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Arthrosis Treatment in Cape Coast Without Surgery

Arthrosis of the knee, hip or another joint treated with SVF cells and PRP. Your X-rays or MRI are reviewed free of charge to confirm the stage

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)?

In this chronic disease — osteoarthritis, or arthrosis — joint cartilage is gradually worn thin. Losing the cartilage cushion lets bone rub against bone, which brings pain, stiffness and a smaller range of motion. It is classed as degenerative, not inflammatory, even though swelling may come with flare-ups.

  • 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 scans are reviewed and you are examined — then a doctor decides whether the treatment suits you

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: fever, flu or a cold, inflamed skin over the joint that is 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

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

A small amount of blood is taken from a vein. Platelet-rich plasma with growth factors is later prepared from it.

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

A centrifuge separates the sample into layers. From them the stromal vascular fraction is isolated and added to the platelet-rich plasma.

Injection into the joint5

Injection into the joint

Under ultrasound guidance the prepared material is injected straight into the affected joint, which helps to place it precisely.

Follow-up6

Follow-up

You go without crutches and without a hospital stay; the doctor keeps in touch afterwards and follows 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

Your own blood and adipose tissue only; donor and synthetic material are not used

Cell therapy (SVF) from your own adipose tissue

SVF — the stromal vascular fraction — is a mixture of repair-related cells isolated from a small sample of your own adipose tissue. It is injected into the affected joint together with your plasma.

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

Its main use is at early and moderate stages of osteoarthritis, to slow the wear of cartilage and lessen 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

Platelet- and growth-factor-rich plasma is separated from a small amount of your blood and then injected into the joint, helping to calm inflammation and create better conditions for tissue repair.

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

Commonly used for mild osteoarthritis — and together with SVF when you need a stronger effect.

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 alike. The joint, the technique and the number of injections are chosen by the doctor based on your scans

  • KneeKneeWorn cartilage, meniscus problems, pain after walking and on stairs
  • HipHipEarly hip osteoarthritis, groin pain, limited rotation
  • ShoulderShoulderWear of the joint and nearby tendons, pain when lifting the arm
  • ElbowElbowWear of joint surfaces, pain after heavy use or sports strain
  • Hand and wrist jointsHand and wrist jointsPainful, stiff small joints of the wrist and fingers
  • AnkleAnklePain and stiffness after sprains and old injuries

Advantages

Why patients choose City Medical Centre

Rather than replacing the joint, we work to preserve it — the treatment involves no surgery

Your own tissue

Your own tissue

Your own blood and adipose tissue only; donor and synthetic material are not used

No crutches

No crutches

Punctures in place of incisions, local anaesthetic and no lengthy rehabilitation period

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 touch after the procedure and track the outcome, not merely on 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

Osteoarthritis treatment prices

Since the joint, the method and the stage of osteoarthritis determine the cost, it is named by the doctor after the consultation

FAQ

Joint treatment: frequently asked questions

About the conditions

More about these conditions

Other services of our clinic

Osteoarthritis treatment in Cape Coast: what you should know

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 Cape Coast.

During the first week the joint may ache a little more — this is an expected reaction. Pain usually eases over the first month, and mobility improves over about three months. Patients from Cape Coast go home the same day.

Do not wait until the joint is destroyed. Book a free consultation in Cape Coast: early and moderate osteoarthritis responds best to treatment. The price is set individually.

Cape Coast and the question of joint pain

Cape Coast is the capital of the Cape Coast Metropolitan District and of the Central Region of Ghana, about 130 km from Accra and about 61.8 km from Sekondi-Takoradi. As of the 2010 census the city had 108,374 people, and the figure grew to 189,925 by 2021. It is a place where history, schooling, fishing and tourism sit side by side, and many of the people who live and work here spend long hours on their feet: teachers and administrators, market traders, guides, fishing families, drivers and students. For all of them, a painful knee, hip or hand is not an abstract complaint. It decides whether a working day is manageable.

This text is written for residents of Cape Coast who live with osteoarthritis, or who suspect it, and who want to understand what a remote consultation with City Medical Centre involves. The centre works with patients from their own city: the online consultation is free, and coordinators are available around the clock (24/7) on Telegram and Telegram. You can send questions at any hour, including late evening after work or early morning before classes.

The aim is practical. We explain what osteoarthritis is and how it differs from other joint diseases, how the climate and daily routines of Cape Coast affect planning, which questions are worth asking a surgeon or orthopaedic specialist, and what a realistic plan looks like. Osteoarthritis is chronic, so it needs an ongoing plan rather than a single injection. Every part of the advice below follows from that principle.

Osteoarthritis or arthritis: why the distinction matters

People in Cape Coast often use the word arthritis for any aching joint. Medically the two terms are different, and the difference changes what you do next. 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.

Osteoarthritis is a chronic, wear-related condition of the joint, and it tends to show itself differently: pain that grows with load and eases with rest, stiffness after inactivity, and a gradual loss of comfortable movement. If your joint is hot, red and swollen, or if pain wakes you at night, tell the coordinator at the very first message, because that picture may point to an inflammatory cause that needs separate assessment.

