Hip Pain Treatment Without Surgery London - What Are Your Options?
Getting out of bed should not require a strategy. Walking should not involve counting steps until you can sit down. Bending to tie your shoes should not be something you dread.
Hip pain transforms simple activities into challenges. It makes you feel older than you are. It steals spontaneity from your life.
Hip replacement surgery is remarkably successful, but it is still major surgery. Before accepting it as your only option, understand what non-surgical treatments can offer.
Why Hip Pain Develops
The hip is a ball-and-socket joint designed for stability and movement. Cartilage cushions the joint surfaces, allowing smooth, pain-free motion.
Osteoarthritis is the most common cause of hip pain. Cartilage gradually wears away, leading to bone rubbing against bone. Pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility follow.
Hip labral tears damage the ring of cartilage surrounding the hip socket. They cause groin pain, clicking, and catching sensations.
Bursitis is inflammation of fluid-filled sacs around the hip. It causes pain on the outer hip, particularly when lying on that side.
Tendinopathy affects tendons around the hip, causing localised pain with specific movements.
Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) occurs when abnormal bone shape causes the hip bones to rub abnormally, damaging cartilage over time.
Understanding what is causing your pain determines which treatments will help.
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Non-Surgical Treatment Options
PRP Injections
Platelet-rich plasma therapy delivers concentrated growth factors directly into the hip joint. For osteoarthritis, PRP can reduce inflammation, slow cartilage degeneration, and decrease pain.
Hip injections are performed under imaging guidance, usually ultrasound, to ensure accurate placement within the joint.
Research shows PRP can provide meaningful improvement in hip arthritis. Results typically last longer than steroid injections without the tissue-weakening effects.
Hyaluronic Acid Injections
Viscosupplementation adds lubricating fluid to the joint. It cushions remaining cartilage and can reduce pain for several months.
Hyaluronic acid works best in mild to moderate arthritis where some cartilage remains.
Steroid Injections
Corticosteroids reduce inflammation quickly and can provide significant pain relief. However, repeated use may accelerate cartilage loss. Steroids are best used sparingly, perhaps to confirm diagnosis or provide temporary relief while other treatments take effect.
Physiotherapy
Targeted exercises strengthen muscles supporting the hip, improve flexibility, and optimise movement patterns. Strong muscles reduce load on damaged joint surfaces.
Physiotherapy is typically essential alongside injection therapy. It maximises and extends treatment benefits.
Weight Management
Every kilogram of body weight creates three to six kilograms of force across the hip with walking. Losing weight significantly reduces joint stress.
Even modest weight loss can noticeably reduce hip pain and improve function.
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Can You Really Avoid Hip Replacement?
This depends on several factors.
Severity of arthritis: Mild to moderate arthritis responds better to conservative treatment. Bone-on-bone severe arthritis may have limited non-surgical options.
Your age: Younger patients have more to gain from delaying surgery. Hip replacements last 15-25 years. Avoiding or delaying replacement means fewer surgeries over your lifetime.
Activity level: Your functional demands affect treatment choice. High-demand patients may eventually need replacement, but conservative treatment can provide years of function.
Response to treatment: Some patients respond remarkably well to injections and physiotherapy. Others see limited benefit.
For many patients, non-surgical treatment provides years of improved function. For others, it bridges the gap until surgery becomes appropriate. For some, it does not provide sufficient benefit.
Trying conservative treatment first does not compromise surgical outcomes if you eventually need replacement.
What to Expect From Treatment
Assessment includes detailed history, physical examination, and review of any imaging. We may recommend additional scans if diagnosis is unclear.
If injection therapy is appropriate, the procedure is performed under ultrasound guidance. You can walk immediately, though we recommend taking it easy for a couple of days.
Improvement typically develops over two to six weeks. A physiotherapy programme should run alongside injection treatment.
Results vary. Many patients experience significant improvement lasting months to years. Maintenance injections can extend benefits.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I should try injections or just get a hip replacement? If you have not tried conservative treatment, it is usually worth attempting. Surgery will still be an option if injections do not help.
Are hip injections painful? Brief discomfort during injection. The hip is deeper than the knee, so imaging guidance is important. Most patients tolerate it well.
How many PRP injections will I need for my hip? Typically one to three injections. Response to initial treatment guides whether additional injections are beneficial.
Can PRP regenerate cartilage? PRP may slow cartilage loss and support joint health, but significant cartilage regeneration is unlikely. The goal is improved function and reduced pain.
What if conservative treatment does not work? Hip replacement remains an option. Many patients find conservative treatment helps for years before eventually choosing surgery.
Do not assume surgery is your only option.
