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Knee Osteoarthritis Treatment in Takoradi

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)?

With osteoarthritis (arthrosis), the cartilage that lines a joint gradually wears away over time. This cartilage is the joint's shock absorber, and when it is lost the bones rub against each other, causing pain, stiffness and limited mobility. The condition is degenerative, not inflammatory, although it can flare up with swelling.

  • 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

Whether the treatment suits you is decided by a doctor after an examination and a review of 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: skin inflammation over the treated joint, a cold or flu, fever

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

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

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 centrifuged so that it splits into layers. The stromal vascular fraction is then isolated and mixed with platelet-rich plasma.

Injection into the joint5

Injection into the joint

Directly into the affected joint, under ultrasound guidance — this is how the prepared material is injected for precise placement.

Follow-up6

Follow-up

No crutches and no hospital stay. The doctor stays in touch after the procedure and follows how the 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

Just your blood and your adipose tissue — no synthetic material and nothing from donors

Cell therapy (SVF) from your own adipose tissue

From a small sample of your adipose tissue, the stromal vascular fraction (SVF) is isolated — a set of cells involved in repairing tissue. Mixed with your own plasma, it is then injected into the joint that is affected.

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

Plasma rich in platelets and growth factors is separated from a small amount of your blood and injected into the joint. It helps calm inflammation and creates better conditions for tissue repair.

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

It is a common option in mild osteoarthritis and is combined with SVF where a stronger effect is needed.

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

  • KneeKneeStairs and walking cause pain; cartilage wear and meniscus problems
  • HipHipEarly hip osteoarthritis, groin pain, limited rotation
  • ShoulderShoulderPain on raising the arm; wear of the joint and the tendons around it
  • ElbowElbowWorn joint surfaces and pain following overuse or sports strain
  • Hand and wrist jointsHand and wrist jointsPainful, stiff small joints of the wrist and fingers
  • AnkleAnklePain and stiffness after sprains and old injuries

Advantages

Why patients choose City Medical Centre

Instead of replacing your joint, we work to keep it — treatment without surgery

Your own tissue

Your own tissue

Just your blood and your adipose tissue — no synthetic material and nothing from donors

No crutches

No crutches

Punctures in place of incisions, local anaesthetic and no lengthy rehabilitation period

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

We follow the result and keep in touch after the procedure, not only 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

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

What Takoradi residents ask about osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is not the same as arthritis. Arthrosis is wear of the cartilage; arthritis is inflammation with pain at rest, swelling and warmth. The approach differs, so the diagnosis comes first for everyone in Takoradi.

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

Leave a request, and a coordinator will contact you to arrange a free scan review. The price of osteoarthritis treatment in Takoradi is explained before treatment begins.

Osteoarthritis and everyday life in Takoradi

Takoradi is the western half of the twin city Sekondi-Takoradi, the capital of Ghana's Western Region. It is an industrial and commercial centre with a population of 245,382 people according to the 2021 census. The city grew around a railway and a deepwater harbour, and its working life is physical: port work, railway repair, timber, plywood, shipbuilding, trading in the market and, more recently, the oil industry. People who spend years lifting, climbing, standing on hard floors or sitting in vehicles often notice their knees, hips and hands before they notice anything else.

Osteoarthritis is a chronic joint condition, and it rarely appears overnight. In a city like Takoradi, patients usually describe it in practical terms: it hurts to climb steps to the market, to stand through a long church service, to get out of a taxi, to kneel, or to carry a basket or a toolbox. This text explains how treatment planning can fit that kind of life, what the regenerative approach based on your own adipose tissue involves, and how the online consultation works from your own home.

One point must be clear from the start. Osteoarthritis is chronic, so it needs an ongoing plan rather than a single injection. Any honest conversation with a specialist begins with your diagnosis, your imaging, your goals and your daily load, not with a promise of a quick fix.

Why the climate of Takoradi matters for joints and recovery

Sekondi-Takoradi has a tropical savanna climate with a wet and a dry season, and it is hot all year. The average annual high is 28 °C and the average annual low is 22.2 °C. The hottest period runs from January to May, as the wet season begins. The dry season is short, from December to March, and the wet season peaks around May and June, when June is the wettest month with an average of 346 mm of rain.