During the free online consultation we ask you to describe the pattern in your own words: which joint, how long, what makes it worse, and what you have already tried. Photographs of a swollen joint and any previous scans or laboratory results help the specialist form a clearer view. A remote conversation does not replace an examination and imaging, but it organises the first step and shows which documents are missing.

Climate in Cape Coast and how it shapes joint symptoms and recovery

Cape Coast has a tropical savanna climate with two rainy seasons, peaking in May to June and in October. The dry harmattan period runs from November to February. Average temperatures are around 24 to 32 °C and relative humidity is between 60% and 80%. This is a warm, humid coastal setting, and it has practical consequences for anyone planning treatment for a joint.

Heat and humidity can make swelling feel worse by the end of the day, especially in the lower limbs. If your plan includes a small procedure with a puncture site on the abdomen or inner thigh, keep the area clean and dry, wear loose breathable clothing, and avoid long periods in direct sun. Sweat and friction in humid weather can irritate a healing puncture, so choose soft cotton fabrics and change clothing after heavy sweating. Your specialist will tell you whether a compression garment is advised in your case; follow only the instructions you are given.

The rainy months bring wet and slippery ground, and in a city where many people walk or use shared taxis and minibuses, a fall is a real concern for a painful knee or hip. Footwear with a firm grip matters more than fashion in those weeks. During harmattan the air is drier and dustier, and mornings can feel stiffer; a gentle warm-up at home before leaving may help. None of this replaces medical advice, but it is the kind of local detail worth raising with the specialist.

Daily life in Cape Coast: work, study, transport and the body

Cape Coast is an educational hub, home to the University of Cape Coast and Cape Coast Technical University and many secondary and technical schools. Lecturers stand through long sessions, administrators sit for hours, and students carry bags between campuses and lodgings. Sitting for long periods can stiffen a knee or hip just as standing can aggravate it, so when you describe your routine to the coordinator, include both.

Tourism dominates the local economy and services, with Cape Coast Castle, Kakum National Park and the PANAFEST festival drawing visitors. Guides, drivers, vendors and hospitality staff spend long days walking, climbing steps and lifting. If your job is like this, ask the specialist directly how your type of work fits with treatment, and which tasks you should reduce while the joint settles.

Most residents do not own a private vehicle and rely on taxis and minibuses, and congestion is common. Getting in and out of a crowded minibus with a painful knee is not trivial. Plan your calendar so that the first days after any procedure do not require long, crowded journeys, and arrange help from family or colleagues for errands. Fishing households, a significant part of the local way of life, face another challenge: boat work and hauling nets load the knees, hips and hands, and symptoms there deserve an early conversation.

What SVF therapy involves, and where it fits

Patients from Cape Coast often ask whether there is an option between tablets and joint replacement. For some, SVF therapy is discussed. 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. This is the extent of the medical detail we give here; the specialist explains the rest after reviewing your 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. This is a key point: the stage of the disease, judged from examination and imaging, decides whether this route is reasonable at all. A good consultation can include an honest statement that it is not suitable for you.

Many patients notice the first changes 2–3 weeks after the procedure. A stable result forms over about six months and can last from several months to several years, depending on the individual. For a working person in Cape Coast, this means you should not judge the outcome in the first week, and you should not expect a single intervention to close the topic. Osteoarthritis is chronic, so it needs an ongoing plan rather than a single injection, covering movement, body weight, footwear and follow-up.

Weight, activity and the long-term plan

Body weight is one of the factors that load the knees and hips. The World Health Organization publishes a fact sheet on obesity and overweight that explains the wider health context, and it is a useful starting point if you want to understand why weight management is part of most joint plans. We do not set numerical targets here; the specialist will discuss them if relevant to you.

Food culture in Cape Coast is built around fresh fish, starchy staples, soups and stews, and shared family meals. There is no need to give up local food. The conversation is usually about portion size, frying versus steaming or grilling, sugary drinks and regular meal times. A coordinator can help you prepare questions for a dietitian or your own physician, while the decisions stay with your treating doctors.

Activity matters as much as food. Walking on level ground, gentle strengthening and swimming-style movement are common themes in osteoarthritis care, though you should only do what your specialist approves for your stage. In Cape Coast, early morning and evening are cooler for walking, and a firm, shaded path is kinder to the joints than hot pavement at midday. The Cape Coast Sports Stadium and the local football culture around Ebusua Dwarfs and Venomous Vipers inspire many residents to play; if you play on weekends, ask whether and when you should return to the pitch.

Choosing the season and planning around city events

There is no single best month, but the calendar of Cape Coast offers useful guidance. The two rainy seasons, May to June and October, bring wet ground and higher fall risk. The dry harmattan period from November to February is drier but dusty. Heat and humidity are present throughout the year. Choose a time when your work is lighter and when you can rest at home without pressure.

