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The hip is the largest joint in the body and after years of wear and tear, whether due to daily activity, sports injuries, or health conditions, it can become a common source of pain.
For some people, hip pain can be managed with lifestyle changes, physiotherapy, or over-the-counter painkillers. However, if hip pain becomes persistent, severe, and is impacting your quality of life, you may be considering hip surgery.
To help you in your decision, we’ve partnered with one of the UK’s largest independent providers of NHS and private healthcare, Practice Plus Group.
Practice Plus Group is passionate about giving patients a positive experience, with excellent clinical outcomes and personalised care every step of the way.
We have partnered with Wellsoon from Practice Plus Group to offer Rest Less members a free private surgery consultation until 30th September 2024, covering the consultant appointment, nurse assessment and even X-ray and blood tests (if required).
What is hip replacement surgery?
Hip replacement is one of the most common orthopedic procedures in the UK – with 84,998 operations performed in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man, and Guernsey in 2021 alone.
According to Practice Plus Group, hip surgery refers to any surgical procedure performed on the hip joint to relieve pain, improve mobility, or both. It’s typically used to address pain caused by an injury or health condition, such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, hip fractures, or hip dysplasia. Most hip surgery patients are aged between 60 and 80.
During surgery, a surgeon makes an incision on the side of the hip, removes the damaged hip joint, and replaces it with an artificial joint. The procedure usually takes between one and two hours.
There are several types of hip replacement surgery, ranging from minimally invasive procedures to major operations. This includes total hip replacement, partial hip replacement, and hip resurfacing. The right procedure for you will depend on your individual needs. You can find out more about the different types of hip replacement on the Practice Plus Group website.
You might also like to watch the Q&A video with Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Kenan Dehne from Practice Plus Group below.
What are the benefits of hip replacement surgery and are there any risks?
According to Practice Plus Group, hip replacement surgery has a high success rate, and most people experience pain relief, improved strength and mobility, and better quality of life after the operation.
In this recent NHS survey, 93% of hip replacement patients said the results of their operation were excellent, very good, or good. Although how quickly you’re able to return to normal activities will vary from person to person.
That said, while hip replacement is considered a safe operation, all surgical procedures carry risks. Complications can include dislocation, infection, fracture, deep vein thrombosis, difference in leg length, and injury to blood vessels or nerves. However, steps are taken during and after surgery to help decrease these risks; and according to Practice Plus Group, the chances of serious complications following hip replacements are very low – less than 1%.
It’s worth noting that prosthetic hip joints last between 10 and 15 years, and you may need a replacement after this time. You may also need to use a walking aid for a couple of weeks following surgery and will need physiotherapy to teach you how to move with your new hip.
You can read more about the benefits and risks of hip replacement on the Practice Plus Group website. They also have guides to returning to sport and exercise and normal activities like gardening after hip replacement surgery.
8 signs that hip replacement might be right for you
Here, we’ll cover some of the signs that hip replacement surgery might be right for you.
Practice Plus Group also has a hip replacement suitability quiz on their website, which can be a helpful place to start.
1. Hip pain has become more persistent and severe
One of the most obvious signs that hip surgery might be right for you is if you’re experiencing persistent and severe hip pain. Hip pain can vary depending on its cause, but if it’s intense and ongoing, it might be worth considering surgery.
It’s worth noting that pain may not be isolated to the hip joint alone. Many people also experience pain in their groin, back, knees, and front of the thighs. In fact, according to Practice Plus Group, 20% of hip pain can appear as knee pain.
That said, pain is by no means the only sign that hip surgery is needed. For example, some people with osteoarthritis experience very little or no pain at all, but may still need surgery to replace a joint that’s worn away.
2. Hip stiffness is affecting your mobility
It’s normal to lose some joint flexibility with age, but ongoing hip stiffness which impacts your mobility may be a sign that you need hip surgery.
Some common mobility issues include…
- Hip stiffness that affects your ability to walk or causes you to rely on a cane or other mobility device
- Experiencing pain when bending or moving your hip joint
- Hip stiffness that makes it difficult or impossible to lift or move your leg
- Hip stiffness that prevents you from bending down to pick things up from the floor
- Clicking, grinding, or popping in your hip joint, which can affect your normal range of movement
It’s important to address hip pain that affects your mobility. People tend to move less as their mobility reduces, which can cause muscle strength and joint function to decline further.
According to Practice Plus Group, if hip replacement surgery is delayed too long and joints become increasingly damaged, it can affect your ability to recover from surgery.
3. You experience hip pain that makes it difficult to stand on one leg
According to experts, a key sign that you might need hip surgery is if you’re unable to stand on one leg for longer than a minute, even while holding a door frame or table-top for balance.