For a patient who has just had a small procedure, heat and humidity change how you plan the first days. Warmth can increase swelling around a treated area, so light, loose, breathable clothing is more comfortable than tight fabric. Any compression garment your specialist recommends should be cotton-rich or otherwise breathable, and it is worth having a spare one to change during the day. Keep the small puncture site clean and dry, and do not let sweat or damp cloth sit against it.

Humidity in the city is influenced by sea and land breezes. It is highest in August after the rains and lowest in December. This helps with timing: the drier, calmer weeks around December and the early months make walking, gentle exercise and rest easier to organise, while the heavy rains of May and June can make uneven wet pavements slippery. A patient with a painful knee or hip should think about grip and stability on wet ground when choosing a start date.

What the procedure involves, in plain terms

The approach discussed in these consultations uses your own adipose tissue. 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. The tissue is then processed so that its cellular components can be used in the treatment plan your specialist builds for the affected joint.

For many people in Takoradi this is attractive because it does not mean a long period out of the working week. The collection site is small, and you are not expected to plan around large surgical wounds. Even so, the abdomen or inner thigh will feel tender for a short time, so a person who spends the day on their feet at a port, a workshop or a market stall should think carefully about the first days and keep the workload light.

Your specialist decides whether the method suits you after reviewing your history and scans. Not everyone with joint pain is a candidate, and the consultation exists precisely to separate people who may benefit from those who need a different route.

Timeline: what to expect and when

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. These are the only timings worth planning around, and they describe a gradual process rather than an instant change.

In practical terms for Takoradi, this means the six-month period should be placed on your calendar, not just the first weeks. If you work in shifts, run a business, teach, or take part in the festival season, think about which months will carry the heaviest demands. The Kundum and Ankos festivals are celebrated in the city, and family and community events often involve long periods of standing, dancing, walking and sitting on low seats. It is sensible to ask your specialist how much activity is reasonable at each stage rather than trying to match the pace of everyone around you.

Because osteoarthritis is chronic, the result is not a closing of the case. Follow-up, weight management, exercise and sometimes repeat planning are part of the picture. A good coordinator will help you set a review schedule so that you can see what is changing and what is not.

Candidates, stages and who should be careful

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. This matters because an inflamed, hot, swollen joint calls for a diagnosis first, and a treatment plan comes afterwards. If you in Takoradi have a red, warm joint with fever or sudden severe pain, seek local medical care promptly instead of waiting for an online consultation.

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. So the stage of your disease on imaging is the single most useful fact to bring to the conversation. If you already have recent X-rays or an MRI report, keep them ready as photographs or files.

In general terms, people with active infection, uncontrolled chronic illness, bleeding problems or other conditions that make even a small procedure unsafe will need individual assessment first, and some will not be suitable. The specialist will ask about medicines you take, previous operations, allergies to anaesthetic and any history of gout or autoimmune disease. Answer fully; the details change the advice.

Body weight, food culture and joint load

Weight is one of the most practical levers for knee and hip osteoarthritis, since every step loads these joints. The World Health Organization treats obesity and overweight as a major public health concern, and the topic belongs in any joint-care plan. It should be discussed calmly and without blame.

Takoradi has a lively food culture, with fresh fish from the harbour, market stalls, family meals, restaurants and celebrations around church and community life. Nothing here needs to be given up, but portion size, frying methods and sugary drinks are fair subjects for a conversation with your doctor or a dietitian. Fish, vegetables, beans and fruit are all easy to find locally, and a plan built on familiar foods is far likelier to last than a foreign-style diet.

Ask the specialist how any weight change should be timed around the procedure, and whether a short period of lighter eating is advisable in the days after the small collection of tissue. Do not start extreme diets just before or after treatment; steady, modest changes protect joints better and are easier to maintain through the festival season.

Work, study, sport and returning to normal life

Takoradi has a working population in the port, the railway, fishing, commerce and the oil sector, as well as students at Takoradi Technical University and the city's colleges and senior high schools. Each group has different demands. A desk worker or a student can often return to normal routines sooner than a person who loads cargo, climbs ladders or stands all day at a stall. Be honest with your specialist about what your job physically requires, and ask for a written, realistic plan for light duty and a gradual return.

