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Osteoarthritis Treatment in Lubumbashi: Steps and Results

SVF cell therapy and PRP for knee, hip and other joints affected by arthrosis. A free review of your X-rays or MRI to check 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)?

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: fever; a cold or the flu; skin inflammation above 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

First comes an examination of the joint and a look at your X-rays, MRI or ultrasound, after which the doctor decides whether the procedure suits you. Already have scans? Send them before the visit.

Blood sample for PRP2

Blood sample for PRP

A small amount of venous blood is drawn, to be processed later into platelet-rich plasma with growth factors.

Adipose tissue sample3

Adipose tissue sample

Under local anaesthetic, the doctor collects a small portion of adipose tissue (roughly 30 ml) via a puncture on the abdomen or the inner thigh. Stitches are not needed.

Processing in a centrifuge4

Processing in a centrifuge

The sample is spun in a centrifuge and separates into layers. The stromal vascular fraction is isolated and mixed with the platelet-rich plasma.

Injection into the joint5

Injection into the joint

Prepared material is delivered by injection straight into the affected joint, and ultrasound guidance helps with precise placement.

Follow-up6

Follow-up

Crutches and a hospital stay are not required. The doctor stays in touch after the procedure, following 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

Most often it is applied in early and moderate osteoarthritis, helping slow the wear of cartilage and reduce friction in the joint.

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

We separate plasma rich in platelets and growth factors from a small blood sample and inject it into the joint. This helps quieten inflammation and supports better conditions for tissue 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

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
  • ShoulderShoulderPain on raising the arm; wear of the joint and the tendons around it
  • ElbowElbowPain that follows sports strain or overuse, and joint surface wear
  • 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 work to keep the joint you have instead of replacing it, using treatment without 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

No long rehabilitation: local anaesthetic and punctures instead of incisions

Second opinion

Second opinion

An independent assessment from a doctor, free of charge — send your X-rays, MRI or reports

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

Request a free call

Price

Osteoarthritis treatment prices

The price depends on the joint, the method and the stage of osteoarthritis, so the doctor gives it after the consultation

FAQ

Joint treatment: frequently asked questions

About the conditions

More about these conditions

Other services of our clinic

About osteoarthritis treatment for patients from Lubumbashi

Knee and hip osteoarthritis are the most common reasons patients from Lubumbashi consider joint replacement. SVF and PRP therapy is a way to try to delay or avoid surgery while the joint can still be preserved.

Osteoarthritis is chronic, so it needs an ongoing plan rather than a single injection. In Lubumbashi, the doctor combines SVF or PRP with advice on weight, exercise and load for the joint.

Osteoarthritis treatment in Lubumbashi: price at consultation, free scan review, own tissue only. Leave your name and phone number, or message us in any messenger.

Lubumbashi and osteoarthritis: why the city shapes the questions patients ask

Lubumbashi is the second-largest city in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in the far south-east of the country near the border with Zambia. It is the capital and principal city of Haut-Katanga Province and the centre of regional mining, a hub for many of the country's largest mining companies. The population of the urban area is estimated at around 2,584,000 in 2021. In a city of this size and this working profile, joint pain is rarely an abstract topic: it affects who can stand a shift, who can climb stairs at home, and who can keep up with children and grandchildren.

Osteoarthritis is chronic, so it needs an ongoing plan rather than a single injection. This is the first thing worth understanding before any consultation. People in Lubumbashi often come with a very practical question: what can I do so that my knee or hip lets me keep working and keep my household running? A good answer is a plan that covers diagnosis, weight and load management, exercise, pain control and, where suitable, a regenerative option such as SVF therapy, reviewed over time.

City Medical Centre does not have an office in Lubumbashi. The consultation is online and free, and the coordinators are available 24/7 on WhatsApp and Telegram. You write from home, send your complaints, previous reports and imaging, and receive a structured explanation of which options are realistic for your stage of the disease.

