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Osteoarthritis Treatment in Leicester: Steps and Results

We treat arthrosis in the knee, hip and other joints with SVF cell therapy and PRP, and review your X-rays or MRI for free to judge the stage

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 — also known as arthrosis — is a chronic disease in which joint cartilage steadily wears thin. Cartilage acts as a cushion, so as it breaks down the bones begin to rub, leading to pain, stiffness and less movement. It is degenerative in nature rather than inflammatory, but flare-ups with swelling still 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

The doctor decides on suitability once you have been examined and your scans have been reviewed

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: flu or a cold, fever, or skin inflammation over 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

An examination of the joint and a review of your X-rays, MRI or ultrasound let the doctor decide if the procedure is suitable. Existing scans can be sent in advance of the visit.

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

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.

Processing in a centrifuge4

Processing in a centrifuge

The sample goes into a centrifuge and divides into layers; the stromal vascular fraction is taken out and mixed with the 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

There are no crutches and no hospital stay. After the procedure the doctor keeps in touch and follows 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

Only your own blood and adipose tissue are used — no donor or synthetic material

Cell therapy (SVF) from your own adipose tissue

From a small sample of your adipose tissue, the stromal vascular fraction (SVF) is isolated — a set of cells involved in repairing tissue. Mixed with your own plasma, it is then injected into the joint that is affected.

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

A small blood sample provides plasma rich in platelets and growth factors; this is injected into the joint to help ease inflammation and create better conditions for the tissue to repair.

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

It is frequently used for mild osteoarthritis, and combined with SVF when a stronger effect is required.

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

From large joints to small ones — which joint, which method and how many injections is decided after the doctor studies your scans

  • KneeKneeStairs and walking cause pain; cartilage wear and meniscus problems
  • HipHipEarly hip osteoarthritis, groin pain, limited rotation
  • ShoulderShoulderJoint and tendon wear around it, pain on lifting the arm
  • ElbowElbowJoint surface wear and pain after overloading or sports strain
  • 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

Treatment without surgery that works to keep your own joint rather than swap it for an implant

Your own tissue

Your own tissue

Only your own blood and adipose tissue are used — no donor or synthetic material

No crutches

No crutches

Done through punctures under local anaesthetic, without incisions or long rehabilitation

Second opinion

Second opinion

Send us your MRI, X-rays or reports for an independent assessment by a doctor at no cost

Support after the procedure

Support after the procedure

After the procedure, we keep in touch and watch the result — our work does not end 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

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Request a free call

Price

Osteoarthritis treatment prices

After the consultation the doctor names the cost, which depends on the joint, the stage of osteoarthritis and the method

FAQ

Joint treatment: frequently asked questions

About the conditions

More about these conditions

Other services of our clinic

What Leicester residents ask about osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is not the same as arthritis. Arthrosis is wear of the cartilage; arthritis is inflammation with pain at rest, swelling and warmth. The approach differs, so the diagnosis comes first for everyone in Leicester.

Many patients in Leicester 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.

The cost of osteoarthritis treatment depends on the joint, the stage and the method, so the price is set at the consultation. For patients from Leicester, the first consultation and review of your scans are free. Leave your name and phone number to book.

Who is most likely to develop wear in a joint, and what the numbers say about Leicester

Leicester is a city and unitary authority of 383,116 residents, and the Greater Leicester urban area was counted at 559,017 in 2021. Those totals matter for osteoarthritis because the condition is the most common type of arthritis in the UK. The NHS describes the risk as rising with age. It is higher in women than in men, and higher again in people with obesity or an earlier joint injury. A GP may begin to suspect osteoarthritis in anyone aged 45 or older who has persistent joint pain. In a county town of this size, that adds up to a lot of knees, hips and hands.

Arthritis UK reports that more than 10 million adults, young people and children across the UK live with arthritis, according to the 2026 edition of its State of Musculoskeletal Health report. The figure covers several conditions, but it shows the scale. A joint that aches on the stairs is not unusual, and nobody in this position is alone.

Body weight is the factor you can influence most directly. The Health Survey for England 2022, published by NHS Digital, found that 29% of adults were living with obesity and 64% were overweight or living with obesity. Regional gaps were wide. Obesity ranged from 39% in the North East to 21% in London, so the East Midlands sits somewhere between the two extremes. Every extra kilogram adds load to the knee and hip, which are the joints that carry the most weight. These are also the joints for which the doctor most often considers SVF and PRP injections.

The doctor will not decide anything from statistics, though. During the free online consultation, your own X-ray or MRI is what counts. The doctor reads the scan, asks about your daily load and the history of the joint, and then says whether early or moderate wear is present. Sending scans you already have before the conversation saves time.

