The hip is one of the body’s largest joints and has an important role in everyday movement. When hip pain or stiffness starts to affect walking, exercise or daily activities, understanding the cause is the first step towards finding the right treatment. There are many causes of hip pain, from arthritis and inflammation to injuries within the joint.
These often develop gradually and can worsen over time. Pain, stiffness and reduced movement, making everyday activities such as walking, climbing stairs or getting up from a chair more difficult.
Dr Cabot performs all his hip replacements using a minimally invasive anterior approach. The hip joint is accessed from the front, allowing the muscles to be gently moved aside rather than cut. This approach may support a faster recovery and earlier return to everyday activities. In Australia 9 out of 10 hip replacements are still working 20 years after surgery.
The labrum is a ring of cartilage around the hip joint that helps keep the joint stable. It can be torn or damaged from an injury. Not all labral tears cause symptoms. When they do, you may experience pain deep in the groin or buttock, stiffness, or a clicking or catching sensation, particularly when moving your hip.
Depends on your symptoms and the extent of the tear.
Physiotherapy and anti-inflammatory medication are often recommended first, with injections sometimes used to help manage persistent pain.
If symptoms continue, hip arthroscopy may be considered. This minimally invasive surgery uses small incisions to access the hip joint, allowing the damaged labrum to be repaired or damaged tissue removed. Most patients require walking aids for a short period, with a gradual return to normal activities.
We usually start with a non-surgical approach which may include changing activities, anti-inflammatory medication and physiotherapy to help reduce pain and improve strength and flexibility.
If symptoms continue, a corticosteroid injection may be considered and can be performed by Dr Cabot in his rooms. Surgery is rarely required but may be an option for severe cases that do not respond to other treatments.
If your pain is impacting your day-to-day life, it’s probably time to see an orthopaedic surgeon for an assessment.
It means that you will be at the centre of every decision. To start with, I’ll go through all of your options — non-surgical and surgical. What’s right for you will depend on your mobility, the impact on your day-to-day life, your condition and what’s going on in your life more broadly. Once you have all of the information, we can work together to create a realistic plan.
Patients who are part of the decision-making process report greater trust in their surgeon and, six months postoperatively, greater confidence in the path they’ve chosen.1
Firstly, you should feel comfortable asking as many questions as you like. It’s important you understand everything about your upcoming surgery. Here are a few suggestions:
In Australia, surgical results are tracked by the Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry.
As a patient, there’s reassurance knowing that an independent national group has been collecting data and comparing your surgeon’s results to surgical results nationally.2
In the post-op period, you’re likely to experience some low-grade swelling and pain at the surgery site. This is normal. It is important that you are applying R.I.C.E (Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation) and taking your pain medication to manage the discomfort.
Bruising is also very common, and for some patients can be alarming. It will usually be worst around five to seven days and last for two to three weeks. Ice and compression can help.
Every patient’s experience with pain management will be different depending on their circumstances and their procedure. In the first few days you will likely experience some pain.
Anaesthesia has changed. We can now combine several medications to control your pain without the side effects you’d have had in the past.
You will leave hospital with all of the medication you need for the first 14 days. It’s a good idea to book a GP appointment ahead of time in case you need additional pain medication.
Managing your pain in the early weeks is going to allow you to be consistent with your rehab. Take your medication at the prescribed times to keep ahead of the pain. When you’re ready to start cutting back, keep taking your medication at the same times but reduce the dose rather than spacing your doses further apart.
Probably less than you’re expecting. What’s important is that you do something every day. Twenty minutes every day is going to be more beneficial than pushing yourself too hard and then not being able to move properly for the next couple of days.
Getting moving early makes a real difference. Patients who are up and walking within hours of surgery tend to recover faster and go home sooner, with no added risk. That’s why we’ll have you on your feet sooner than you might expect.
With recovery, you can expect to have good days and some bad days. Going into surgery, it is beneficial to have a positive attitude, but it is also realistic to acknowledge that there are some days that are going to be more challenging than others.3
In the early weeks after surgery, your sleep disturbance may contribute to fatigue, which in turn may lead to a sense that your recovery has slowed.3,4 These feelings are normal, temporary, and tend to improve as recovery progresses. Post operatively Dr Cabot will explain what you need to do depending on what surgery you have had.
Suitability for any kind of hip surgery is determined in consultation with Dr Cabot.
Contact our team on (08) 8267 8228 to schedule a consultation with a highly experienced orthopaedic hip surgeon.
Use this form to request an appointment. Our team will contact you shortly to confirm the details.
For urgent matters, please call us during office hours on 08 8267 8228 or email cabotadmin@sossa.com.au
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Use this form to request an appointment. Our team will contact you shortly to confirm the details.
For urgent matters, please call us during office hours on 08 8267 8228 or email cabotadmin@sossa.com.au
