Hip surgery in Bath

Hip pain can make life uncomfortable.

Unfortunately, it is a very common problem in both men and women. Hip pain is often caused by arthritis or trauma, but is also linked to gender, age, and genetics.

When you have pain or stiffness in a hip, even simple things like walking to the shops, getting in and out of a chair, or climbing stairs can all become far more difficult.

At Bath Clinic you have access to experienced hip specialists who will investigate the reason for your hip pain, providing a diagnosis and treatment plan for all hip-related symptoms and conditions, helping you back to better mobility and function in your hip.

Your hips connect your legs and pelvis. Each hip is a 'ball and socket' joint, formed by the femoral head ('ball') and the acetabulum ('socket') of the pelvis. The joint is protected and stabilised as it moves by layers of muscle around the hip, thigh, and buttocks.

As a weight-bearing joint, it has several different loads and forces being put through it every time you move. The structure of the hip helps to disperse and redirect these loads safely without causing damage to the joint.

If any part of the hip, whether structural or functional, is damaged, it can cause certain symptoms, varying in intensity from fairly mild to severe and debilitating. Below, we've listed some of the common reasons people come to us for help:

• Groin pain
• Pain at the front of the upper thigh
• Stiffness in the hip
• Hip pain at night
• Burning pain along the side of the hip
• Shooting pains down the leg
• Pain in the buttock
• Pain related to a specific position
• Grinding or clicking in the hip when it moves

Do you have any of these common symptoms of a hip problem?

Common reasons for hip pain or stiffness include:

• Hip arthritis
• Hip impingement
• Labral tear
• Bursitis (known as Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome)
• Avascular necrosis
• Psoas tendonitis
• Sports hernia

[N.B. Acute trauma such as hip dislocation or fracture will normally be seen through the NHS in A&E.]

With a variety of possible symptoms and causes of hip problems, it can be a sensible course of action to see a hip specialist for assessment and advice.

If you would appreciate talking with somebody about your hip concerns, it is very easy to arrange an appointment at Bath Clinic with an experienced Consultant Hip Surgeon. With appointments available throughout the week, you can book your visit for a time that's most convenient for you.

When hip pain or stiffness is only relatively mild, you may be able to ignore it most of the time. If your symptoms are more severe and are affecting your daily activities, you will probably be quite motivated to get it treated quickly.

Any type of treatment has two aims:

• To get you out of pain as quickly and fully as possible
• To restore function to your hip

It is important to know that even if you are seeing a Consultant Hip Surgeon when you visit, many hip symptoms and conditions can be treated without the need for any form of surgery. Conservative (non-surgical) treatments will often be used first as these can be very effective, particularly for less extensive damage to the joint.

Weight loss

If you carry extra weight it will mean that your weight-bearing joints, including the knees and hips, have more load placed on them. Losing weight will reduce this load and may help to improve your hip pain.

Physiotherapy

For hip pain caused by early arthritis, muscular weakness or previous hip surgery, physiotherapy can be particularly beneficial. It is important to do the correct exercises and stretches to avoid causing more damage, and to do them at a sensible pace so that your body has time to adapt and adjust to any new demands being placed on it. Our dedicated on-site Physiotherapy team will work closely with you and your consultant to tailor a programme to safely fit your specific needs and current abilities.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can help to reduce pain and inflammation, if you can take them. Where your pain isn’t being suitably managed by over-the-counter medication, your consultant may recommend stronger painkillers where appropriate. If hip pain is affecting your sleep, there are some medicines that can help with both pain relief and sleep.

Hip injections 

A corticosteroid injection into the hip joint provides pain relief and anti-inflammatory benefits within the joint. The effects of this injection will wear off over time and repeat injections often become less effective, so this isn’t normally a long-term treatment strategy. It can be very good at giving you a period of time with less pain though.

Hip arthroscopy

Keyhole surgery (hip arthroscopy) can be helpful when treating a range of conditions like hip impingement, labral tears and psoas tendinopathy. As well as giving your consultant a clear view of the inside of the hip, surgical repair can be carried out. For example, labral tears can often be repaired, or a bony spur on the femur carefully trimmed off. This minimally invasive surgery means smaller cuts, reduced pain and bleeding, less visible scarring and a faster recovery.

Hip replacement surgery

Where the hip has been more extensively damaged by osteoarthritis, these conservative treatments are not usually effective at relieving pain and stiffness. Hip replacement surgery may be the only option to successful treat the problem. This operation removes the damaged, worn out hip joint and replaces it with a new artificial one (prosthesis).

