Hip Arthroscopy Surgery FAQs

Do I need a GP referral to have hip arthroscopy?

A referral from your GP is not necessarily needed before meeting with a private surgeon for arthroscopic hip surgery. It is often advisable to discuss your symptoms with your GP before a consultation to ensure that you see the right specialist to resolve your symptoms.

Once you have met your surgeon, they may ask for permission to speak to your GP about your medical history. This allows them to be fully informed about any existing medical conditions and your overall health ahead of surgery.

If you are planning to use your medical insurance to pay for your arthroscopy hip surgery, you should check with your insurance provider to see if a GP referral is required.

Are there alternatives to hip arthroscopy?

In most cases, your surgeon and GP will first advise non-surgical measures to help manage your hip discomfort. Sometimes these are insufficient and surgery is needed to treat your symptoms or prevent further complications from occurring. Both FAI and osteoarthritis can be treated by several different procedures depending on the severity of the disease and your symptoms.

Please refer to the FAI and hip osteoarthritis pages for more information about these conditions and the various treatment options.

Will I need any physiotherapy after my hip arthroscopy surgery?

Physiotherapy is an important part of recovering after hip arthroscopy. Your surgeon may work regularly with a particular physiotherapy team or be able to refer you to a recommended provider. A physiotherapist will help give you special movements and exercises to strengthen the muscles and tissues around the hip joint and guide you with your recovery. Ensuring adequate amounts of movement is important in preventing complications, such as blood clots and stiffness of the joint after the operation.

When can I return to my normal activities after arthroscopic hip surgery?

Every surgeon has their own advice regarding recovery for hip arthroscopy. Generally, it is advisable to take at least two weeks off work after an arthroscopic hip surgery. The first week is usually solely dedicated to your recovery and rest.

The second week you may be able to return to some home-based work. After this time you may feel ready to gradually return to work, proving it is safe to do so and that it is recommended by your surgeon.

Before returning to exercise, you should have a discussion with your surgeon or physiotherapist.

Recommendations vary between individuals, but some patients can return to non-weight-bearing exercises like swimming for around two weeks.

Within six to eight weeks your hip should function as required for day-to-day life.

It may take up to three months to return to high-impact activities like running or team sports. Again, activity should be guided by your surgeon and exercise intensity should be gradually increased to prevent injury. Doing too much too soon may irritate your hip and extend your healing process.

Your surgeon will advise you on when you can return to driving. Your ability to drive safely is dependent on you being able to fully bear weight, walk confidently without crutches, get in and out of a car unaided, and be able to perform an emergency stop.