Please contact Carol Gibb on 0117 904 1117

Please contact Nicki Leigh on 0117 340 6733

Unfortunately not a cure per se. Hip pain is caused by damage to the joint and hip replacement or resurfacing help to reduce pain levels and increase mobility. In the early stages, in children a realignment can help in very select cases. In adults, if the disease presents early an injection of steroid can ease symptoms and delay the need for surgery. 

When a hip joint becomes damaged (through wear or tear, sports related injuries or disease) then a prosthetic hip joint can be surgically inserted to help the patient regain a wider range of movement. This type of hip replacement operation, is called ‘hip arthroplasty’ and it’s aim is to give the patient restored functionality, significant pain reduction and a return to normal life. In years gone by the operation was designed simply for pain relief, but technology now allows return to sports and normal function. 

When total hip replacement surgery is carried out, the damaged hip is replaced with artificial parts called a prosthesis, a medical device that substitutes the hip joint. The prosthesis commonly consists of a socket and ball, either placed over a shaped femoral head (resurfacing) or linked to a stem (usually made from steel or titanium). 

A very common cause of hip replacements is osteoarthritis – where the hip is damaged through disease of the hip joint though replacements are also necessary for people with rheumatoid, childhood hip problems or fractures. Timing of hip replacement depends on the underlying problem and can vary from days to months.

With osteoarthritis the optimal time for replacement varies between patients. As a general rule, once the pain or stiffness in a hip starts to regularly affect your lifestyle or activities then consideration should be given to surgery.

Hip resurfacing is a more conservative approach to hip replacement and helps preserve bone which can be used in later hip operations if required. It is a popular procedure with hip surgeons especially in cases involving a younger patient (rather than elderly) due to strength and the quality of the bone.  At present these are available in metal only. 

All types of surgery present risks to the patient of one sort or another – there is no getting around that even with modern surgical procedures. Hip surgery too presents problems and complications, but with a dedicated specialist orthopaedic surgeon - who has years of experience and regular training – the risks should be significantly minimised.

?Probably the most serious complications in hip surgery are blood clots forming in the legs and travelling to the lungs (pulmonary embolus), and infection of the hip joint. These are fortunately rare. Discuss these issues with your orthopaedic surgeon who will be able to answer in more detail for you.

After a hip replacement has taken place patients usually find some numbness in their skin, stiffness of the hip and possibly some hip pain. All of these conditions fade with time and many patients report they have a wider range of movement and if any pain still it is less than before they had the hip replacement operation.

It is recommended that you do not drive after your hip operation for between 4- 6 weeks – do consult your surgeon on this matter before you decide to drive. You should expect be using a stick or for up to 6-8 weeks, and in general the hospital stay for a straightforward procedure is 3-5 days. 

With increases in modern medicine and technology has lengthened the lifespan of hip replacements. Whilst modern hips haven’t been in patients for long periods, laboratory testing does give us some clues. To maximise longevity, younger patients who have higher activity profiles may suit a ceramic or metal bearing, whilst the high density or crosslinked polyethylene may suit the more elderly group. 

It is recommended you use the crutches provided to you for a minimum of 2 weeks after hip arthroscopy. In some cases you may be advised to use crutches for longer, especially if a labral repair or bony trimming has taken place. 

Hip Arthroscopy is considered to be a “same day surgical procedure” in around 50% of cases, and the remainder will usually be home the next day. 

It is very unlikely you will experience back pain after hip surgery but do talk to your hip surgeon if you have a history of a bad back. If the hip surgery corrects a long-standing leg length inequality, then transient backache may result.

There are many exercises advertised on the internet for recovery after a hip operation. Our advice is  to be guided by the physiotherapy team at your hospital who are likely to be experienced and have expert skills. You will need to exercise to help strengthen the leg and hip but sudden intense activity could cause greater discomfort or injury so a graduate programme is sensible.

In most cases the answer is most definitely yes – cycling is a non impact sport/activity (unless you fall off!). We do suggest you wait for 4 to 6 weeks after the hip operation and talk with your physio so they can give you recovery exercises that can help you get back to your cycling a lot faster!