Am I a Candidate for Hip Surgery?

If you’re one of the millions of Americans who suffer from chronic hip pain, you’ve likely considered hip surgery. At the same time, you may wonder if less-invasive treatment options would be more effective.

At North Valley Orthopedic Institute in Mission Hills and Tarzana, California, Dr. Ramin Ganjianpour specializes in minimally invasive and open hip surgery. Although most cases of hip pain respond to conservative treatment, sometimes surgery is the best approach.

Here, we highlight the telltale signs that indicate hip surgery might be right for you.

3 factors that indicate you’re a candidate for hip surgery

Hip pain can often be managed with lifestyle changes and conservative treatments, such as using a cane, taking over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication, and participating in physical therapy. However, certain factors may indicate surgery is a better option, including:

1. Severe hip pain

The severity of hip pain is important, but a pain score alone doesn’t determine whether you need surgery. Surgery may be considered when persistent hip pain limits your mobility or interferes with everyday activities such as walking, climbing stairs, driving, sleeping comfortably, or going grocery shopping.

2. Hip joint damage

Hip pain occurs for various reasons, including strains, sprains, bursitis, tendinitis, and chronic conditions like osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. 

Acute conditions often improve with conservative care, but conditions such as advanced osteoarthritis can gradually damage the hip joint and make walking and other everyday movements increasingly painful. When joint damage becomes severe, your orthopedic surgeon may recommend hip surgery or hip replacement to relieve pain and restore mobility.

3. Ineffective conservative treatments

If hip pain continues despite treatments such as activity modification, anti-inflammatory medication, physical therapy, or other nonsurgical approaches, it may be time to discuss additional treatment options. Persistent pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility can indicate that conservative treatment is no longer providing enough relief. 

Since most cases of hip pain improve with conservative treatments, surgery may be worth considering if yours doesn’t.

When to consult an orthopedic surgeon

Schedule an appointment with our caring team if your hip pain is severe or doesn’t improve with at-home treatments, or if diagnostic imaging (X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans) has confirmed damage to your hip joint. 

Chronic hip pain often worsens without treatment, so act quickly to prevent complications.

After discussing your symptoms, completing a physical exam, and conducting diagnostic testing, we can develop a personalized surgical plan that provides lasting relief. 

Whenever possible, we use a minimally invasive (arthroscopic) approach, resulting in smaller incisions, less downtime, and quicker recovery.

Contact us to schedule your hip surgery consultation

Don’t let chronic hip pain keep you sidelined from the activities you love. Call North Valley Orthopedic Institute today to schedule a hip surgery consultation, or request an appointment online.