Mining, commerce and physical work: load on the joints

Lubumbashi is an important commercial, business and national industrial centre. Manufacturing includes textiles, food products and beverages, printing, bricks and copper smelting, and the city distributes minerals such as copper, cobalt, zinc, tin and coal. Many families depend directly or indirectly on these industries, which means a lot of standing, lifting, kneeling and walking on uneven ground, as well as long hours of driving or desk work in the banks and offices.

None of this means that work causes osteoarthritis by itself, but repeated heavy load on a joint that is already painful is a common reason for people to seek help. When you speak with the coordinator, describe your actual day: how many hours on your feet, whether you carry loads, whether you kneel or squat, whether you sit for long periods. This lets the surgeon judge how the joint is used and what to adjust in the plan.

Ask also about timing. A person on a fixed work schedule needs to know what the procedure involves before choosing a date. Under local anaesthetic, a small portion of adipose tissue, about 30 ml, is taken through a puncture on the abdomen or inner thigh, and no stitches are needed. That is a small intervention compared with joint surgery, but your work plan should still be agreed in advance with the surgeon rather than guessed.

Climate of Lubumbashi and joint comfort through the year

Lubumbashi has a dry-winter humid subtropical climate, with warm rainy summers and pleasant, dry winters. Most rain falls in summer and early autumn, and annual average rainfall is 1,238 mm. The city lies at around 1,208 m above sea level, and the altitude cools a climate that would otherwise be very hot.

Many people with osteoarthritis report that their joints feel worse on damp, cool days and better when it is warm and dry. This is a common observation, and it is a reasonable thing to track: a simple diary of pain, stiffness and weather over a few weeks gives your doctor more useful information than a single remembered impression.

In the rainy season, wet ground and slippery paths add the risk of a fall for someone with a painful knee or hip. Sturdy footwear with a good grip, a walking stick if the doctor advises it, and care on steps matter more in those months. In the dry winter, walking is easier and it is a natural time to build a regular exercise routine for the joint.

Which season to plan the procedure in Lubumbashi

There is no single correct month. The pleasant, dry winters of Lubumbashi make it easy to go out for short walks during the first weeks after the procedure, and the roads and paths are drier and safer. The warm rainy summer is also workable, but you should think about practical points: keeping the puncture area clean and dry, avoiding crowded or muddy places while the skin is healing, and dressing in loose, comfortable clothing.

Many patients notice the first changes 2-3 weeks after the procedure. A stable result forms over about six months. So if you want to feel the effect before a busy period, such as a family event, the school year or a major work deadline, count backwards from that date and leave room for the process to develop. Do not plan an important physical event for the first days.

Discuss your calendar openly during the online consultation. The coordinator can pass your dates to the surgeon, who will say whether your plan is sensible given your diagnosis and general health.

What SVF therapy means in osteoarthritis and who it may suit

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 the central point for any patient in Lubumbashi who is weighing options: the earlier the stage, the more a regenerative approach can make sense; at an advanced stage, honest advice may be that surgery is the proper route.

SVF is prepared from your own adipose tissue, which is why the small collection through a puncture on the abdomen or inner thigh is needed. The result can last from several months to several years, depending on the individual, and nobody can promise a particular outcome. For that reason a staging assessment based on your imaging is the starting point, not the last step.

In general terms, a person is more likely to be a candidate if the diagnosis of osteoarthritis is confirmed, the stage is early, and other causes of joint pain have been excluded. Active infection, uncontrolled chronic illness or conditions that affect healing are reasons the surgeon may decide to wait or to choose another path. Only a doctor who has seen your records can decide this.

Osteoarthritis or arthritis: why the difference matters

Patients often use the words interchangeably, but the diagnosis matters. 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.

If your symptoms look like this, a regenerative procedure is not the first question; finding the cause is. A swollen, hot, red joint with fever needs prompt in-person medical attention in Lubumbashi and should not wait for an online consultation. Our online consultation is meant for planning and explaining options, not for emergencies.

