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Osteoarthritis Treatment for Patients from Bristol

PRP and SVF cell therapy for the knee, hip and other arthritic joints, plus a free X-ray or MRI review to see which stage you are at

Consultation and review of your scansFree

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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 osteoarthritis
(arthrosis)?

Osteoarthritis, which doctors also call arthrosis, is a chronic process of cartilage thinning and wearing away inside a joint. The cartilage is there to absorb shock, and as it deteriorates the bones rub together, producing pain, stiffness and reduced mobility. It is degenerative rather than inflammatory, although flares with swelling occur.

  • 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

Whether this treatment is right for you is a doctor's decision, made after 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: inflammation of the skin over the joint to be treated, fever, a cold or flu

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 your X-rays, MRI or ultrasound are reviewed; then the doctor decides if the procedure suits you. You may send any scans you have before you come.

Blood sample for PRP2

Blood sample for PRP

From a vein, a small amount of blood is taken — it will later be used to prepare platelet-rich plasma with growth factors.

Adipose tissue sample3

Adipose tissue sample

With local anaesthetic, a small amount of adipose tissue — around 30 ml — is obtained through a puncture on the abdomen or inner thigh, and no stitches are needed.

Processing in a centrifuge4

Processing in a centrifuge

The sample is centrifuged so that it splits into layers. The stromal vascular fraction is then isolated and mixed with platelet-rich plasma.

Injection into the joint5

Injection into the joint

The prepared material goes straight into the affected joint; ultrasound guidance helps position it precisely.

Follow-up6

Follow-up

You need neither crutches nor a hospital stay. The doctor stays in contact afterwards and monitors the joint's response.

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 your own adipose tissue and blood only, with no donor or synthetic material

Cell therapy (SVF) from your own adipose tissue

First a small sample of adipose tissue is processed to isolate the stromal vascular fraction (SVF) — cells involved in tissue repair. This fraction, combined with your plasma, is then injected into the affected joint.

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

Doctors use it chiefly in early and moderate osteoarthritis, aiming to slow cartilage wear and cut friction between the joint surfaces.

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 own blood, in a small amount, is processed to separate plasma rich in platelets and growth factors, which goes into the joint to calm inflammation and improve conditions for tissue repair.

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

It is a common option in mild osteoarthritis and is combined with SVF where a stronger effect is needed.

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

Small and large joints are treated; the doctor determines the joint, method and number of injections after looking at your scans

  • KneeKneeCartilage wear with meniscus trouble and pain on stairs or after walking
  • HipHipEarly hip osteoarthritis, groin pain, limited rotation
  • ShoulderShoulderPain on raising the arm; wear of the joint and the tendons around it
  • ElbowElbowPain after sports strain or overuse, plus wear of the joint surfaces
  • Hand and wrist jointsHand and wrist jointsSmall joints of the fingers and wrist: pain and stiffness
  • AnkleAnklePain and stiffness after sprains and old injuries

Advantages

Why patients choose City Medical Centre

We aim to preserve your own joint rather than replace it, with treatment that avoids surgery

Your own tissue

Your own tissue

We use your own adipose tissue and blood only, with no donor or synthetic material

No crutches

No crutches

Only punctures, no incisions — under local anaesthetic and without a long rehabilitation

Second opinion

Second opinion

Your X-rays, MRI or reports are assessed independently by a doctor at no charge once you send them

Support after the procedure

Support after the procedure

We keep in contact after the procedure and monitor the result, rather than stopping 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

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Request a free call

Price

Osteoarthritis treatment prices

Because the cost varies with the joint, the osteoarthritis stage and the method, the doctor names it after the consultation

FAQ

Joint treatment: frequently asked questions

About the conditions

More about these conditions

Other services of our clinic

Choosing osteoarthritis treatment in Bristol

Without treatment, osteoarthritis usually progresses: pain becomes constant, movement becomes limited and the joint may deform. Early diagnosis, weight control, exercise and working with a doctor make a real difference for every patient in Bristol.

The right activity strengthens the muscles that unload the joint and helps cartilage nutrition. Patients from Bristol are advised swimming, cycling, Nordic walking or yoga, and to avoid running on hard surfaces, jumping and heavy lifting.

Patients from Bristol can start with a free review of their scans: the doctor assesses the stage of osteoarthritis and tells you whether non-surgical treatment makes sense. The price is named at the consultation.

