Hips2Knees · Lancashire

Hip arthritis, treatment and your questions.

Find a way forward with hip pain, from non-surgical care to hip replacement.

Make everyday movement easier.

Hip pain can make walking, sleeping or getting dressed difficult. A hip replacement may help when arthritis or damage to the joint affects daily life and other care has not helped enough. We start with your symptoms, examination and scans, then talk through the options together.

Care before surgery

Exercise and strengthening, a physiotherapy referral, weight management where relevant, pain relief, a walking aid or an injection may be worth discussing. An injection may ease symptoms but does not repair worn cartilage. We can decide whether to try more non-surgical care or discuss an operation; you do not have to decide at the first appointment.

What happens at surgery?

A total hip replacement replaces the damaged ball and socket with artificial parts. Before an operation, we will discuss the plan for your hip, your general health and the help you may need when you go home. The anaesthetic team will explain your anaesthetic options.

Hip replacement: your questions answered

What are the benefits of a hip replacement?

The main benefit - and the main reason for this surgery - is relief of pain, both when you are moving and at rest, including night pain. As the pain settles, most people find their function and mobility improve with it. If you limp because the hip hurts, that often improves too. Where other joints, your back or muscle strength also play a part, we will talk honestly about what a new hip can and cannot change.

What are the risks of a hip replacement?

The vast majority of patients do well from these surgeries, which is why they are undertaken in significant numbers in the UK. It is still major surgery, and problems can occur: infection, blood clots in the legs or lungs, dislocation, a small difference in leg length, damage to nearby nerves or blood vessels, and ongoing pain. An artificial joint can wear or loosen over the years, and some problems need further surgery. Your own health shapes your personal balance of benefit and risk, and we will talk it through before you decide.

Is a hip replacement right for me?

That depends on your symptoms, your examination and your scans - and on what matters to you. Suitability is always discussed in clinic, where we weigh surgery against the non-surgical options together. You do not have to decide at the first appointment.

What is recovery like?

The hospital team will usually have you standing and walking soon after surgery, with a walking aid at first. Exercises and gradual activity are part of recovery, and progress differs from person to person. The team will guide you on wound care, blood-clot prevention and when you can drive or return to demanding activities.

How do I arrange a consultation?

You can book a private appointment at Spire Fylde Coast online or call 01253 308031. I also see patients in Chorley, Lancaster and Blackburn - see Find me for details.