Patient Story
Hip Specialist
The hip is one of the most heavily loaded joints in the body, and when it hurts, everyday movement — walking, climbing stairs, getting in and out of a car, sleeping through the night — can become difficult. Hip and groin pain has many possible sources, from arthritis and cartilage wear to labral tears, impingement, and structural conditions that develop earlier in life. Finding the right hip specialist matters, because the correct diagnosis is what points you toward the right treatment. At Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush (MOR), our hip specialists focus specifically on the hip and its surrounding structures, so patients with persistent or complex hip pain can be evaluated by physicians who treat these conditions every day.
Our Approach to Hip Care
Hip pain rarely has a single, one-size-fits-all answer. The same symptom — groin pain, a limp, stiffness, or catching — can point to very different underlying problems depending on your age, activity level, and anatomy. For that reason, MOR hip specialists begin with a thorough evaluation: your history, a physical exam, and imaging such as X-ray, MRI, or CT when appropriate. The goal is an accurate diagnosis first, because the treatment that helps one hip condition may not be the right choice for another.
Whenever it is clinically appropriate, our team favors starting with the least invasive option that can realistically address the problem. For many patients, that means non-surgical care — activity modification, physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medication, or image-guided injections — and surgery is considered when those measures have not provided enough relief or when the structural problem calls for it. When surgery is the right path, our surgeons are experienced across the full range of hip procedures, from joint-preserving arthroscopy to total hip replacement, so the recommendation can be matched to your specific condition and goals rather than to a single technique.
When to See a Hip Specialist
It can be hard to know when hip pain warrants a specialist rather than watchful waiting. In general, it is reasonable to schedule an evaluation if you have hip or groin pain that persists for more than a few weeks, pain that wakes you at night, a new limp, stiffness that limits how far you can walk, or difficulty with routine tasks such as putting on shoes and socks. Mechanical symptoms — catching, locking, or a sensation that the hip is giving way — are also worth having assessed. Seeing a specialist early does not commit you to surgery; in many cases, an accurate diagnosis simply opens the door to non-surgical options that are more effective when started sooner.
What We Do
- Articular cartilage damage
- Avascular necrosis
- Bone dancer
- Bone marrow edema
- Bone tumor
- Bursitis
- Cartilage injury
- Dislocated hip
- Femoroacetabular impingement
- Fracture
- Hamstring injury
- Hip dysplasia
- Hip impingement
- Hip pain
- Labrum tear
- Osteoarthritis
- Perthes disease
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Septic arthritis
- Slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE)
- Snapping hip syndrome
- Synovitis
- Tendonitis
- Trochanteric bursitis
- Tendonopathies of the hip
- Acetabuloplasty
- Arthroscopy
- Bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC)
- Chondroplasty
- Core decompression
- Hip replacement
- Pain management
- Femoral osteoplasty
- Hip dislocation surgery
- Hip injection
- Hip surgery
- Labral repair
- NSAIDs
- Osteotomy
- Physical therapy
- Platelet-rich plasma (PRP)
- Tendon repair
- CT scan
- MRI
- Ultrasound
- X-Ray
Areas of Hip Care
Below are the main areas of hip treatment our specialists provide. Each has a dedicated page with fuller detail on candidacy, what the procedure involves, and recovery.
Hip Replacement
When hip arthritis or joint damage causes pain that limits daily life and has not responded to non-surgical care, replacing the worn joint with an implant may be an option for appropriate candidates. Our hip replacement surgeons perform total, anterior, and revision hip replacement, and some patients may be candidates for a minimally invasive or outpatient approach. Learn more on our hip replacement surgery page.
Hip Preservation
Hip preservation focuses on treating hip problems while keeping your natural joint, which can be especially relevant for younger and active patients. These treatments aim to relieve pain and restore function, often before a hip replacement becomes necessary. See our hip preservation page to learn which conditions may be candidates.
Hip Arthroscopy and Labral Tears
Hip arthroscopy is a minimally invasive technique that uses a small camera and instruments to treat problems inside the hip joint, such as labral tears and loose bodies. It is most often considered for younger, active patients with mechanical symptoms like catching, locking, or groin pain. Read more about diagnosis and repair options on our hip labral tears page.