A worn cushion: what osteoarthritis is and what the NHS suggests first

Osteoarthritis is the gradual wear of the cartilage that lines the ends of the bones in a joint. When the cartilage thins, the joint is no longer cushioned, the bones rub, and pain, stiffness and crunching appear. It is a degenerative condition, not an inflammatory one, which is the key difference from other forms of arthritis. The NHS describes it as the most common type of arthritis, usually starting in the late 40s and often affecting weight-bearing joints such as the knees and feet. The typical picture is aching pain on movement and stiffness after rest.

The NHS is clear that there is no cure for osteoarthritis, but treatments can relieve symptoms, and it adds that the condition does not necessarily get worse over time. Exercise comes first in its advice: it calls exercise one of the most important treatments for people with osteoarthritis, whatever your age or level of fitness, and recommends a plan that combines muscle strengthening with general fitness, which your GP or a physiotherapist can help you set up. Doing too much, too fast, or the wrong type of exercise can damage joints, so it is worth following a plan rather than improvising.

Weight matters as well. The NHS notes that being overweight often makes osteoarthritis worse, because it places extra strain on joints that bear your weight, and that losing weight through a more active routine and a healthier diet can help. These are not our treatment but the foundation on which any treatment sits, and we say so openly in the first conversation. If your GP or physiotherapist has already given you a plan, bring it to the consultation.

Exercise that loads the joint gently, and what to avoid

Suitable activity builds the muscles that unload the joint, feeds the cartilage better and keeps you moving. Swimming, water aerobics, cycling, Nordic walking and yoga are the choices we usually suggest. Running on hard surfaces, jumping, heavy lifting and sudden movements are the activities to avoid. That advice matches the NHS view that exercise should be regular but sensible. If you do not exercise at present, begin with ten minutes a day and build up by small steps, listening to the joint.

In a city built on seven hills, with a short coastline on the Bristol Channel, the Avon running through it and wooded slopes along the gorge, there are many places to walk, but the surfaces and gradients are not all equal for a painful knee or hip. Choose flat, even paths at first and leave the steep descents until your thighs are stronger. A walking stick, a firm trainer and a day's rest after a longer outing are not signs of weakness; they are tools that let you keep going.

Strength work deserves a plan of its own. The muscles at the front and back of the thigh protect the knee, and the muscles of the buttocks protect the hip. A physiotherapist can show you exercises that are safe for your joint, and in many areas you can refer yourself to NHS community musculoskeletal services for physiotherapy without a GP referral. Our doctors will happily adjust the timing of an injection to your exercise plan, and the plan to the injection.

When tablets and creams stop being enough, and before replacement

The NHS lists a ladder of medicines for osteoarthritis. Paracetamol is suggested for short-term relief, though often not very effective, and creams with anti-inflammatory medicine are often useful for knees and hands. Tablets of the same type are used if creams do not help, usually with a stomach protector and not for everyone. Stronger painkillers are considered for severe pain, usually short-term, and steroid injections can ease pain for weeks or months when other treatments fail. Ask your GP which suits you, since the answer depends on your other conditions and medicines.

The NHS says surgery for osteoarthritis is only needed in a small number of cases where other treatments have not been effective or where daily life is seriously affected. Joint replacement, most often of the hip or knee, is the most common operation, and it may greatly improve symptoms, though it cannot be promised to remove them altogether. Between painkillers and replacement lies a wide middle ground, and that is where regenerative treatment sits.

At City Medical Centre the aim is to keep your own joint. PRP, from your blood, and SVF, from a small sample of your own adipose tissue, are injected into the joint under ultrasound guidance in one day, with no hospital stay and no crutches. Doctors use them chiefly in early and moderate osteoarthritis, aiming to slow cartilage wear and cut friction between the joint surfaces. Where the joint space has almost disappeared at the most advanced stage, a lasting effect cannot be expected, and the doctor will say so honestly. Joint replacement is the last option, for when the joint is already destroyed.

What happens over weeks and months after an injection course

Early changes are noticed by many patients 2 to 3 weeks after the procedure. The result stabilises over about six months and can last several months to several years, depending on the individual. Osteoarthritis is chronic, so it requires an ongoing plan rather than a one-off injection. The milder the stage, the faster and longer-lasting the effect tends to be, which may cut the need for regular hyaluronic acid injections. Early and moderate stages respond best.

On the day itself, the joint may ache a little more, which is an expected reaction. The doctor keeps in touch and follows your result, not just on the day of the injection. Most people return to normal life within a day or two, and the doctor gives you load and exercise recommendations for the first weeks. Do not plan a long hike, a marathon or heavy lifting for that week, and ask when you may return to swimming or cycling.

