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Non-Surgical Osteoarthritis Treatment in Reading

SVF therapy and PRP injections for arthrosis in knees, hips and other joints — and a complimentary review of your MRI or X-rays to find 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 (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

A doctor examines you, reviews your scans and then decides whether the treatment is suitable

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: inflammation of the skin over the joint to be treated, fever, a cold or flu

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

Your joint is examined and your X-rays, MRI or ultrasound are reviewed; then the doctor decides if the procedure suits you. You may send any scans you have before you come.

Blood sample for PRP2

Blood sample for PRP

A small volume of venous blood is collected; from it, platelet-rich plasma with growth factors is prepared later on.

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

The centrifuge spins the sample until it separates into layers; the isolated stromal vascular fraction is then mixed with the platelet-rich plasma.

Injection into the joint5

Injection into the joint

The material is injected directly into the affected joint, guided by ultrasound for precise placement.

Follow-up6

Follow-up

You go without crutches and without a hospital stay; the doctor keeps in touch afterwards and follows 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

No donor or synthetic material: we use only your own blood and adipose tissue

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

At early and moderate stages of osteoarthritis it is used mainly to reduce friction between the joint surfaces and slow 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

A small amount of your blood is used to separate plasma rich in platelets and growth factors, which is then injected into the joint. It helps settle inflammation and creates better conditions for tissue repair.

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

It is often applied in mild osteoarthritis, and alongside SVF when a stronger effect is called for.

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

  • 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
  • ElbowElbowOveruse or sports strain causing pain; worn joint surfaces
  • Hand and wrist jointsHand and wrist jointsStiff, painful small joints in the fingers and the wrist
  • 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

No donor or synthetic material: we use only your own blood and adipose tissue

No crutches

No crutches

Local anaesthetic and small punctures in place of incisions — no long recovery programme or 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

Not just the injection day — we stay in touch after the procedure and follow your 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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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

Osteoarthritis treatment in Reading: what you should know

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

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

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

Why Reading's age mix and body-weight figures matter for cartilage

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis in the UK, according to the NHS. The risk rises with age, is higher in women than in men, and is higher in people with obesity or an earlier joint injury. The NHS also says a GP may suspect the condition in anyone aged 45 or older. The borough of Reading has 183,762 residents (2025) and the wider urban area 355,596, so a large number of adults sit in the age bracket where knee or hip stiffness first becomes a topic.

Regional survey data adds a second layer. The Health Survey for England 2022 found that 29% of adults in England live with obesity and 64% are overweight or living with obesity. Reading belongs to South East England, which sits between the extremes of that survey: obesity ranged from 39% in the North East to 21% in London. Body weight matters for joints because the knees and hips carry the most load. The treatment described here is not a replacement for weight control, and the doctor will say so openly during the consultation. How long the effect lasts depends on the stage of the disease, body weight, activity and other factors, and nobody can promise a fixed outcome.

Arthritis UK estimates that over 10 million adults, young people and children in the UK live with arthritis (2026 edition of its musculoskeletal health report). Joint wear is therefore a common situation, not a rare one. If you recognise aching on movement, crunching, or stiffness after rest, the first step is a clear picture of what is happening in the joint. Osteoarthritis is a slow, degenerative wearing of the cartilage lining. It differs from inflammatory arthritis, where pain at rest and at night, swelling, redness and warmth dominate. That distinction decides the treatment approach, so diagnosis comes first.

Ridge, river meadows and the daily load on knees and hips

The town centre of Reading stands on a low ridge between the Thames and the Kennet, close to where the two rivers meet. The suburbs extend towards the Berkshire Downs foothills, and north of the Thames towards the Chilterns. The elevation is only 61 m, but a ridge and rising edges mean that gradients are part of ordinary walking for many residents. A sloping route or a stepped footpath is exactly the situation in which a worn knee complains, and our service text describes knee pain on stairs or after walking as a typical sign of cartilage wear with meniscus trouble.

The river corridor offers a gentler option. Open spaces line the Thames through Reading: Thameside Promenade, Caversham Court, Christchurch Meadows, Hills Meadow, View Island and King's Meadow. Level riverside paths suit the kind of activity that doctors recommend for arthritic joints. Suitable activity builds the muscles that unload the joint and feeds the cartilage better. The recommended choices are swimming, water aerobics, cycling, Nordic walking and yoga. Running on hard surfaces, jumping, heavy lifting and sudden movements are best avoided. If you live somewhere between the ridge and the meadows, matching your route to your joint can be a practical first adjustment, whatever treatment follows.

