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Non-Surgical Osteoarthritis Treatment in Liverpool

Cell therapy (SVF) plus PRP for arthrosis of the knee, hip and beyond. Send your X-rays or MRI — the stage review costs nothing

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 (arthrosis) is a long-term condition where the cartilage covering a joint slowly thins and wears down. Because cartilage cushions the joint, its loss lets the bones grind against one another, bringing pain, stiffness and reduced movement. The disease is degenerative, not inflammatory, though swollen flare-ups can 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

Suitability for treatment is decided by a doctor, following 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: a cold, flu or fever, or inflamed skin over the joint planned for treatment

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

Blood is taken from a vein in a small amount. Later, platelet-rich plasma containing growth factors is prepared from it.

Adipose tissue sample3

Adipose tissue sample

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

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

Using ultrasound guidance, the doctor injects the prepared material directly into the affected joint so it is placed precisely.

Follow-up6

Follow-up

No crutches, no stay in hospital. The doctor keeps in contact after the procedure and watches how your 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

Nothing synthetic, nothing from donors — only your own blood and adipose tissue are used

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

Mainly at early and moderate stages of osteoarthritis — to reduce friction between the joint surfaces and slow down cartilage wear.

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

Plasma rich in platelets and growth factors is obtained from a small volume of your blood and injected into the joint, where it helps calm inflammation and improves conditions for tissue repair.

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

Mild osteoarthritis is a common indication; when a stronger effect is needed, it is used 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

  • KneeKneeCartilage wear, meniscus problems, pain on stairs and after walking
  • HipHipEarly hip osteoarthritis, groin pain, limited rotation
  • ShoulderShoulderRaising the arm is painful; wear of the joint and nearby tendons
  • ElbowElbowPain after overuse or sports strain, wear of the joint surfaces
  • Hand and wrist jointsHand and wrist jointsPain and stiffness in the small joints of the wrist and fingers
  • AnkleAnklePain and stiffness after sprains and old injuries

Advantages

Why patients choose City Medical Centre

We work to keep the joint you have instead of replacing it, using treatment without surgery

Your own tissue

Your own tissue

Nothing synthetic, nothing from donors — only your own blood and adipose tissue are used

No crutches

No crutches

Local anaesthetic, punctures rather than incisions, and no long rehabilitation

Second opinion

Second opinion

Free of charge, a doctor gives an independent assessment of the X-rays, MRI or reports you send

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

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

Everything about arthrosis treatment in Liverpool

Osteoarthritis most often affects the joints that carry the most load: the knee (gonarthrosis) and the hip (coxarthrosis), as well as the ankle and the small joints of the hand. Patients from Liverpool with any of these joints can have their scans reviewed free of charge.

Treatment starts with a consultation and a review of your X-rays or MRI to assess the stage. Then blood and a small adipose tissue sample are taken, processed in a centrifuge and injected into the joint under ultrasound guidance. For patients from Liverpool, it is done in one day.

Knee or hip osteoarthritis? Patients from Liverpool can send their X-rays or MRI and get a free assessment of the stage and a clear answer on suitable treatment and its price.

Worn cartilage: what the word osteoarthritis really means

Osteoarthritis, sometimes called arthrosis, is the slow, chronic wear of the cartilage that lines a joint. Healthy cartilage softens impact. When it thins, the bone surfaces start to meet more directly, and the joint hurts, stiffens and moves less. There can be flare-ups with swelling, but at its heart this is a degenerative condition and not an inflammatory one. That distinction matters, because it tells you what a treatment can reasonably aim to do.

The NHS describes osteoarthritis as the most common type of arthritis in the UK. It says the condition is long-term and cannot be cured, but that it can sometimes improve and does not necessarily get worse. A GP may suspect it in people aged 45 or older, and it is more common in women than in men. It most often affects the knees, the hips and the small joints of the hands. Other factors are a joint injury, obesity, a family history, and other conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis or gout.

In the clinic's vocabulary, the knee is gonarthrosis and the hip is coxarthrosis. Those two joints carry the greatest load, which is why they are affected most, followed by the ankle and the small joints of the hand. The treatment we offer works best at an early or moderate stage, before the joint surfaces are badly worn. At an advanced stage, the doctor will tell you frankly if a joint replacement is the more realistic option.

Weight is one of the factors you can influence, and the NHS lists weight loss, where needed, among the measures for mild symptoms, with suitable footwear and devices that reduce strain on the joint. We mention it plainly because the doctor will, too. It is not a judgement. A lighter load is simply easier on a knee or hip, and the injection works in a more favourable setting when the joint is not overloaded.

Morning stiffness, stairs and the signs worth writing down

People often arrive at the diagnosis by a roundabout route. A knee that complains on the stairs, a hip that aches after a long walk, a thumb that cannot grip a jar. The NHS says that stiffness in the morning typically lasts less than 30 minutes in osteoarthritis. A joint that stays stiff for much longer, or that is hot, red and swollen, points to inflammation, and you should tell your GP and the coordinator.

