Hip arthritis (osteoarthritis) treatment in Dubai

Where in Dubai

Dr. Subhash Ushakoyala, Specialist Orthopaedic Surgeon, sees patients with hip arthritis at Grand Infinity Medical Center in Al Muteena, Deira, Dubai. Bring any X-rays of your hip or pelvis, and tell him if you had a hip problem as a child. If a hip replacement is advised, he tells you at that visit which hospital the operation would be in and what your insurer needs first.

What is hip arthritis (osteoarthritis)?

The hip is a ball and socket joint. In osteoarthritis, the smooth cartilage that lines the ball at the top of the thigh bone and the socket in the pelvis wears thin. The bones begin to rub, bony spurs form, and the hip becomes painful and stiff. It usually comes on slowly over months or years. It is more common with age, after a childhood hip problem or an old injury, and when the hip has an unusual shape. Hip arthritis cannot be cured, but exercise, weight control and pain relief help many people for a long time. A hip replacement is considered when they no longer do.

Common signs

• Pain in the groin or the front of the thigh, sometimes spreading to the buttock or down to the knee.
• Stiffness after rest, and difficulty putting on socks or shoes, or cutting toenails.
• A limp, or a hip that will not turn or bend as far as it did.
• Pain that flares after a long walk and, later on, pain at rest or at night.
• A grinding or catching feeling when the hip moves.

How Dr. Subhash approaches it

Dr. Subhash trained in hip and knee replacement on a fellowship at Sunshine Hospitals in Secunderabad, India, in 2016, and his CV lists total hip replacement among the operations he performs. Treatment usually begins with what can be done without surgery. Back problems can cause pain in the same places, so the first visit checks where the pain is really coming from. If an operation is right for you, he explains a total hip replacement, the risks and the recovery before you decide.

What to expect

1. 01

   Consultation

   He asks where the pain is and what it stops you doing, then checks the hip, your back and how you walk.

2. 02

   X-rays

   An X-ray of the pelvis and hip shows how much joint space is left. Other scans are used only when the picture is unclear.

3. 03

   A plan without surgery

   Exercises to keep the hip moving and the muscles strong, weight loss if needed, pain relief and a walking stick on the opposite side if it helps.

4. 04

   Review

   He checks how you are doing. Hip arthritis often changes slowly, and many people stay on simple treatment for years.

5. 05

   Talking about surgery

   If pain and stiffness keep limiting your life, he discusses a total hip replacement with you, and you decide together.

Getting better

Every patient is different. These are typical milestones, not a promise; your own plan comes from your consultation.

• Regular, gentle exercise keeps the hip moving and is a core treatment at every stage.
• Low-impact activity such as swimming or a static bike is usually easier on the hip than running or jumping.
• Weight loss reduces the load on the hip and often eases pain.
• A stick held in the hand opposite the sore hip takes weight off it when walking.
• After a hip replacement, many people walk without a stick by about six weeks, and most daily activities return over about three months.

Risks to know about

• Long-term anti-inflammatory tablets can affect the stomach, kidneys or heart in some people.
• Pain from the back or a hernia can mimic hip arthritis, which is why the examination matters.

When to book a visit

Where to book