Osteoarthritis Treatment in Ottawa
Cell therapy (SVF) plus PRP for arthrosis of the knee, hip and beyond. Send your X-rays or MRI — the stage review costs nothing
No surgery — an injection instead of an operation
Own tissue — your blood and adipose tissue
Ultrasound guidance for every injection
Free consultation
and review of your scans
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.
Osteoarthritis usually develops in the most heavily loaded joints, such as the knee (gonarthrosis) and hip (coxarthrosis), and also in the ankle and small hand joints. It is treated most effectively at early and moderate stages, before the joint surfaces are badly damaged; if the stage is advanced, the doctor will honestly tell you when joint replacement is more realistic.
No surgery — an injection instead of an operation
Ultrasound guidance for every injection
Free consultation and review of your scans
Joints we treat
Large joints and small joints — having reviewed your scans, the doctor chooses which joint, which method and how many injections
Elbow
Pain that follows sports strain or overuse, and joint surface wear
Hand and wrist joints
Finger and wrist small joints affected by pain and stiffness
Knee
Cartilage wearing down, meniscus problems, pain on stairs and after a walk
Hip
Early hip osteoarthritis, groin pain, limited rotation
Ankle
Pain and stiffness after sprains and old injuries
Shoulder
Pain on raising the arm; wear of the joint and the tendons around it
Methods we use
Cell therapy (SVF) from your own adipose tissue
We take a small sample of your adipose tissue and process it to isolate the stromal vascular fraction (SVF), a mix of cells that take part in tissue repair. It is combined with your own plasma and injected into the affected joint.
It is mainly indicated for early and moderate stages of osteoarthritis, where it slows cartilage wear and eases friction between the joint surfaces.
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.
For mild osteoarthritis it is often used alone, and with SVF when the effect needs to be stronger.
How the procedure goes: step by step
Consultation and scan review
The joint is examined, your X-rays, MRI or ultrasound are reviewed, and the doctor decides if the procedure is right for you. Any scans you have can be sent prior to the visit.
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.
The doctor tells you in advance which tests are needed.
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 centrifuge
Layers form as the sample is spun in a centrifuge. The stromal vascular fraction is isolated and blended with the platelet-rich plasma.
The whole procedure is done in one day.
Injection into the joint
Ultrasound guidance allows the prepared material to be injected directly and precisely into the affected joint.
Follow-up
Neither a hospital stay nor crutches — and after the procedure the doctor stays in contact and follows how the joint is responding.
Consultation and scan review
The joint is examined, your X-rays, MRI or ultrasound are reviewed, and the doctor decides if the procedure is right for you. Any scans you have can be sent prior to the visit.
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.
The doctor tells you in advance which tests are needed.
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 centrifuge
Layers form as the sample is spun in a centrifuge. The stromal vascular fraction is isolated and blended with the platelet-rich plasma.
The whole procedure is done in one day.
Injection into the joint
Ultrasound guidance allows the prepared material to be injected directly and precisely into the affected joint.
Follow-up
Neither a hospital stay nor crutches — and after the procedure the doctor stays in contact and follows how the joint is responding.
Follow-up visits
At the follow-up visits the doctor reviews the joint's response and adjusts the plan. Expect pain to ease over the first month, mobility to improve over about three months and the full effect to develop over around six months.
Conditions we treat
It is up to the doctor, after examining you and reviewing your scans, to decide whether the treatment fits
What we work with
Arthritis
Arthrosis
Avascular necrosis
Osteoarthritis
Gonarthrosis (knee osteoarthritis)
Coxarthrosis (hip osteoarthritis)
Meniscus pathology and injury
Rehabilitation after injuries and surgery
Inflammatory joint conditions
Contraindications
Cancer
Pregnancy
Blood clotting disorders
Acute infections, including infection in or near the joint
Flare-up of a serious chronic illness
Cancer
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Serious heart, kidney or liver disease
Temporary contraindications: a fever, a cold or flu, or skin inflammation over the joint to be treated
Book a consultation
Call or message us —
our coordinator will contact you shortly
and book your consultation
Book a consultation
Call or message us —
our coordinator will contact you shortly
and book your consultation
After the procedure
You will most likely go home that same day and be back to normal activity within a day or two; small dressings are placed over the puncture sites. For the first week the joint may ache a little more than before, which is expected. Pain generally eases over the first month, mobility and activity improve over about three months, and the full effect takes around six months. The result lasts differently for each person, depending on the stage of the condition, body weight, activity and other factors, so no fixed result can be promised. Staying at a healthy weight and exercising regularly in a joint-friendly way helps.