This is one of the most successful operations in medicine, restoring movement in the hip once more, free of pain or stiffness. Many people find this operation is life-changing, as they are able to return to the activities they most enjoy. A modern hip prosthesis would be expected to last for 30 – 40 years, so it is an extremely good, long-term treatment option.

Successfully managing symptoms like hip pain and stiffness depends on getting an accurate diagnosis of the cause of your symptoms. With fast access to experienced hip surgeons, you will be expertly guided about the best treatment at the right time for your symptoms and condition. And this all starts with your first consultation.

When you meet with your hip surgeon at Bath Clinic, they will take a medical history and ask you in detail about your symptoms. They may ask you questions like:

• When did your symptoms start?
• Have your symptoms been getting worse over time?
• Does anything make your symptoms worse? And does anything make them better?
• Have you received any treatment already, such as physiotherapy or prescribed medication?
• Do you have any particular concerns about your symptoms (for example, are you worried about losing your independence because of severe hip pain)?
• What other medical conditions do you have?

These questions can help your consultant to differentiate possible causes of your hip pain.

They will then carry out a detailed physical examination of your hip, knee and back. Even though you may only have pain in your hip, it is important to consider the joints above and below the hip as they can sometimes cause referred pain in the hip.

You may be referred for additional investigations to help with diagnosis. This will often be an X-ray of the pelvis, but an MRI scan can also be useful when querying soft tissue problems around the hip. Our comprehensive diagnostic capabilities include on-site X-ray, ultrasound and CT and MRI scanners, so we can arrange any of these easily for you if required. On-site radiologists provide rapid reporting so that the results are back with your consultant sooner.

Once a diagnosis has been made, your consultant will discuss the results of your examination and any investigations. The range of treatment options will be discussed and your surgeon will formulate a bespoke treatment plan for you.

Rarely, referral to another specialist is needed. For example, if it is found that the pain in your hip is being caused by a problem in your back, you may be referred to a spinal.

If you are struggling with any type of problem in your hip, we are Bath's only private hospital offering fast access to comprehensive investigation, diagnosis, treatment and post-surgical rehabilitation:

• Fast access to a leading hip surgeon – Our team of Consultant Hip Surgeons are incredibly experienced and have both national and international profiles. When you choose Bath Clinic for your treatment, you will have access to guidance and evidence-based treatment options from a recognised leader in the field.
• Recommended by specialists – GPs, physiotherapists, sports physiotherapists, osteopaths and other healthcare professionals in Bath and the surrounding areas refer their patients with hip problems to us because they understand the expertise of our consultants and value the exceptionally high quality of care we provide.
• Recommended by patients – Bath Clinic continue to work hard on delivering the highest level of care for everyone who visits us for help with their hip complaint. This is recognised in the patient feedback and google reviews received daily.
• Bespoke treatment – Each hip is unique. This means that any hip surgery needs to be accurately calibrated to that particular hip joint, to ensure you end up with a new joint that is stable, that works properly and that feels as natural as possible. Your consultant will tailor treatment to your specific needs to ensure you see the best results possible. At Bath Clinic we offer robotic assisted surgery to help in achieving greater accuracy.
• Consultant-led care, always – Your consultant will oversee every aspect of your care, from first consultation through to diagnosis, treatment planning, treatment and post-treatment follow-up and support. If you have any questions or concerns at any time, it is very easy to arrange another appointment with your consultant.
• Comprehensive support – Following hip surgery, a structured rehabilitation programme is vital to a full recovery. Our dedicated Physiotherapy team will work closely with you, both before and after your surgery, to help you regain strength, movement and function in your hip again as quickly, fully and safely as possible.
• Consultations – With leading Consultant Hip Surgeons, physiotherapists, nurses, radiologists and many other healthcare professionals working on-site at Bath Clinic each and every day, you will always see the most appropriate specialist, no matter how complicated your hip problem. Complex cases can be discussed within a multidisciplinary team meeting in order to formulate the very best treatment plan for you.
• Location – Based at Claverton Down, on the edge of the beautiful skyline of Bath, Bath Clinic is very easy to travel to by private or public transport. Our private car park is free for patients and visitors.
• Facilities – Formerly a private home, the hospital is a situated within an Edwardian property set in a beautifully landscaped setting. Far removed from the clinical, often impersonal feel modern hospitals can sometimes have, the historic exterior offers access to an extremely modern hospital with state-of-the-art equipment and facilities.

If you have any concerns about your hip, we can help. There are good, effective treatments to help get you out of pain and back to doing the things you most enjoy. For peace of mind and expert care sooner, why not book your appointment today?