Cold months, damp air and the stiff first steps of the morning

The climate records for Newtown Linford, about five miles north-west of the centre, give a useful picture of the winter many Leicester residents with arthritic joints know well. In the 1971–2000 normals, January is the coldest month, with a mean maximum of 6.7 °C and a mean minimum of 0.5 °C. July, by contrast, averages a maximum of 21.6 °C and a minimum of 10.8 °C. The annual mean is 9.4 °C, so there is a long stretch of the year when the air is cool rather than frosty.

The wetness follows a similar pattern. Annual precipitation is 684.4 mm over 120.8 days. December is the wettest month, with 68.8 mm over 11.7 days, and January follows with 61.7 mm. July is the driest, with 46.1 mm over 7.8 days. The area has a maritime climate, with rain spread through the year and little sunshine. Hot spells are the exception: roughly 11.3 days a year reach 25.1 °C or more.

No figure here proves that weather causes osteoarthritis. It does not, and the service text describes the condition as slow wear of cartilage, not a reaction to the cold. Still, many people notice that a joint feels stiffer after a cold, damp night and then loosens after some movement. That pattern is worth separating from something else. Stiffness after rest that eases quickly is typical for wear in the cartilage. Pain at rest and at night, swelling, redness and warmth, or morning stiffness lasting more than 30 minutes, point more towards an inflammatory arthritis. The treatment approach differs between the two, so diagnosis comes first.

A practical habit for the short, grey months from November to February is to keep a simple joint diary. Note the day, the pain on a scale you choose, what the weather was like and how long the stiffness lasted. Share it in the chat with the coordinator before the consultation. The doctor can read it alongside the images and get a clearer sense of your pattern than from one description of one bad day.

Football, rugby, cycling and canal paths: how load builds up

Leicester describes itself in sport more than most cities of its size. It is home to Leicester City FC, Leicester Tigers (a record eleven league titles), Leicester Riders basketball and Leicestershire County Cricket Club. It was named European City of Sport in 2008 and the UK's Greatest Sporting City in 2016. For joints, the meaning is practical. Football, rugby and basketball all involve twisting, landing and sudden stops, and meniscus injuries and ligament sprains are common in those sports. An old injury is one of the recognised risk factors named by the NHS, and it can lead to wear years later.

The service text lists recovery after injuries and surgery, meniscus pathology, and high load on the joints from sport or physical work among the situations where the treatment may suit. It also lists pain on stairs or after walking for the knee, and pain and stiffness after sprains and old injuries for the ankle. A former amateur player with a knee that has never felt quite right is exactly the kind of case in which a scan review is worthwhile.

Everyday movement matters as well. National Cycle Network Route 6 passes through Leicestershire, and the city has a Leicester Bike Park in Town Hall Square. An e-bike share scheme ran from 2021 to 2023. Cycling is one of the activities the service text names as suitable with osteoarthritis, together with swimming, water aerobics, Nordic walking and yoga. Running on hard surfaces, jumping, heavy lifting and sudden movements are the ones to avoid. The Grand Union Canal and the River Soar Navigation join at Leicester, and flat, level paths of that kind suit steady walking better than rough ground.

The work side counts too. The city has two universities, the University of Leicester and De Montfort University, so many residents spend long hours sitting. Sitting is not a cause of cartilage wear in itself, but muscles that unload the joint need regular use. Heavy physical work, on the other hand, loads the same joints day after day. The doctor will ask which of these describes you, because the stage, the weight and the activity all affect how long an effect lasts.

Waiting lists, NHS routes and why people ask about a second opinion

Osteoarthritis is first managed through the NHS, usually starting with a GP. For a badly worn hip, the NHS says a replacement may be considered when pain and stiffness have a big effect on daily life and other treatments have not worked. It names osteoarthritis as the main cause, along with rheumatoid arthritis and hip injury. For people who are very overweight, the NHS describes weight loss surgery as an option when BMI is 40 or more, or 35 to 40 with a condition that might improve with weight loss, arthritis among them. The person must agree to lifestyle changes and check-ups, and availability varies across areas of the UK.

Waiting is a real part of the picture. NHS England's statistical press notice of 10 September 2026 reported 7.3 million pathways waiting to start treatment at the end of July 2026, covering around 6.2 million unique patients. Of those, 111,379 had waited more than 52 weeks. These are national numbers, not a measure of one Leicester hospital, and they say nothing about orthopaedics specifically. Even so, they explain why somebody with a painful knee may want a second opinion on the scans while the formal route moves forward.

A second opinion from us does not replace the NHS pathway, and there is no obligation to book anything. You send your X-ray, MRI or ultrasound report, and the doctor reviews it free of charge. The doctor tells you the stage, says whether the injection approach looks realistic, and says frankly when a joint replacement is the more honest answer. The service text states that replacement is the last option, for when the joint is already destroyed, and the same candour applies to advanced hip and knee cases.

Calendars matter when you plan anything around the working year. In England and Wales there are eight bank holidays in 2026, including Christmas Day on 25 December and a substitute Boxing Day on 28 December. Coordinators answer on WhatsApp and Telegram round the clock, 24/7, with an initial reply within 15 minutes, so a public holiday does not stop you from sending scans or asking a question.