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
Just your blood and your adipose tissue — no synthetic material and nothing from donors
No crutches
Done through punctures under local anaesthetic, without incisions or long rehabilitation
Second opinion
Send X-rays, MRI or reports and receive a doctor's independent assessment for free
Support after the procedure
We stay in touch after the procedure and follow the result, not just the day of the injection
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
Service
Price
Book a consultation
Call or message us —
our coordinator will contact you shortly
and book your consultation
Book a consultation
Call or message us —
our coordinator will contact you shortly
and book your consultation
Joint treatment: frequently asked questions
What is osteoarthritis in simple terms?
It is gradual wear of the cartilage that covers the ends of the bones in a joint. When the cartilage thins, the joint loses its cushioning, the bones rub against each other, and pain, stiffness and crunching appear. It is a degenerative condition, not an inflammatory one.
Can hip osteoarthritis be treated without surgery?
Yes, in many cases — if you do not delay treatment. SVF and PRP injections are meant to ease pain and support the cartilage without an operation, while joint replacement is kept as the last option for a destroyed joint.
How soon will I notice a result?
First changes usually appear 2–3 weeks after the procedure for many patients. It takes about six months for a stable result to form, and it may last from several months to several years, individually. As a chronic condition, osteoarthritis needs a continuing plan instead of a single injection.
At which stage does the treatment work best?
It is used at early and moderate stages; the milder the stage, the faster and more lasting the effect usually is, possibly reducing the need for regular hyaluronic acid injections. At the most advanced stage — joint space almost gone — a lasting effect is not realistic.
Which joints are most often affected?
Heavily loaded joints — the knees, hips and ankles — together with the spine and small hand joints. All of them can be treated with regenerative treatment.
What happens if osteoarthritis is left untreated?
Usually it gets worse — pain turns constant, movement is increasingly limited, the joint can deform and walking may become difficult. Early diagnosis, controlling weight, exercise and cooperation with a doctor make a real difference.
Which tests and scans are needed?
An X-ray remains the main method and shows the stage, while MRI gives a detailed picture of cartilage and soft tissues. Ultrasound shows inflammation and fluid in the joint, and blood tests help rule out inflammatory diseases. Existing results can be reviewed by the doctor free of charge.
How is osteoarthritis different from arthritis?
Osteoarthritis is wear of the cartilage, with aching pain on moving, crunching and stiffness after rest; arthritis is inflammation, with pain at rest and at night, swelling, redness and warmth over the joint. The treatment is not the same, so diagnosis must come first.
Can I get a consultation about my case?
Yes. Send your X-rays, MRI or test results, and a doctor will review them free of charge, assess the stage of osteoarthritis and suggest a non-surgical plan if it is appropriate.
Can I exercise with osteoarthritis?
Yes, it is worth doing. The right exercise strengthens the muscles unloading the joint, improves nutrition of the cartilage and maintains mobility. Swimming, water aerobics, cycling, Nordic walking and yoga suit well; running on hard surfaces, jumping, heavy lifting and sudden movements should be avoided.
City Medical Centre licences
Other services at our clinic
What Ottawa 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 Ottawa honestly if joint replacement is the more realistic option.
Follow-up visits let the doctor see how the joint responds. In Ottawa, check-ups after one, three and six months help adjust the plan and decide whether a repeat course is needed.
The price depends on how many joints are treated and on the method. For patients from Ottawa, the doctor explains the plan and the cost at a free consultation before any procedure.
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