Diagnosis to surgery pathway

PeteW

Just diagnosed with osteoarthritis in my right hip, which has developed and worsened considerably in the last 5 months.

Could osteoarthritis have been caused/triggered by a fall on to my hip while hiking in Wales 5 months ago? I don't recall any problems before this, but maybe my hip was deteriorating and I just wasn't ware of it.

My GP has said he will make a referral to orthopaedics dor me, but what does this mean and entail? How do I find out the waiting time to see an orthopaedist?

Tulip1972

Hi Pete,

I am new on here today. I can't help with your first 2 questions unfortunately. Regarding the waiting times to be seen by orthopaedics - I phoned my local hospital who I'd been referred to for Rheumatology, the secretaries and they told me the wait times for me. Mine is an urgent referral and wait time is 4-6 weeks with only a couple of urgents infront of me. You might benefit from phoning the orthopaedic secretaries at the hospital they have referred you to.

I hope this helps a little and sorry I can't help with the other questions.

MaryL44

Hello @PeteW  and welcome to the Community. We are a friendly and supportive group and I hope that will be your experience as well.

Waiting times vary across the country so I can't say how long you will wait to see a specialist. I suggest that when you know the referral has been sent you contact the MSK department of your local health authority and ask them how long their waiting list is. However, while you are waiting I would advise you to do as much research as you can so you will know what questions to ask.

Our website is a mine of information so do look at it. You can start with this link but then search the website and you will find a lot more information.

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/conditions/osteoarthritis-oa-of-the-hip

Also, our community members have vast experience so keep checking back here for their responses. Many of our members have arthritis in their hips so again just search at the top right of the screen.

Please keep posting now you are here and let us know how you are getting on.

Best wishes

Mary

cocoa

hi @ PeteW

Until you get an X-ray and speak to an orthopaedic consultant you cannot know fir sure if you’re fall caused the pain or set off arthritis . Mine started with groin pain and progressed over 3 years being referred fir new hip within the last year . I’m now in week 5/6 of renewal . Lots of support on this site so keep checking . Hope you don’t have to wait too long for referral

Cocoa