Most people with hip pain that doesn’t resolve itself will see their GP, who will often advise treatment with some type of pain relief medication and/or a course of physiotherapy. These can certainly be helpful for many people, particularly if they are in the earlier stages of osteoarthritis but are often of limited help when damage to the joint is more extensive.
At the moment, many patients are finding it is taking longer to see their GP for an appointment. The consultants at The Park Hospital can review you in advance of a GP appointment to help reduce your waiting time. This may help you to get the treatment you need, and the pain relief you want, sooner.
If non-surgical treatments aren’t able to relieve your symptoms, you may need hip surgery. In this case, you will normally be referred to a hip surgeon, who will explore possible options with you.
The most common hip surgery is Total hip replacement. This removes the damaged hip joint and replaces it with a new artificial one (known as a prosthesis). This surgery is often needed when osteoarthritis in the hip has caused such extensive damage to the joint that you are in significant pain and have a severe lack of movement in the hip.
Some hip conditions, such as a labral tear or hip impingement, can be investigated with a type of keyhole surgery known as hip arthroscopy. If any damage is found, it can often be repaired during the arthroscopy, avoiding the need for further surgery.
Other hip symptoms and conditions will benefit from joint preservation treatment which helps to maintain and protect hip function. It may help avoid (or at least delay) more invasive surgery, like a total hip replacement.
If you have previously had a total hip replacement and now have pain in your hip, you may need revision hip replacement to replace your prosthesis.
Whatever is found to be causing your hip pain, your consultant will make sure that you receive the most appropriate treatment as soon as possible.