Get fast treatment for hip pain at Bath Clinic
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.
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:
Do you have any of these common symptoms of a hip problem?
Common reasons for hip pain or stiffness include:
[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.
Any type of treatment has two aims:
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.
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.
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 (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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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?
