At Home with Dr Christian Jessen - 337

| PROMOTION|

Mr Shah's patient, Ian,
skiing in France just months
after his hip replacement

MEET THE
EXPERT

Mr Nirav
Shah is a
consultant
trauma and
orthopaedic surgeon
Mr Shah has a particular interest in
conditions affecting the hip and knee,
and specialises in the use of ceramic
joint replacements, which offer
improved longevity. Since qualifying
in 1993, he has gained extensive
experience in his field. This enables him
to offer patients the latest technologies,
along with a very high level of expertise.

What does a hip
replacement involve?

'Normally carried out under spinal anaesthesia,
a hip replacement involves an incision by the
side of the hip joint,' says Mr Shah. 'This
enables the surgeon to remove the damaged
cartilage of hip joint and replace it with an
artificial ceramic joint. The whole operation
usually takes around 60 minutes to complete.'

How long will it take to
recover from the operation?

'Recovery time can take anything from one to six
weeks. Every patient is different, and some are
back to their normal routine in just a few days.
'In the majority of cases, my patients resume
typical daily activities such as driving and going
back to their job within just a few weeks.'

'Surgical techniques
for hip problems
have advanced
dramatically in
recent years, and
hip replacements are
giving patients of all
ages a new lease of life'

'I HONESTLY HAVEN'T FELT SO FIT
AND ENERGETIC FOR YEARS'
Jo, 58, underwent a successful hip replacement in 2013

As a Pilates instructor
with a love of dance
and trekking, Jo (inset) was dismayed
when she began to experience pain in her
right hip. Jo tried various measures to
manage and alleviate her pain, but they
provided little respite.
Eventually she was referred to Mr Nirav
Shah, at which point she was in extreme
pain and concerned about her livelihood.
As other conservative measures had been
unsuccessful, Mr Shah recommended
arthroscopy - a keyhole surgery - to
examine Jo's hip and if possible repair
any damage and alleviate pain.
Following this procedure, it was clear
that Jo's case required further major
surgical intervention and, in April 2013,
Jo underwent a hip replacement.

21100-104820 NiravShah DPS.indd 29

Following an initially difficult recovery, Jo
has gone from strength-to-strength and is
now more active than ever before.
'Now, almost two years down the line,
I cannot express strongly enough how
delighted and relieved I am with my levels
of physical fitness,' says Jo. 'I honestly
haven't felt so fit, energetic and strong for
years. I have the ability to demonstrate
strength and flexibility in my Pilates
classes, attend Yoga sessions, hike for
miles and dance for hours. It's amazing
and so exciting - I have my life back!
'I am going trekking in southern India
soon, undertaking a Yoga training course,
enjoying a contemporary dance course
and being a full-on active and fun
grandma of two lively girls - I find myself
smiling at the sheer joy of it all.'

Will an artificial hip prevent
me from leading an active
lifestyle again?

'No, not at all. Most patients find that in the
lead up to their hip replacement, their pain
and lack of mobility makes many of their
favourite activities and pastimes impossible.
So they're often delighted to discover that they
can actually take part in more activities following
their hip replacement than they could before!'

What should I do if I'm
experiencing pain in my hip?

'You should make an appointment to see your
local GP,' says Mr Shah. 'Sometimes a
problem with the hip can present itself as
a dull ache in the groin, buttock, lower part
of your thigh, or even around the knee;
so it's always advisable to seek a formal
diagnosis at the earliest opportunity.
'Your GP will usually try less invasive
solutions before considering a surgical referral.
Alternatively, if you have private health
insurance, you can contact a specialist
orthopaedic surgeon in the first instance and
arrange a thorough diagnosis.'

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Call 01903 707373
Email appointments@mrniravshah.co.uk
Visit www.mrniravshah.co.uk
Mr Nirav Shah at Goring Hall Hospital,
Goring-by-Sea, BN12 5AT

MR NIRAV SHAH
CONSULTANT TRAUMA &
ORTHOPAEDIC SURGEON

23/01/2015 18:17
http://www.mrniravshah.co.uk
At Home with Dr Christian Jessen

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