Work load counts as well. The University of Reading was established in 1892, and a town with a large student and staff population has plenty of desk-based work, along with plenty of physical jobs in shops, building and logistics. Sitting for hours can leave the hip and knee stiff, while standing or lifting wears them differently. In the consultation the doctor asks about your working day and sport, because high load on the joints is one of the situations where the treatment is considered.

Cold months, damp weeks and stiffness

Met Office figures for 1991-2020, measured at the University of Reading station (62 m), show January as the coldest month, with a mean maximum of 8.0 °C and a mean minimum of 2.1 °C. July is the warmest, with a mean maximum of 22.7 °C and a mean minimum of 12.9 °C. The annual mean temperature is 10.9 °C. The difference between the two ends of the year is moderate, but many people with joint wear report that cold mornings make the first steps stiffer. This is a common experience, not a medical claim. What can be said from the data is that Reading's winter is a time when outdoor activity drops, light is short and joints get less regular movement.

The rainfall pattern is worth noting too. Annual precipitation is 658.2 mm over 113.9 days, and October (73.8 mm) and November (73.1 mm) are the wettest months. March (40.3 mm) and May (43.5 mm) are the driest. Sunshine totals 1,577.5 hours a year, with July the sunniest at 205.5 hours and December the dullest at 48.5 hours. Damp, dark weeks encourage people to stay in, and a joint that moves less usually stiffens more. Indoor options such as cycling on a stationary bike, water exercise and gentle home routines help to keep the muscles working.

For planning, the period from late autumn to early spring is a sensible time to get your scans reviewed. Then you have a clear plan before the more active months. After a procedure, the service text notes that the joint may ache a little more in the first week, which is an expected reaction. After about a month the pain usually eases, around three months mobility and activity improve, and around six months the full effect develops. Early changes are noticed by many patients two to three weeks after the procedure. If you begin when the weather keeps you home anyway, the first quieter week costs you less of your routine.

Spring running, festival weekends and bank holidays

Reading has a strong event rhythm. The Reading Half Marathon takes place on the streets each March with 16,000 competitors, and the Reading Festival has run since 1971 over the August bank holiday weekend, from Friday to Sunday. For someone with a painful knee or hip, events like these are a reminder of what the joint currently allows. Running on hard surfaces is exactly what the exercise advice above suggests avoiding once cartilage is worn, so a half marathon may turn into watching from the pavement, or a switch to a lower-impact activity. A long standing weekend on a festival field is also demanding on the knees and hips.

Bank holidays are another practical point. England and Wales have eight in 2026, including the Summer bank holiday on 31 August, Christmas Day on 25 December and the Boxing Day substitute on 28 December. The procedure described in our service text is done in one day, uses punctures instead of incisions under local anaesthetic, involves no crutches and no hospital stay. Even so, a sensible approach is to avoid scheduling an important physical commitment in the first week, when the joint may ache a little more. Our coordinators answer 24/7 on WhatsApp and Telegram, including on bank holidays, so a question about timing does not have to wait for a working day.

The first consultation is online and free. You send your X-ray, MRI or ultrasound, and the doctor tells you whether treatment without surgery suits you. Doctors usually describe four stages of knee osteoarthritis, from early thinning of the cartilage to severe wear. Injection treatment is most often considered in the early and middle stages.

What the NHS pathway looks like, and where a private second opinion fits

On the NHS, hip replacement may be considered when hip pain and stiffness have a big effect on daily life and other treatments have not worked. The NHS names osteoarthritis as the leading cause of hip replacement. Our service text takes a compatible view: in advanced cases the doctor will tell you frankly if a joint replacement is more realistic. Where the joint space has almost disappeared at the most advanced stage, a lasting effect from injections cannot be expected. Treatment without surgery works best at an early or moderate stage, before the joint surfaces are badly worn.

Waiting times shape many people's decisions. NHS England reported on 10 September 2026 that 7.3 million pathways were waiting to start treatment at the end of July 2026, covering around 6.2 million unique patients, and 111,379 had waited more than 52 weeks. These are national figures and do not describe a particular hospital, but they explain why some people look for an independent opinion on their scans while they wait. A review does not replace your GP or your NHS care. It gives you a second view of the stage of the disease and of whether an injection-based plan is realistic.

