NHS hip assessment phone call, what to expect (hip replacement qs too)

[UncertainWife]

I've got osteoarthritis in my hip/s, I've been referred to MSK for a telephone assessment.

It's a 40-minute phone call, anyone know what kind of things they'd ask me to do to assess the hip? For me the pain mostly comes after walking or trying to do jobs around my house, or when trying to get to sleep, so I can't imagine what they'd ask me to do on a phone call when I'm in my house that would demonstrate the problem.

My hip OA has changed how I walk, it's made me lopsided, and walking feels so horrible and weird and is causing me problems in other body parts as well. I'm limping a little and hobbling.

I'm concerned that because it isn't immediate agony when I eg lift up that leg that they won't refer me for a hip replacement, when I feel I need one.

I've already tried physio and it didn't work, and I don't want the injections, but GP told me you had to have had physio and injections before you can get the replacement, is that correct?

@UncertainWife I don't mean to rubbish physios, chiropractors etc, I had some very good ones and spent a lot of time and money with them. I finally got to the point where they couldn't help me any more and I had a private MRI scan referred by my chiropractor. I took this to a consultant surgeon and he took one look at it and said it was clear that nothing except surgery would really help. So my recommendation would be to see a surgeon as soon as possible. I wish I'd done that without wasting so much time. By all means continue with other treatments that are helping in the meantime, but get the full picture as soon as you can. I don't know what the cost of a private consultation is in your area but my MRI was in the region of £400 I think, and the single private consultation was less than £200. After that it was all on the NHS. In the three years previously I had spent way more than that on physio and chiropractic that helped but didn't solve the problem.

The surgeon said that hips were his favourite procedure because they almost always fixed patients immediately. I appreciate that you have more than one thing going on but the surgeon will be able to explain what it's realistic to expect in your case so I'd try not to panic for now. Good luck.

I was early 50s when I had my first done. With both, I only had X-rays- no other scans.

I told the surgeon that I couldn’t sleep because of the pain, and he said that was why he’d okayed the surgery.

I waited a year for the first, and just 6 weeks for the second- both on the NHS.

Do your post surgery religiously and you’ll never look back.

Good luck!

Thanks @MontyDonsBlueScarf I'm leaning heavily towards booking an appointment with a private hip consultant, I'm just doubting myself because the back MRI results have thrown me a bit.

There are so many people on a back forum I'm on who are in permanent debilitating pain. I try not to use that forum too much as it makes me panic and feel depressed!

Hopefully I will get some relief at some point.

Interesting that your waiting times were so different @NormasArse

Glad THR was good for you

Brutal honesty here. I get the fear, the depression etc. Literally months before mine went downhill rapidly, I was trekking in Nepal and Northern India. I had a job I loved that I had to give up. And suddenly I had to find another job, and a future without the treks. It is scary, yes it is. And I am now "disabled" - higher PIP award in both categories and without any personal assessment. That's how bad it got in six months. So I get it.

You know what? No matter what happens there are ways and means. Society is crap at disability, but there are aids and where there is a will there is a way. The thing that disables you most is believing you can't do something. Sometimes you literally can't - but more often than not there are ways around it. There are new things that you may never have done before (whale watching???? Sit in a boat - not hard!). Waking up alive is always a good start to the day, and you need to learn to focus on what you can do and not what you can't.

Disability, if that is where you end up forever, is just a different life. Not an end to life. You can adapt or you can give up. It's your choice. Do I miss those things I used to be able to do. Of course. But I now do things that I never thought about doing before. So might you.

I understand where you're coming from @EmmaMaria my mum had a hefty stroke when she was in her late 40s that left her paralysed down one side.

She didn't deal with it very well unfortunately, nor did her carer, my stepdad.

Hi @UncertainWife I just wanted to say you can ask your GP to refer you to a hip surgeon at a private hospital then you get seen pretty much straight away.
I did this. I asked to be referred to a hip specialist at the Spire hospital. They have surgeons there that accept NHS patients.

It is so quick and straightforward. Ive had all the MR scans and x rays there too.

I know the feeling of horrendous hip/back pain. The back pain usually is caused from the hips and goes after replacement surgery. Feel free to ask/dm any more questions.

Thanks @crystalize I've got an appointment at the private hospital next week.

Inspiring - thank you x