Advice From Specialist Orthopaedic Surgeon, Mr David Stitson.
Hip pain can creep into your life gradually – a dull ache after a long walk, feeling like you have a groin strain, stiffness when getting out of the car or discomfort that keeps you awake at night. But over time the symptoms often become more persistent and disruptive. As a specialist in hip and knee replacement surgery, I meet many patients who have reached a point where hip pain is affecting not just their mobility, but their confidence, independence, ability to work and emotional wellbeing.
To help you understand your options, Mr Stitson has explained what life often looks like before a hip replacement, what good outcomes typically look like afterwards, and how evidence-based surgical care can bridge the gap.
BEFORE: When Hip Pain Starts Controlling Your Life
Many patients come to me after months – sometimes years – of trying to cope with worsening symptoms. Their stories are remarkably similar:
Daily Activities Become More Difficult
- You find yourself limping or avoiding longer walks.
- Getting in and out of the car, climbing stairs or even bending to put on socks becomes a challenge.
- You may find yourself planning your day around how far you’ll need to walk or how long you’ll need to stand.
- Ability to undertake your job role becomes more difficult
Pain Affects Sleep and Mood
- Night-time pain causes frequent waking.
- Morning stiffness means slow, painful starts to the day.
- Living with constant discomfort often leads to frustration, fatigue and emotional strain.
You Stop Doing the Things You Enjoy
- Exercising, gardening, socialising, travelling, playing with children or grandchildren – all become less enjoyable or even impossible.
- For some, hip pain leads to weight gain, reduced fitness or increasing isolation.
You’ve Tried the Usual Measures
By the time people seek specialist advice, they have often tried:
- Physiotherapy and stretching
- Anti-inflammatory medication
- Walking aids
- Joint injections
- Lifestyle modifications
Yet the pain continues to worsen and the relief from painkillers becomes temporary or minimal.
If this feels familiar, you are not alone – and importantly, it does not have to stay this way.
AFTER: What Life Can Look Like with the Right Treatment
Patients are often surprised by just how transformative hip surgery can be – not only for pain relief, but for their confidence, mobility and independence.
Pain Relief and Restored Comfort
- The severe, deep joint pain you once felt is significantly reduced or eliminated.
- Sleep improves, energy returns and you no longer wake up dreading the first steps of the day.
Improved Mobility and Function
Most patients regain:
- Easier, more fluid movement
- Confidence walking longer distances
- Ability to climb stairs, bend, get in and out of chairs or cars and resume normal routines
For many, these changes come sooner than expected.
Return to an Active Lifestyle
Patients often tell me they can once again:
- Enjoy travelling without worrying about long airport walks
- Exercise more comfortably
- Spend quality time with loved ones
- Rejoin social activities and hobbies they had given up
Better Overall Quality of Life
When pain is no longer the centre of your world, everything else tends to improve – independence, wellbeing, confidence and day-to-day enjoyment.
THE BRIDGE: How Specialist Hip Treatment Helps You Get There
Moving from constant pain to restored mobility requires the right diagnosis and a personalised treatment plan.
As a consultant orthopaedic surgeon specialising in hip and knee replacement surgery, I help patients bridge that gap through:
Expert Assessment and Diagnosis
A detailed consultation helps identify:
- The cause of your hip pain
- The severity of joint degeneration
- Which treatments are most appropriate and what options you have
- Whether surgery is likely to improve your symptoms
Many patients feel relief simply understanding why their pain is happening.
Tailored Treatment Plans
Not every patient needs surgery immediately. Your plan may include:
- Targeted physiotherapy
- Activity adjustments
- Pain management strategies
- Injections where appropriate
- Or, when indicated, hip replacement surgery
The goal is always to choose the safest, most effective path for your health and lifestyle.
Modern, Evidence-Based Hip Replacement Surgery
If surgery is recommended, today’s hip replacements are designed to:
- Significantly reduce or eliminate pain
- Improve function and mobility
- Provide long-lasting, reliable results
Procedures are more refined than ever, with high success rates and strong patient satisfaction.