Coverage is a separate matter. Treatment with SVF and PRP is arranged privately; the cost is quoted by the doctor after the consultation, because it depends on the joint, the method and the stage. Do not assume it is covered by any public scheme. If you have private health insurance, ask your insurer directly whether this kind of treatment is included.

Weight is also part of the NHS picture. The NHS says weight loss surgery may be offered when the weight is high enough and a condition that might improve with weight loss, such as arthritis, is present, and the person agrees to lifestyle changes and check-ups. Availability varies across areas of the UK. This is a separate pathway from joint treatment, but the two can run side by side: controlling weight, exercise and cooperation with a doctor make a real difference to osteoarthritis.

How the online route works for a Reading resident

The treatment uses only your own material: blood from a vein for platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and a small portion of adipose tissue, roughly 30 ml, for the stromal vascular fraction (SVF). The tissue is collected under local anaesthetic through a puncture on the abdomen or the inner thigh, and stitches are not needed. The samples are spun in a centrifuge, the SVF is isolated and blended with the plasma, and the material is injected into the affected joint under ultrasound guidance. Nothing donor or synthetic is used. The doctor keeps in touch afterwards and follows how the joint responds.

Before any of this, you prepare a small set of documents. The most useful are an X-ray, which remains the main method and shows the stage, and an MRI, which gives a detailed picture of cartilage and soft tissues. Ultrasound shows inflammation and fluid in the joint, and blood tests help rule out inflammatory disease. If you have had scans arranged through your GP or a hospital, send what you already hold, and the doctor reviews them free of charge. Inflamed skin above the joint, a raised temperature, a cold or flu are temporary reasons to wait. Cancer, pregnancy, blood clotting disorders and acute infection, including infection in or near the joint, are reasons the treatment does not suit.

Message the coordinator on WhatsApp or Telegram and expect a reply within 15 minutes. You can also leave your number and be contacted.

Does living in Reading change which scans I should send?

No. The doctor works from the images and reports themselves, not from where you live. An X-ray shows the stage, an MRI shows cartilage and soft tissues, and ultrasound shows fluid and inflammation. Send whatever you already have from your GP or a hospital and the coordinator will tell you if anything else would help.

I am over 45 and my knee is stiff in the morning. Is that osteoarthritis?

It may be, but stiffness alone does not decide it. The NHS says a GP may suspect osteoarthritis in people aged 45 or older. Our service text describes osteoarthritis as aching on movement, crunching and stiffness after rest, while inflammatory arthritis brings pain at rest and at night, swelling, redness and warmth, and morning stiffness lasting more than 30 minutes. A doctor needs your scans and history to tell them apart.

Will the cold Reading winter make the treatment less effective?

The service text does not link the outcome to the season. It says the effect depends on the stage of the condition, body weight, activity and other factors. January is the coldest month locally, with a mean maximum of 8.0 °C, and many people find joints stiffer then, so the timeline is worth planning around: the joint may ache a little more in the first week, and the pain usually eases around one month.

Can I carry on with running or the half marathon after treatment?

Running on hard surfaces is on the list of activities to avoid with osteoarthritis, along with jumping, heavy lifting and sudden movements. Swimming, water aerobics, cycling, Nordic walking and yoga are the suggested options. Whether you could return to any running is something the doctor decides from your scans and stage of disease, not something we can promise in advance.

Is this treatment available through the NHS?

This is a privately arranged treatment, and the doctor quotes the cost after the consultation. The NHS route for advanced hip osteoarthritis is joint replacement, which may be considered when pain and stiffness have a big effect on life and other treatments have not worked. A consultation with us does not affect your place in any NHS queue, and you can keep your GP informed.

Waiting lists are long. Can I use the consultation while I wait for NHS care?

Yes. The consultation is online, free and without obligation to book anything. The doctor reviews your scans and gives an independent view of the stage and of whether a non-surgical plan is realistic. If a joint replacement looks more realistic, the doctor will say so frankly, and you can take that opinion to your NHS team.

Does body weight rule me out?

No. Weight is not on the list of reasons the treatment does not suit you. It does affect how the joint behaves, though, and the service text names body weight among the factors that decide how long the effect lasts. Controlling weight and regular suitable exercise are part of a sensible plan alongside any injection.

Which bank holiday or season is a good time to have the procedure done?

There is no medically fixed best season. The procedure is done in one day, with no crutches and no hospital stay, but the first week can bring a little more aching, so avoid heavy plans during it. The coordinators are available 24/7 on WhatsApp and Telegram, including on bank holidays such as the Boxing Day substitute on 28 December 2026.