This is known as the one leg test and is a good way to test your strength on each side of your body. Being unable to stand on your problem leg for longer than a minute may signal a badly damaged hip.
4. Arthritis of the hip has caused significant joint damage
One of the most common reasons for needing a hip replacement is hip arthritis.
Cartilage is a type of connective tissue, which acts as a cushion between bones. Osteoarthritis causes cartilage to wear away, which can lead to joint damage as bones begin to rub against each other. This often results in pain, swelling, and inflammation. If joint damage becomes severe, surgery may be necessary.
Other conditions that can cause damage to the hip joint include rheumatoid arthritis and septic arthritis.
5. Hip pain is affecting your quality of life
We all slow down a bit later in life, but it’s not normal to struggle with everyday activities. If hip pain is affecting your daily life, this is a key sign that hip surgery might be right for you.
Examples of daily activities that may be affected by hip pain include getting in and out of the car, bending over to put your shoes on, and walking for long periods.
Having to adjust your lifestyle or stop doing things you enjoy as a result of hip pain can have an impact on your mental wellbeing and quality of life, so it’s important not to dismiss it.
6. Your mental health is suffering
Dealing with pain on a daily basis can be stressful and upsetting. If left unchecked, this can begin to take its toll on your mental health – particularly if hip pain is affecting your ability to carry out life as usual.
For example, studies have identified a link between long-term chronic pain and a higher risk of depression and anxiety.
It’s important to remember that taking care of your mental wellbeing is just as important as your physical health. If you’ve been experiencing symptoms of depression as a result of hip pain, it’s important to speak to your GP.
7. Hip pain is impacting your ability to sleep
If hip pain is interfering with your ability to get enough good quality sleep, hip surgery might be worth considering.
Research has found that around 80% of people with arthritis experience disrupted sleep. Over time, this can impact the body’s ability to heal itself, which may exacerbate hip pain and impact overall health.
8. Non-surgical treatments are no longer effective
Treatment for hip pain will depend on its cause. Many people find that they’re able to manage their pain with rest, lifestyle changes, and over-the-counter medication at first. But home remedies can sometimes begin to lose their effectiveness over time.
Luckily, there are several non-surgical treatments available for hip pain, including physiotherapy, hip exercises, and steroid injections. However, some people find that these only offer relief for a certain time period.
If you’re still experiencing pain or mobility issues having exhausted all non-surgical treatments, surgery may be the next option.
Nawar Abdulsattar, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon at Practice Plus Group, says, “We almost always start with non-operative management of painkillers, physiotherapy, and lifestyle changes – even injections into the joint. If these measures aren’t successful, the next step would be a joint replacement.”
How much does hip surgery cost?
In the UK, the cost of private hip surgery can vary depending on several factors, including the type of surgery you have and what healthcare provider to go with. However, generally speaking, hip replacement surgery costs an average of £13,402, with private procedures ranging anywhere between £10,720 and £16,575.
Unlike other healthcare providers, Wellsoon self-pay surgery from Practice Plus Group offers consistent prices per procedure, regardless of where you live and which consultant you have. For self-pay patients, total hip replacement costs £11,299 at Practice Plus Group. This cost covers everything from pre-operative assessment, surgery, your hospital stay, to prescriptions, equipment, and any follow up appointments – including physiotherapy.
With Practice Plus Group’s Wellsoon self-pay surgery, patients are free to spread the cost of treatment. This includes the option to finance care over the course of 12 months with 0% interest. To find out more about finance options, including eligibility and payment terms, head over to the Practice Plus Group website.
Hip surgery is also available through your private health insurance and NHS referral at Practice Plus Group.
Practice Plus Group is one of England’s largest independent providers of private, insured, and NHS healthcare. They’re passionate about what they do and believe that anyone should be able to access excellent care, whether you’re paying for yourself, through private medical insurance, or an NHS patient.
As the first provider to have all services rated ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission, whatever payment option you choose, you’ll be well cared for with Practice Plus Group.
Final thoughts…
Hip pain can be distressing to live with and, if it’s significantly impacting your life, you may have considered hip surgery. Hip surgery is a major operation, but many people find that it offers them a new lease of life.
Practice Plus Group are passionate about delivering high-quality, personalised care and offer hip replacement surgery through self-pay private healthcare, private healthcare insurance, and via NHS referral. Plus, their flexible finance options allow you to spread the cost.
Book your free private surgery consultation with Wellsoon from Practice Plus Group, covering a consultant appointment, nurse assessment as well as X-ray and blood tests if they are required.
Do you have any experience of hip replacement surgery that you’d like to share? We’d be interested to hear from you in the comments below.
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