Don't put up with hip pain. Book in with one of our specialists today for expert relief from pain, fast.
While many people with hip pain find that it resolves naturally with time and rest, others need treatment to manage their symptoms properly. If you are one of the people for whom treatment is advised, fast access to a hip specialist and bespoke private care is an excellent way to manage your symptoms and get back to doing the things you love.
We have private clinics running throughout the week at Syon Clinic with specialist consultants on-site daily. They would be very happy to discuss your symptoms with you and carry out a comprehensive assessment of your hip(s) to find the cause of your symptoms.
If any type of treatment is needed, whether non-surgical or surgical, we can arrange this for you without delay, either on-site at Syon Clinic or at our sister hospital, The Clementine Churchill Hospital.
These tend to be teens who had hip issues related to birth that have only now started to become apparent, or those with a sports-related injury. These are often teens who play contact sports like rugby or football, either at school or a semi-pro team competing at a higher level.
Hip complaints in this age group tend to be sports injuries, although early stages of arthritis may cause symptoms in the hip.
The most common cause of hip problems in this age group is degenerative changes in the hip caused by osteoarthritis.
Hip pain is a common complaint, with osteoarthritis being one of the most common causes in adults. However, hip surgery will not always be the most appropriate choice of treatment for you.
Mr Abdul-Jabaar explains: "Many people are under the misconception that everybody with a hip problem will need surgery, but this is not the case at all. In fact, probably around 70% of people can do very well without surgery. A surgeon will only ever offer surgery to those who need it, and for whom a good outcome is likely."
Non-surgical methods to reduce and manage joint pain include:
Also known as steroid injection therapy, this treatment involves injections of steroid medication (corticosteroid) into your painful joint. This can effectively reduce pain and inflammation, and the effects can last anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. This form of pain relief may be recommended if you can't take oral anti-inflammatories for any reason.
These can either be prescribed by your GP or your consultant. They reduce swelling in your joint, which can lessen stiffness and pain. Your doctor might also recommend using heat therapy (in the form of icepacks or heat pads) to reduce swelling or numb your joint pain. Heat therapy can be used in addition to anti-inflammatory medication.
Physiotherapy for joint pain comprises a specialist exercise programme designed to strengthen the muscles around your joints, improving mobility and - in taking the pressure of your joints - reducing your pain. It can be a highly effective treatment and many people see amazing results.
These options will often help relieve your symptoms and delay the need for hip surgery. If they are not effective, or become less effective over time, hip surgery may be an option. Your consultant will discuss this with you fully if this is the case.
Hip conditions that may necessitate surgery include:
Non-operative treatments that your consultant at Syon Clinic may recommend include:
Many people will find treatments like these are able to relieve their symptoms sufficiently. However, some people - often those with advanced osteoarthritis where mobility is severely limited by pain and stiffness in the hip - will benefit from surgery.
Mr Abdul-Jabaar notes that the choice to have any form of surgery will always be yours. Your consultant will discuss suitable treatment options with you, explaining the expected benefits as well as any potential complications or risks involved with the surgery, but the final decision will always be yours to make.
Hip replacement surgery is the most common type of hip surgery in the UK.
This operation replaces your damaged natural hip joint with a new, artificial one known as an implant. Hip replacement surgery is usually carried out when osteoarthritis has caused significant damage to the joint.
As wear and tear over time will gradually cause damage to your hip joints, an implant from a hip replacement will also become worn over time.
Modern implants should last for at least 15-25 years, but if your implant becomes damaged and start causing symptoms, it may need to be replaced with a new implant. This is known as hip replacement revision surgery.
A type of keyhole surgery, hip arthroscopy allows your surgeon to see inside your hip joint using a very small camera. Small surgical tools can be used to carry out several treatments during the arthroscopy, so hip arthroscopy can be both diagnostic and therapeutic by nature.
Mr Abdul-Jabaar explains, "If you've had a hip arthroscopy, I can show you the pictures in your follow-up appointment, demonstrating visually what has been done. I'll often draw a diagram related to your previous imaging, and then correlate that with the intraoperative arthroscopic pictures so you can see the difference the arthroscopy has made in your hip joint."
When you visit us for your private appointment, your consultant will talk with you about your symptoms and then carry out a physical examination of your hip. They will usually also examine your knee and back as well because hip pain can sometimes be caused by a problem in one of those areas. This is known as referred pain.
Often, additional investigations may be helpful in confirming a diagnosis and/or planning treatment. On-site imaging facilities at Syon Clinic include X-Ray, CT, MRI scanner and ultrasound, so these are easily and quickly arranged for you if required.
After the results of any investigations are back, your consultant will discuss them with you, explain what they mean, and then explain your treatment options so that you can make an informed decision.
A local team of hip specialists are available on-site throughout the week and would be delighted to meet with you to help determine the best way forward for you. If any type of treatment is needed, whether surgical or non-surgical, we can help arrange this for you without delay.
If you want to know more about our services, book your appointment online today or call a member of our team directly on 0141 300 5009.