Femoroacetabular Impingement (FAI)
FAI occurs when the bones of the hip are shaped in a way that causes them to rub abnormally, which can damage the labrum and cartilage over time and lead to pain. Treatment ranges from activity modification and physical therapy to arthroscopic surgery for appropriate candidates. Our femoroacetabular impingement page explains how it is diagnosed and treated.
Why Choose MOR for Hip Care
Choosing a hip specialist is a significant decision, and the training and experience of the physicians behind your care matter. Here is what patients can expect from the hip team at MOR.
Fellowship-trained, board-certified surgeons
MOR hip specialists are board-certified orthopedic surgeons, and our hip surgeons have completed additional fellowship training focused on hip conditions and reconstruction. Fellowship training means a surgeon has pursued advanced, subspecialty education beyond residency in a specific area of orthopedics. You can read more about our team's credentials on our fellowship-trained surgeons page.
Experience across a high volume of hip procedures
Our surgeons collectively perform a high volume of hip procedures each year. This matters because, in the medical literature, higher surgical volume is associated with fewer complications for many orthopedic procedures. Experience across a wide range of routine and complex cases, including revision surgery for patients whose prior joint replacements have failed, allows our team to match the approach to each patient's anatomy and needs.
Advanced surgical technology
For hip replacement, our surgeons use precision robotic technology to assist with the sizing, placement, and positioning of implants. Real-time data during surgery allows the team to make adjustments intended to place each implant as accurately as possible. Technology is a tool in service of the surgeon's judgment; it supports, rather than replaces, the surgical plan built around your individual anatomy.
Team-based, coordinated care
Hip care at MOR is delivered by a multidisciplinary team that can include orthopedic surgeons, physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians, specialty nurses, physical and occupational therapists, and pain management specialists. Coordinating these roles under one practice is designed to give patients a smoother path from evaluation through recovery.
Recognized orthopedic program
Many MOR physicians practice at Rush University Medical Center. U.S. News & World Report rated the orthopedic program at Rush University Medical Center "High Performing" for hip replacement. Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush is an independent physician practice; this rating refers to the orthopedic program at Rush University Medical Center.
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Providers
Frequently Asked Questions
An anterior hip replacement is performed through an incision at the front of the hip, allowing the surgeon to work between the muscles rather than cutting through them. This approach often allows patients to go home the same day or the next day and resume walking without many of the traditional post-surgical hip precautions. Not every patient is a candidate, as body habitus and anatomy factor into the decision. Our hip surgeons at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush evaluate each patient for the safest, most effective approach.
Modern hip implants typically last 20 to 25 years or longer, and many patients never need a revision. Longevity is influenced by activity level, body weight, implant type, and surgical technique. Younger, more active patients may eventually need a revision surgery later in life. Annual follow-up imaging helps identify any wear before it becomes a problem.
Hip replacement is typically considered when arthritis or joint damage causes daily pain, stiffness, or mobility loss that hasn't improved with physical therapy, medication, weight management, or injections. Night pain, a limp, and difficulty putting on shoes or socks are common indicators. Our surgeons review imaging and function together with patients to decide whether to proceed.
Hip arthroscopy is a minimally invasive procedure that uses a small camera and instruments to treat conditions inside the hip joint, such as labral tears, femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), and loose bodies. It is most commonly recommended for younger, active patients with mechanical symptoms like catching, locking, or groin pain. Recovery is faster than open hip surgery, with most patients returning to sport within 4 to 6 months.
Most patients can resume driving 2 to 6 weeks after hip replacement, depending on which side was operated on, whether they are off narcotic pain medication, and how well they can perform an emergency brake. Anterior-approach patients often return to driving sooner than those with posterior approaches. Your surgeon clears you to drive at the post-op follow-up.
There is no single age cutoff. Hip replacement is increasingly performed on patients in their 40s and 50s when arthritis or joint damage causes persistent pain and functional limits. Implant materials and surgical techniques have improved, making long-term outcomes strong even in younger patients. Our surgeons assess joint condition, activity goals, and alternatives before recommending surgery.
Yes. Our hip specialists treat workers' comp patients for fractures, labral tears, and post-traumatic hip conditions. The workers' comp team at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush handles coordination with employers, case managers, and attorneys, including IME and impairment rating evaluations.