Fetu Afahye takes place on the first Saturday of September each year and draws people of many backgrounds. Many families gather, travel across the city and spend long hours standing, walking and dancing. If you plan any procedure, think about whether you want to take part fully, and discuss with the specialist how far in advance you should finish your recovery period. The same applies to PANAFEST, to weddings, funerals and church events, which are an important part of social life in a city with a long Christian tradition.

Students at the university and technical university may prefer to plan around examination periods and holidays. Teachers and public-sector staff may need to arrange leave. In every case, the best step is to send the coordinator your approximate calendar so that the specialist can suggest realistic timing. Do not rush to fit a procedure around a single event; the plan should serve the joint, not the date.

Return to work and sport

Because the procedure uses a puncture rather than stitches, many people expect a fast return to daily routine. Yet your specialist gives the actual guidance for your situation, including how soon you may resume desk work, standing work, driving or lifting. Ask for it in writing through the messenger chat so that you can share it with your employer.

For physically demanding jobs, such as market trading at Kotokuraba, fishing, construction, guiding or sports coaching, ask which activities to limit and for how long. Also ask when you can walk longer distances, climb stairs and use crowded transport comfortably. Remember that the first changes are noticed after 2–3 weeks for many patients, and that a stable result forms over about six months, so progress is gradual and should not be judged by a single good or bad day.

For sport, ask about running, football, swimming and gym work separately. The sea along the coast and public pools are tempting in the heat, but whether and when you may swim depends on how the puncture site heals and on the specialist's instructions. Do not enter the sea or a pool until you have a clear answer.

Who is and is not a candidate

In general terms, the people most likely to be offered SVF therapy are those with early-stage disease, where the joint surface is still largely preserved and symptoms affect daily life. People at later stages are usually advised that surgery is required. Those with an inflammatory cause, such as rheumatoid arthritis, gout, infection or psoriasis, need that cause identified and treated first.

Contraindications are decided individually. Active infection, certain blood conditions, ongoing serious illness or an unclear diagnosis can all change the plan. Be completely open about medicines, allergies, previous operations and chronic conditions. Honest information protects you more than any promise could.

Clinical guidance is a useful reference for your own reading. NICE publishes Osteoarthritis in over 16s: diagnosis and management (NG226), which describes assessment and management in general terms. You can bring questions from it to your consultation, particularly about exercise, weight and pain control.

How the remote consultation works from Cape Coast

You do not need to leave the city for the first conversation. Write to the coordinators on Telegram or Telegram at any time, around the clock. State your age, the affected joint, your main symptoms, how long they have lasted and what you do for a living. The free online consultation then goes through your history and your documents.

Prepare what you already have: X-ray or MRI images and reports, blood test results, notes from local hospitals or physicians, and a list of medicines. Cape Coast has two principal hospitals, the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital and the Cape Coast Metro Hospital, and records from either are useful to bring if you have them. We do not replace your local care; the remote consultation complements it and helps you decide on next steps.

After reviewing your materials, the specialist tells you whether SVF therapy is reasonable for your stage, whether more tests are needed, or whether another route, including surgery, is more suitable. You can ask follow-up questions in the same chat, and you decide at your own pace.

Is the online consultation really free for people in Cape Coast?

Yes. The first online consultation is free. Coordinators are available around the clock (24/7) on Telegram and Telegram, so you can write at any hour.

What is the difference between arthritis and osteoarthritis?

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. Osteoarthritis is a chronic condition where symptoms tend to rise with load. The distinction matters because the causes and plans differ.

Which causes of arthritis should I mention?

Tell the coordinator about any known autoimmune condition such as rheumatoid arthritis, past infections, gout or psoriasis. These are recognised causes of inflammatory joint disease and change the assessment.

How is the tissue taken in SVF therapy?

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.

When will I notice changes?

Many patients notice the first changes 2–3 weeks after the procedure. A stable result forms over about six months and can last from several months to several years, depending on the individual.

Will one treatment solve osteoarthritis for good?

No. Osteoarthritis is chronic, so it needs an ongoing plan rather than a single injection. The plan includes movement, weight, footwear, follow-up and, if needed, further decisions with your doctors.

Can SVF therapy help at any stage?

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.

Does the humid climate of Cape Coast affect recovery?

Average temperatures are around 24 to 32 °C with humidity between 60% and 80%. Keep puncture sites clean and dry, wear loose cotton clothing, limit time in strong sun and follow the specialist's guidance on compression garments and on swimming in the sea or a pool.

Is it better to plan during the rainy season or harmattan?

Neither is perfect. Rainy months, May to June and October, mean wet ground and higher fall risk. Harmattan, November to February, is dry but dusty. Choose a period when your work is lighter and you can rest.

What should I ask the specialist?

Ask about the stage of your disease, whether you are a candidate, what the follow-up plan is, when you can return to work, walking, football or swimming, what signs need urgent contact, and what to do if the result is smaller than hoped.