Osteoarthritis, by contrast, usually brings pain that grows with load and eases with rest, and stiffness that is brief. Bring your tests, X-ray or MRI reports and a list of the medicines you take. The NICE guideline on osteoarthritis in over 16s (NG226) is a useful reference for what sound diagnosis and management look like, and your surgeon can explain how your plan relates to it.

Body weight, food culture and everyday habits

Weight is one of the factors that most affect the knee and hip. The WHO fact sheet on obesity and overweight is a good general reference on why body weight matters for long-term health, and for a person with painful joints even modest weight management is a topic worth raising with the doctor.

Lubumbashi is a city with a lively food and drink scene, with local food products and beverages made in the city, including the well-known Tembo beer brewed by the Simba brewery. Family meals and gatherings are central to social life. The goal is not to remove these pleasures but to ask the doctor or a dietitian how to balance them with the load on your joints, and what to do around alcohol if you take pain medicines.

Small habits add up: walking regularly on level ground, choosing stairs with a handrail, keeping the muscles around the knee and hip strong, and avoiding long periods without movement. Ask the surgeon to give you a simple exercise plan to follow before and after the procedure.

Study, family life and sport in Lubumbashi

Lubumbashi has the University of Lubumbashi, founded in 1955, as well as the Protestant University of Lubumbashi and the Graduate Institute of Health Sciences, and several international schools. Teachers, lecturers and students with joint pain face long days of walking between buildings and sitting on hard seats. If this is you, tell the coordinator, because the plan for return to normal routine should include these details.

Family occasions in the city can involve hours of standing, dancing, cooking and carrying. Talk with your surgeon about how soon you can take part fully, and agree beforehand which tasks others can take over during the first period.

For sport, the question is what kind and how much. Low-impact movement such as walking and gentle exercise is generally easier on an osteoarthritic joint than running or jumping, but your own limits depend on your stage. The surgeon will tell you when to restart, step by step, and which activities to avoid. Do not return to intense training because the joint feels better after a few weeks; the stable result forms over about six months.

How the remote consultation works from Lubumbashi

The process is simple. You write to the coordinators on WhatsApp or Telegram at any hour, since they are available around the clock. You describe your joint, how long it has hurt, what you have already tried and what you want to be able to do again. You send your images, reports and a list of medicines if you have them.

The doctor reviews the material and discusses the stage, the realistic options and the next steps. The consultation is free. You are not asked to decide immediately, and it is entirely reasonable to take time, compare, and speak with your family or your own local doctor.

Keeping a local doctor involved in Lubumbashi is a good idea in any case, for monitoring, blood tests and any urgent problem. Osteoarthritis is chronic, so a plan over months and years matters more than one visit.

Can I get a consultation from Lubumbashi without leaving home?

Yes. The consultation is online and free. You contact the coordinators on WhatsApp or Telegram, available 24/7, send your reports and imaging, and receive an explanation of the options for your stage.

Does City Medical Centre have a clinic in Lubumbashi?

No. The centre works remotely with patients from Lubumbashi. The first discussion, review of documents and planning take place online.

What is done during the procedure?

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 feel a change?

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.

Is one treatment enough for osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis is chronic, so it needs an ongoing plan rather than a single injection. Exercise, weight management and follow-up remain part of the plan.

At what stage can SVF therapy be considered?

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.

How do I tell arthritis from 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. Causes include autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, infections, gout and psoriasis. A doctor must confirm the diagnosis.

Does the weather in Lubumbashi affect my joints?

Many people feel more pain on damp, cool days. The rainy summer also brings slippery ground, so wear shoes with a good grip. Keep a diary of symptoms and share it with your doctor.

What should I ask the surgeon?

Ask which stage your joint is at, whether SVF therapy suits you, what to expect and when, how to plan work and family duties, which activities to avoid, and how follow-up will be arranged with a local doctor.

Who may not be a suitable candidate?

People with an active infection, an undiagnosed inflamed joint, uncontrolled chronic illness or an advanced stage of joint damage may be advised to wait or to choose another treatment. Only a doctor can decide after reviewing your records.