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Osteoarthritis Treatment for Patients from Murcia

For knees, hips and other joints with arthrosis: SVF cell therapy and PRP. We check the stage from your X-rays or MRI at no cost

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

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: a raised temperature, a cold or flu, inflamed skin above the target joint

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

After examining the joint and reviewing your X-rays, MRI or ultrasound, the doctor decides whether the procedure suits you. Scans you already have can be sent 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

A puncture on the abdomen or inner thigh, under local anaesthetic, is used to take a small portion of adipose tissue (about 30 ml). No stitches afterwards.

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

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

Follow-up6

Follow-up

Neither a hospital stay nor crutches — and after the procedure the doctor stays in contact and follows how the joint is responding.

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 material from your body — blood and adipose tissue — no donor or synthetic products

Cell therapy (SVF) from your own adipose tissue

A small sample of your adipose tissue is processed to isolate the stromal vascular fraction (SVF) — a mix of cells involved in tissue repair. Combined with your own plasma, it is 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

Used often in mild osteoarthritis, it is added to SVF when a more pronounced 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

Treatment for both large and small joints — your scans guide the doctor's choice of joint, method and number of injections

  • KneeKneeCartilage wear with meniscus trouble and pain on stairs or after walking
  • HipHipEarly hip osteoarthritis, groin pain, limited rotation
  • ShoulderShoulderPain as the arm goes up, wear in the joint and surrounding tendons
  • ElbowElbowPain from overuse or sports load, with worn 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

Your own joint is kept, not replaced — we treat without surgery

Your own tissue

Your own tissue

Only material from your body — blood and adipose tissue — no donor or synthetic products

No crutches

No crutches

No incisions, only punctures — local anaesthetic and no lengthy 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

Our care goes beyond the day of the injection: we keep in touch and follow the result

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 Murcia residents ask about osteoarthritis

The stage matters most. At early and moderate stages, SVF and PRP injections aim to ease pain, reduce friction between the joint surfaces and slow cartilage wear. At the most advanced stage, the doctor will tell patients in Murcia honestly if joint replacement is the more realistic option.

Blood tests help rule out inflammatory conditions before treatment. If you are a patient from Murcia, the doctor tells you in advance which tests are needed so you can prepare.

Patients from Murcia 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.

Why joints wear down: the picture across Spain and in Murcia

Osteoarthritis is slow, chronic wear of the cartilage that lines a joint. Healthy cartilage softens impact; once it thins, the bone ends rub, and the joint aches, stiffens and moves less. It is a degenerative condition rather than an inflammatory one, although flare-ups with swelling do happen. The knees and hips are affected most because they carry the greatest load, followed by the ankle and the small joints of the hand.

The national figures show how common this is. In the European Health Survey 2020 run by Spain's statistics institute (INE), osteoarthritis is the third most frequently diagnosed chronic problem among people aged 15 and over, reported by 14.4 %. Only high blood pressure (19.0 %) and high cholesterol (15.3 %) rank above it, and low back pain follows at 13.7 %. In other words, joint wear is not a rare complaint but one of the everyday chronic conditions that a large share of the population lives with.

Murcia is a big place for a regional capital. The municipality had 471,982 inhabitants in 2024, with a metropolitan area of 672,773, and it is the seventh most populous municipality in Spain. It covers 881.86 km2, so many residents live in outlying districts and move around a wide area. For someone with a painful knee or hip, a large municipality can make ordinary errands tiring, which is one reason an online first consultation, with scans sent from home, is a practical start.

Body weight, work and sport: what loads the cartilage

The knees and hips bear the body's weight at every step, so weight matters. According to the same INE survey, obesity affects 16.0 % of adults in Spain (16.5 % of men and 15.5 % of women), overweight a further 37.6 %, and 53.6 % of adults are above the weight considered normal. Extra weight is one of the factors that, according to the treatment information, influence how long the effect of injections lasts, together with the stage of the condition and your level of activity. Controlling weight is also named among the measures that make a real difference when osteoarthritis is caught early.

Work and sport add their own load. The treatment is suited to people with a high load on the joints, whether from sport or from physical work, and also to people recovering after injuries and operations. Elbow wear after overloading, ankle stiffness after sprains and old injuries, and knee pain on stairs or after walking are typical descriptions that doctors hear.

Murcia sits at 43 m above sea level and is largely flat, lying in the middle of the huerta along the Segura river, with hills to the north and the Cordillera Sur to the south. The municipality does climb to 1031 m at Morro de la Fuente in the Carrascoy range, and the Carrascoy y El Valle regional park lies to the south. Walking on slopes and uneven ground puts more strain on a worn knee than a flat path does, so it is worth telling the doctor which routes you actually walk. The city also has MuyBici, a public bicycle system for everyday journeys that has existed since April 2015. Cycling is on the list of suitable activities for osteoarthritis, while running on hard surfaces, jumping and heavy lifting are not.

Warm months, mild winters and joint stiffness

Murcia has a hot semi-arid climate. In the 1991-2020 normals, July and August are the warmest months, with average highs of 34.3 and 34.5 °C and lows of 21.2 and 21.8 °C. January is the coldest month, with an average high of 17.2 °C and a low of 5.3 °C. The record low is −7.5 °C, and snow is almost nonexistent, at 0.1 days a year. Annual average temperature is 19.1 °C, and the city gets 3,077 hours of sun a year, with 180 hours in December.

For a joint with worn cartilage, this means winters are mild by most standards, but a 5 °C early morning can still bring stiffness after rest. Stiffness after rest and aching pain on movement are exactly the signs that distinguish osteoarthritis from arthritis, where pain appears at rest and at night, with swelling, redness and warmth. If your joint is hot, red and painful at night, say so at the consultation, because the approach differs and diagnosis comes first.