Keep a simple diary. Write down your pain on a scale of 0 to 10 in the morning and evening, the distance you can walk before it hurts, the stairs you manage and how many painkillers you take. Share it at each follow-up, because trends over weeks are more informative than a single good or bad day. If, after all this, the joint still limits your life, the doctor will tell you when it makes sense to talk to an orthopaedic team about replacement.

A city that is growing older, and daily life with a worn knee or hip

According to the Office for National Statistics, Bristol had about 472,400 residents at the 2021 Census, up from about 428,200 in 2011, and the number of people aged 65 and over rose by 8.8 percent over the decade. It is a reminder that joint wear is a common concern, and that adapting your day to a sore knee or hip is an ordinary problem with ordinary solutions. Start with the places where pain strikes: the stairs, the bus step, the supermarket aisle, the kitchen floor.

Small changes help. A raised seat in the bathroom, a second stair rail, shoes with a firm sole and a trolley instead of a heavy bag all reduce load on the joint. Take frequent short rests rather than one long sit. If you work on your feet, ask your employer about a chair, an anti-fatigue mat or shorter shifts for a few days after treatment. Describe your working week to the coordinator, and the doctor can plan around it.

Climate has a place here too, though a small one. Met Office averages for 1991 to 2020 from the Filton station give a mean daily maximum of 8.1 °C in January and 21.7 °C in July, and rain on 135.8 days a year. We do not claim that weather causes osteoarthritis to hurt. We only note that damp pavements and dark evenings are a real reason to take care on steps, and that keeping warm and keeping moving, in sensible amounts, is easier with a plan.

Preparing to talk: scans, history and the questions that matter

The consultation is online, and the coordinator is available 24/7 on WhatsApp and Telegram. Send your scans, an X-ray, an MRI or an ultrasound, or the written reports, and a doctor will independently assess them free of charge. Describe the stage as you understand it, which joint is affected, which medicines you take and what you have tried so far, including physiotherapy and injections. If you have been told that you need a replacement, say so, and ask for a second opinion on whether that is the only choice.

Ask what stage of osteoarthritis you are at, whether the treatment is likely to help at that stage, how many injections are usually planned, whether PRP alone or combined with SVF is suggested, and what you can do at home to support the result. Ask also about your weight, since it affects both the pain and the outcome, and about exercise, which the NHS places first on its list. The doctor will answer in plain terms and will not promise a result that cannot be promised.

If you have cancer, an acute infection, a blood clotting disorder, a flare-up of a serious chronic illness or are pregnant, the procedure is not done, and the doctor postpones it or offers another option. The 2027 bank holidays in England and Wales fall on 26 March, 29 March, 3 May, 31 May and 30 August; if one of those long weekends suits you for a quiet few days, say so when you propose dates. The clinic confirms which dates are open, and nothing is booked until you agree the plan.

Is osteoarthritis treated by the NHS in Bristol?

Yes, the NHS offers exercise advice, weight management, medicines, steroid injections and, in a small number of cases, joint replacement. Regenerative PRP and SVF treatment at City Medical Centre is arranged privately, and we make no promises about what a health service might fund.

What is the difference between osteoarthritis and arthritis?

In osteoarthritis the cartilage wears, causing aching pain on movement, crunching and stiffness after rest. In arthritis the joint is inflamed, with pain at rest and at night, swelling, redness and warmth. The treatment approach differs, so diagnosis comes first.

Which joints are most often affected?

The knees, hips and ankles, which bear the most load, as well as the spine and the small joints of the hand.

What exercise is best for osteoarthritis?

Swimming, water aerobics, cycling, Nordic walking and yoga. Avoid running on hard surfaces, jumping, heavy lifting and sudden movements.

When will I notice a difference?

Early changes are noticed by many patients 2 to 3 weeks after the procedure, and the result stabilises over about six months.

At which stage does the treatment work best?

Early and moderate stages respond best. At the most advanced stage, when the joint space has almost disappeared, a lasting effect cannot be expected.

What happens if osteoarthritis is left untreated?

Usually it gets worse: pain turns constant, movement is increasingly limited, the joint can deform and walking may become difficult. Early diagnosis, weight control and exercise make a real difference.

Can hip osteoarthritis be treated without surgery?

In many cases, yes, if treatment is not delayed. SVF and PRP injections aim to ease pain and support the cartilage without an operation. Replacement is the last option.

Do I need to stop exercising before the procedure?

Not usually. Tell the coordinator about your routine, and the doctor will advise what to do on the day and in the first weeks.