Before you write to us, keep a note for a week. Which joint and which side? What brings on the pain: stairs, standing up, walking, gripping? How long does the stiffness last after you get up? Is the night disturbed? How far can you walk before you must stop? These are small facts, but together with your scans they make the picture clear for the doctor in the online consultation.

Send what you already have: X-ray images, an MRI or an ultrasound report. The clinic gives a free, independent assessment of existing reports, so even if you only want a second opinion, you are welcome. After the doctor examines the scans, you learn whether the treatment suits you, which joint should be treated and how many injections are planned.

Hands deserve a word. Osteoarthritis of the small joints of the hand shows as stiffness and pain at the base of the thumb or in the finger joints, and it is easy to dismiss as part of getting older. Send a photograph of both hands, palms down and palms up, alongside any X-ray, so that the doctor can see the swelling or change in shape.

How the injection works for a worn joint

The method uses your own tissue. A small amount of blood is taken from a vein to prepare platelet-rich plasma with growth factors. Under local anaesthetic, the doctor then collects about 30 ml of adipose tissue through a puncture on the abdomen or inner thigh, with no stitches. A centrifuge separates the sample into layers, the stromal vascular fraction is isolated, and it is blended with the plasma. The material is injected into the affected joint under ultrasound guidance so that it lands precisely.

There is no hospital stay and no crutches. The doctor keeps in touch afterwards and follows how the joint responds. The clinic describes the course as follows: during the first week the joint may ache a little more, which is expected; after one month the pain usually eases; at about three months mobility and activity improve; and at about six months the full effect develops. Because the effect depends on the stage, your weight, your activity and other factors, no one can promise a fixed outcome.

The clinic's approach is to keep your own joint where that is realistic. The injections are not an alternative to sensible habits. They sit alongside exercise therapy, physiotherapy and advice on weight and footwear, all of which the NHS also recommends for mild and moderate symptoms.

Moving through a Liverpool week with a sore joint

The NHS advises regular exercise for osteoarthritis, with at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity every week, plus strength exercises on two or more days. For a Liverpool resident that can mean walking the flat streets near the Mersey, a swim, a bike ride or a class at a local centre. Weather will not stop you. The Met Office normals for Crosby, about 11 km from the city centre, give between 49.8 mm and 91.9 mm of rain in every month, so a waterproof coat and shoes with a grip are better aids than waiting for a dry day.

Activity is easiest to build when the days are longer. Sunshine at Crosby rises from 56.0 hours in January to 207.0 hours in May, and the mean daily maximum from 7.5 °C to 15.9 °C. Many people use spring as a natural starting point for a more active routine, and an injection in late winter can set up the first improvements at about the same time. That is a suggestion for planning, and not a rule: choose the date that fits your diary.

Ask the doctor what activity is sensible in the first week after the injection and how to build up afterwards. Ask also what to avoid. A joint that is allowed to move gently usually does better than one kept still, but the right amount differs from person to person.

Pace yourself over the six months. The first week may bring a little more ache, which is expected. At a month, check whether the pain has eased. At three months, compare your walking distance and your stairs with your first note. At six months, take stock of the full effect and decide with the doctor whether anything more is needed.

Your GP, the NHS and an online second opinion

Start with your GP if you have not already. The NHS says that surgery is used in a small number of cases, when other treatments have not helped or the damage is particularly severe, and that your GP can advise on eligibility. A joint replacement is a major step, and for some people it is the right one. For others, an earlier treatment can postpone it or make it unnecessary.

Our free second opinion is a way to understand your options. It costs nothing, you do not have to leave Liverpool, and you are under no obligation to book anything. If you are told that replacement is your only choice, an independent view of your scans may either confirm that or show another route.

There are conditions in which the treatment cannot go ahead: 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 joint are temporary reasons to wait. Mention any of these in your first message.

Is osteoarthritis the same as getting older?

Risk rises with age, and the NHS says a GP may suspect it in people aged 45 or older, but it is a joint condition that can also follow an injury. The doctor reviews your scans to judge the stage.

Which joints are affected most often?

The NHS names the knees, the hips and the small joints of the hands. The clinic also treats the shoulder, elbow and ankle.

Does exercise make worn joints worse?

The NHS recommends regular exercise, including at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity weekly plus strength exercises. Ask your doctor or physiotherapist what is right for your joint.

How should I describe my symptoms in a message?

Say which joint and which side, what triggers the pain, how long the morning stiffness lasts, how far you can walk and whether nights are disturbed. Attach your scans.

Does the NHS replace joints?

The NHS says surgery is used in a small number of cases, when other treatments have not helped or the damage is severe, and your GP can advise on eligibility.

Can I use the consultation just for a second opinion?

Yes. Send your reports, X-rays or MRI, and a doctor assesses them independently and free of charge.

What if my joint is already badly damaged?

The doctor will tell you frankly at the consultation if a joint replacement is the more realistic option, after seeing your scans.

Do I stop my physiotherapy while having injections?

No. Injections can be combined with exercise therapy and physiotherapy. Tell your physiotherapist about the treatment and follow the doctor's guidance.