Sport is part of local life: the city has two stadiums, Essipong Stadium and Gyandu Park, and clubs such as FC Takoradi and Sekondi Hasaacas have loyal followers. Many patients are less interested in playing than in being able to walk to a match, stand through ninety minutes or play with children. Low-impact activity such as walking on level ground, gentle cycling or water-based exercise is usually the starting point. Ask when running, football or heavy lifting can be reconsidered, and follow the answer you are given rather than a friend's story.

Heat is a practical factor. Exercise early in the morning or in the evening, drink enough water, wear a hat or cap against the sun, and stop if a joint becomes swollen or warm. Sea bathing and pools should only be resumed when your specialist confirms that the small puncture site has healed fully, since water exposure can irritate it.

How the online consultation works from Takoradi

The first consultation is free and takes place online, so you stay in your own city and your own routine. Coordinators are available around the clock (24/7) on Telegram and Telegram, which suits people who work shifts or cannot talk during the day. You can send a message after work, in the evening or at night, and it will be answered.

Prepare before you write. Gather your age, how long the pain has lasted, which joints are affected, what makes the pain better or worse, medicines you take, and any imaging, blood tests or doctor's letters. Take clear photographs of documents, and if a joint is visibly swollen, a photo helps. Mention your work, the stairs at home, and how you usually get around the city, because these shape the advice.

The specialist reviews your material, explains whether the approach is realistic for your stage, and outlines the steps, the follow-up and the questions that remain. You decide at your own pace. There is no pressure to agree, and asking for time to talk with family or your local doctor is entirely reasonable.

Local healthcare and working alongside your own doctor

Healthcare in Sekondi-Takoradi continues to develop; a 60-bed polyclinic in New Takoradi, upgraded from a community health compound, was opened in 2024. Strong local primary care matters because osteoarthritis needs continuous monitoring, pain control, blood tests and physiotherapy that are best done close to home.

Tell your regular doctor about the online consultation and share the recommendations you receive. Medicines for pain, blood pressure or diabetes should never be changed without a doctor who knows your full history. Guidelines such as the NICE document Osteoarthritis in over 16s: diagnosis and management (NG226) stress exercise, weight management and education as the foundation of care, whatever other options are added.

A well-coordinated plan therefore combines three things: the regenerative option discussed online, supervision by a local clinician, and your own daily habits. The aim is a joint that lets you work, walk to church, play with grandchildren and enjoy the city's festivals with less limitation.

Is the first consultation really free, and can I do it from Takoradi?

Yes. The first consultation is free and held online, so you can take part from your home in Takoradi. Coordinators answer on Telegram and Telegram around the clock (24/7). Prepare your scans, a list of your medicines and a short description of your symptoms to make the conversation productive.

What exactly is taken from my body 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. The tissue is then processed for use in your treatment plan. Your specialist explains the details during the consultation.

When will I feel a difference?

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. Results vary, so no outcome can be assured to any one person.

Is one treatment enough for osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis is chronic, so it needs an ongoing plan rather than a single injection. Exercise, weight control, local medical follow-up and review of your progress are part of the plan, and your specialist will outline them during the consultation.

Which stage of osteoarthritis is suitable?

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. Your imaging decides the stage, so send recent X-ray or MRI reports.

How do I tell osteoarthritis from inflammatory arthritis?

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 proper diagnosis by a doctor, with tests, is needed before any treatment is chosen.

Does the hot, humid weather in Takoradi change how I should recover?

It can. The city is hot all year, with the hottest period from January to May and heavy rain around May and June. Wear loose, breathable clothing, keep the small puncture site clean and dry, avoid long sun exposure, and wear a hat outdoors. Ask your specialist when sea or pool bathing is acceptable again.

When is the best season to plan the procedure in Takoradi?

There is no single correct month. Many people prefer the drier weeks from December to March, when wet pavements are less of a hazard, but your own work calendar, family events and festivals matter as much. Remember that the result develops over about six months, so plan the whole period.

Can I return to work and sport?

This depends on your job and on your specialist's advice. Desk work and study usually resume sooner than heavy port, market or manual work. Start with gentle walking on level ground, avoid heavy loads at first, and ask for a written plan for returning to football, running or lifting.

What should I ask the specialist during the consultation?

Ask whether your stage of osteoarthritis suits this approach, what the realistic outcome is for your joint, what the follow-up involves, which activities to avoid and for how long, how the small collection site should be cared for in humid weather, and how the plan fits with your local doctor's treatment.