What the SVF and PRP procedure involves, step by step

The approach uses only your own materials: blood from a vein, and a small portion of adipose tissue. For PRP, a small blood sample is taken and platelet-rich plasma with growth factors is prepared from it. For SVF, the doctor collects roughly 30 ml of adipose tissue under local anaesthetic through a puncture on the abdomen or inner thigh. No stitches are needed. The sample is spun in a centrifuge, the stromal vascular fraction is isolated and it is blended with the plasma. The result is injected into the joint under ultrasound guidance, so the material lands precisely. The whole procedure is done in one day, with no crutches and no hospital stay.

Both methods aim at different things. PRP helps quieten inflammation and supports better conditions for repair, and it is often used for mild osteoarthritis. SVF is used chiefly in early and moderate osteoarthritis, aiming to slow cartilage wear and reduce friction between the joint surfaces. Together they are chosen when a stronger effect is needed. The doctor decides the joint, the method and the number of injections after looking at your scans.

The timeline in the service text is averaged and given for guidance. In the first week the joint may ache a little more, which is an expected reaction. By about a month the pain usually eases, around three months mobility and activity improve, and by about six months the full effect develops. Many patients notice early changes 2–3 weeks after the procedure. How long it lasts differs from person to person and depends on the stage, body weight, activity and other factors. Nobody can promise a fixed result, and because osteoarthritis is chronic it needs an ongoing plan, not a one-off injection.

Some conditions rule the treatment out or postpone it: cancer, pregnancy, blood clotting disorders, acute infections including infection in or near the joint, and a flare-up of a serious chronic illness. A raised temperature, a cold or flu, or inflamed skin above the target joint are temporary reasons to wait. Mention any of these to the coordinator early.

Does the cold, wet weather in Leicester make osteoarthritis worse?

The materials we work from do not show weather as a cause of cartilage wear, which is a slow, degenerative process. Many people do notice that joints feel stiffer on cold, damp mornings. In Leicester, January is the coldest month, with a mean maximum of 6.7 °C and a mean minimum of 0.5 °C, and December is the wettest. If stiffness after rest eases quickly, it fits wear in the cartilage. If it lasts more than 30 minutes, or you have pain at rest, swelling, redness and warmth, tell the doctor, because inflammatory arthritis is treated differently.

I am under 45. Can I still ask about osteoarthritis?

Yes. The NHS says a GP may suspect osteoarthritis from the age of 45, but that is a pointer, not a limit. Joint injuries from football, rugby, basketball or cricket can lead to wear earlier, and an earlier injury is a recognised risk factor. Send your scans and describe the injury, and the doctor will assess the stage rather than relying on your age.

Can I send scans I already have from an NHS appointment?

Yes. You can send X-rays, MRI or ultrasound reports and results of blood tests to the coordinator on WhatsApp or Telegram. A doctor reviews them free of charge and independently, assesses the stage of osteoarthritis and tells you whether a non-surgical plan looks suitable. You are not asked to book anything, and the review does not interfere with your NHS care.

How does body weight affect the outcome of injections?

The service text names body weight, together with the stage, activity and other factors, as something that affects how long an effect lasts. The knee and hip carry the most load, so extra weight adds to it. Across England, 29% of adults were living with obesity in 2022 according to NHS Digital. If weight is a concern, the doctor will discuss it frankly together with exercise, because both are part of a long-term plan for a chronic condition.

Which activities are sensible for someone in Leicester with arthritic knees?

The service text recommends swimming, water aerobics, cycling, Nordic walking and yoga, since suitable activity builds the muscles that unload the joint. It advises avoiding running on hard surfaces, jumping, heavy lifting and sudden movements. Level routes such as canal paths or cycle routes fit that pattern better than hard, uneven ground. Your doctor will adapt the advice to your joint after seeing the scans.

I am already on an NHS waiting list. Does a consultation with you change that?

No. An online consultation and scan review is free and carries no obligation to book anything. It gives you the doctor's assessment of the stage and of whether injections or a joint replacement is the more realistic option, which can help you decide while you wait. The NHS England press notice of 10 September 2026 counted 7.3 million waiting pathways at the end of July 2026, so many patients look for a second opinion in the meantime.

Will a bank holiday or an evening delay my questions?

No. Coordinators answer on WhatsApp and Telegram round the clock, 24/7, and the first reply usually comes within 15 minutes. England and Wales have eight bank holidays in 2026, including Christmas Day and a substitute Boxing Day on 28 December, but messages are still answered on those days.

What should I prepare before the first conversation?

Collect your X-ray, MRI or ultrasound images and reports, and note which joint hurts, when it began and any earlier injury. A short diary of stiffness and pain during colder weeks can help. Also mention medicines you take, a raised temperature, a cold or flu, or any skin problem near the joint, because these may postpone treatment. The coordinator will ask for what is missing.