Rain is scarce: 281.9 mm a year over 34 days with at least 1 mm, July the driest month (1.2 mm) and September the wettest (37.6 mm). Average relative humidity is 57 %. These figures describe the setting, not a cure; the point is that outdoor exercise is possible for much of the year, and regular suitable movement builds the muscles that unload the joint and feeds the cartilage. Swimming, water aerobics, cycling, Nordic walking and yoga are the options named as suitable. In July and August, with highs above 34 °C, many people will find the cooler hours or a pool easier on a painful joint.

Waiting lists in the public system and where an online opinion fits

The national health system publishes waiting-list data, and the figures are relevant for anyone with a painful joint. At 31 December 2025, the first publication of the national waiting-list system showed 853,509 patients waiting for surgery, with an average wait of 121 days and 21.6 % waiting more than six months. A later note corrected the data for Castilla-La Mancha, so treat these as initial figures. For first specialist consultations, the average wait was 102 days, and Traumatology had the longest consultation wait at 132 days.

Joint replacement waits were 98 days on average for hip prostheses, with 13.7 % exceeding the 180-day maximum, and 105 days for knee prostheses, with 15.9 % above it. In the Region of Murcia, 34,197 patients were in the structural surgical queue (21.52 per 1,000 inhabitants), with an average wait of 103 days. Traumatology alone had 9,811 patients waiting for surgery, with an average of 113 days.

Behind each number is a person living with pain while waiting. A free online review of an X-ray, MRI or ultrasound you already have can show which stage the osteoarthritis has reached and whether a non-surgical plan is realistic. The treatment works best at an early or moderate stage, before the joint surfaces are badly worn. Where the joint is already destroyed, the doctor will say frankly that a replacement is more realistic. This is a second opinion alongside whatever care you already receive, not a substitute for it.

What the treatment involves and what to expect

The method uses only your own blood and adipose tissue. At the consultation, the doctor examines the joint through your scans and decides whether the procedure suits you. Blood is taken from a vein to prepare platelet-rich plasma (PRP). Under local anaesthetic, about 30 ml of adipose tissue is collected through a puncture on the abdomen or inner thigh, with no stitches. The sample is spun in a centrifuge, the stromal vascular fraction (SVF) is isolated and blended with the plasma, and the material is injected into the joint under ultrasound guidance. The whole procedure is done in one day, with no crutches and no hospital stay.

The expected course is gradual. In the first week the joint may ache a little more, which is an expected reaction. Around one month, pain usually eases; at about three months mobility and activity improve; and the full effect develops at about six months. How long it lasts differs from person to person and depends on the stage, body weight and activity, so no fixed result can be promised. Since osteoarthritis is chronic, it needs an ongoing plan rather than a single injection.

Some conditions rule the treatment out: 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 over the target joint are temporary reasons to wait.

Preparing your scans and questions

Before the consultation, gather whatever you already have: X-rays, MRI reports, ultrasound or blood tests. X-ray remains the main method and shows the stage; MRI gives a detailed picture of cartilage and soft tissues; ultrasound shows inflammation and fluid. If you have none, the coordinator will explain which are worth arranging. Coordinators answer round the clock on WhatsApp and Telegram.

Useful notes to write down: which joint hurts, when (on stairs, after rest, at night), what painkillers help and for how long, previous injuries or operations, and how much you walk, cycle or lift. That lets the doctor judge the stage and the plan from the start.

Does the cooler weather in Murcia in winter make osteoarthritis worse?

Winters here are mild: January averages a high of 17.2 °C and a low of 5.3 °C, and snow is almost nonexistent. Even so, many people with osteoarthritis notice stiffness after rest, particularly in the morning. Keep moving gently, and tell the doctor if the joint is also hot, swollen or painful at night, since that points to arthritis rather than osteoarthritis.

Is it sensible to wait for the public waiting list before looking at other options?

The decision is yours. National data at 31 December 2025 showed an average of 102 days for a first specialist consultation and 132 days in Traumatology, while in the Region of Murcia the average surgical wait in Traumatology was 113 days. Sending your scans for a free review costs nothing and shows the stage, so you can decide with more information.

How common is osteoarthritis in Spain?

In the European Health Survey 2020, osteoarthritis was the third most frequently diagnosed chronic problem among people aged 15 and over, at 14.4 %, after high blood pressure and high cholesterol. It is a common condition, and early assessment matters.

Does body weight affect the outcome?

Yes. The duration of the effect depends on the stage of the condition, body weight, activity and other factors. In Spain, 53.6 % of adults are above the weight considered normal, so this is a relevant topic for many patients. The doctor will discuss it during the consultation.

Which activities suit me in a hot city like Murcia?

Swimming, water aerobics, cycling, Nordic walking and yoga are suitable. With July and August highs above 34 °C, many people prefer the cooler hours or water exercise. Avoid running on hard surfaces, jumping, heavy lifting and sudden movements.

Can I start the process while living in the Murcia area?

Yes. The consultation is online and free, and the coordinator will ask for your X-ray, MRI or ultrasound. The doctor then says whether treatment without surgery suits you and what plan to follow.

Who should not have this treatment?

It is not suitable with cancer, pregnancy, blood clotting disorders, acute infections including infection in or near the joint, or 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 postpone.

What if my joint is already badly worn?

When the joint space has almost disappeared at the most advanced stage, a lasting effect cannot be expected. The doctor will tell you frankly if a joint replacement is more realistic.