Personalised Recovery and Rehabilitation
Support does not end after surgery.
You receive:
- Clear guidance on mobility, exercises and wound care
- Follow-up appointments to track your progress
- A recovery plan that aligns with your goals and lifestyle
Most patients return to normal daily activities far sooner than they expect.
Next Steps…
If You’re Struggling with Severe Hip Pain, You Don’t Have to Continue Suffering.
Living with hip pain can feel overwhelming, but taking the first step towards assessment often brings clarity and hope.
If your symptoms are interfering with your quality of life, mobility, sleep, work or sense of independence, seeking specialist advice can help you understand your options and make an informed decision.
A consultation at Mr Stitson’s clinic based at the Nuffield Hospital, Plymouth, can help determine whether conservative treatment or hip replacement is the right approach for you – and put you firmly on the path to improved mobility.
Here are some steps you can take next:
– Consult Your GP: If you are experiencing hip pain and are considering surgery, start by booking an appointment with your GP. They will be able to refer you if needed.
– Understand Your Options: There are the key avenues you can explore to speed up your access to hip surgery contributing to a swifter recovery and getting you back on your feet sooner.
– Do Your Research: Familiarise yourself with different types of hip replacement procedures and what each involves. Knowledge is power!
– Speak with Mr Stitson: Book a consultation with David Stitson, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon based in Plymouth, to discuss what might be the best approach for you personally. He will provide detailed information specific to your situation.
Surgery may sound daunting, but for many, it provides much-needed relief and the chance to regain mobility. This step can be pivotal in improving your quality of life, helping to reduce pain and stiffness dramatically.
By addressing the underlying issues, surgery can pave the way for a more active lifestyle, allowing you to return to the activities you love without the constant concern of hip pain holding you back.
Get Private Orthopaedic Surgery in Plymouth in just 4-6 weeks
⇒ Consultation in 7 days or less
⇒ Consultation to surgery, 4-6 weeks
About Hip Surgery
Total hip replacement surgery replaces the worn-out painful and stiff hip joint with a new prosthetic joint. This procedure is normally performed under spinal anaesthesia and is commonly followed by a night or two in the hospital. Day-case hip replacement surgery may be an appropriate option for you.
About Mr Stitson
David Stitson is a Plymouth-based Consultant Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgeon. Trained both in the UK and internationally, he has worked in medicine for more than 20 years for the NHS, for the Royal Air Force and in private practice. Mr Stitson operates privately at the Nuffield Health Hospital, Plymouth.
Are You Ready to Take the Next Steps to Improve Your Mobility?
Living with constant hip pain is not something you have to accept as part of ageing. Many people in their late 60s and 70s find that a private hip replacement restores their mobility and transforms their quality of life.
📞 To discuss your symptoms and explore whether hip replacement surgery is the right option for you, contact Mr David Stitson, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, at the Nuffield Hospital, Plymouth.
- Call: 01752 761818
- Visit: www.orthopaedicsplymouth.co.uk
- Email: enquiries@orthopaedicsplymouth.co.uk
Take the first step towards a more comfortable, active life today.
The Nuffield Plymouth CQC Rating
The Nuffield Hospital has a history that spans over half a century and has built a reputation for high standards of care, professionalism and expertise in delivering health services. They aim for continuous quality improvement in everything they do.
Active Quality and Governance programmes are in place at the Nuffield Hospital Plymouth. As part of this, the hospital is inspected by independent healthcare regulators to ensure it meets the fundamental standards of quality and safety as determined by the regulating body (CQC).
In the most recent inspection, Plymouth Nuffield Hospital was rated as ‘Good’ overall, however, the surgical element of the inspection was rated as ‘Outstanding’. The hospital was referred to as:
“Outstanding in effective and caring, and
Good in safe, responsive and well-led.”
