservative care is still enough, whether arthroscopy makes sense or whether replacement should be discussed. You can also ask what would be needed before any procedure, and how follow-up is handled once you are back at home in Thika.

Having a family member join the call is often helpful, especially for decisions about surgery, because they can help remember the answers and plan support at home.

Who is a candidate and who needs caution

In general terms, conservative care suits most people at the start, including those with early wear, mild pain or inflammatory causes that must be treated first. Arthroscopy is considered for selected mechanical problems in a joint. Replacement is usually discussed when the joint is advanced and pain and loss of function remain serious despite earlier steps.

Caution is needed for people with active infection, uncontrolled chronic illness, poorly controlled blood sugar or blood pressure, problems with blood clotting, heart conditions, and anyone taking medicines that affect bleeding. Tell the specialist about every medicine, including herbal products, and about previous operations and allergies. A good consultation may end with advice to wait, to do more tests or to continue non-surgical care, and that is a legitimate outcome.

Questions to ask the surgeon

Prepare a short list before the call. Ask what exactly is wrong with the joint and at what stage. Ask what alternatives exist to the proposed operation. Ask what anaesthesia is planned, how long the hospital stay is expected to be, and what the recovery stages look like for a person with your job and home in Thika.

Ask what the possible complications are and how they are recognised early. Ask when you can walk without aids, when you can drive, when you can climb stairs, and when you may return to work and sport. Ask which exercises you must do at home, and whom to contact by message if swelling, fever or new pain appears. Write the answers down.

Can I get a first consultation without leaving Thika?

Yes. The first online consultation is free. Write to the coordinators on Telegram or Telegram, send your images and reports, and a specialist will discuss them with you by video or call from your home in Thika.

Is surgery always needed for knee or hip pain?

No. Many people start with conservative care: diagnosis, weight management, physiotherapy, muscle strengthening and suitable medication. Surgery is considered when these steps are not enough or when the joint is advanced.

What is SVF therapy for the hip?

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. Whether it is relevant depends on your images and history.

How is the material for SVF collected?

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.

How do I know if my pain is arthritis?

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 doctor must confirm the cause.

Does the weather in Thika matter for recovery?

Thika has a mild highland climate, so the main concerns are wet, slippery ground in the long and short rains and swelling in the warmer weeks of March and April. Plan safe access to your home and rest with the leg raised.

When can I go back to work?

It depends on the procedure and your job. Office or counter work usually allows an earlier return than heavy lifting or long standing. Ask the surgeon for guidance specific to your duties.

Can I play sport or walk to the falls afterwards?

Gentle walking is usually introduced first, and sport later, when the surgeon agrees. Do not return to impact activity on your own schedule.

Who should avoid or postpone treatment?

People with active infection, poorly controlled chronic conditions, bleeding or clotting problems, or certain heart conditions need caution. Tell the specialist about all medicines and illnesses.

Are the coordinators available at night?

Yes, coordinators are available around the clock (24/7) on Telegram and Telegram, so you can send your question whenever it suits you.