Whether you’ve been injured, or are otherwise suffering from joint or muscle pain, the chance to get it checked out as soon as possible can not only help put your mind at ease, but can ensure the speediest recovery too.
Encouraged by minimum waiting lists, more people are opting for private healthcare post-pandemic, SoGlos spoke to the experts at Nuffield Health Hospital Cheltenham’s orthopaedics department to find out what prospective patients can expect if they decide to take this route.
About the expert – Nuffield Health Cheltenham Hospital orthopaedics department
Nuffield Health’s private hospital in Cheltenham promises first class treatment with minimum waiting lists. Offering everything from health assessments to surgery in state-of-the-art clinical facilities, as well as the latest diagnostic imaging facilities, including on-site MRI and CT scanning, areas of specialty include orthopaedics, cosmetic surgery, spinal services, sports injury, ENT, gynaecology and urology.
What are the most common sports injuries that you see?
Sports injuries are common, as we all know. Simple muscle aches and sprains usually settle well with rest and gentle rehabilitation. Often, a groin strain doesn’t settle and after further investigation is, in fact, one of the first signs of hip arthritis.
We see many people with twisted and broken ankles, as well as falling on an outstretched hand causing wrist fractures. Some sports are more well-known for knee ligament injuries, such as netball and football.
Is exercise still advisable when recovering from a sports injury?
The watchful eye of a physiotherapist is hugely helpful to ensure you are back on track after an injury or surgery.
Not only can they help intervene if you are not making appropriate progress, they can also educate and offer encouragement to help build confidence.
How quickly could I organise a consultation with a specialist at Nuffield Health Cheltenham Hospital?
It all depends on which consultant you would like to see, but we should be able to fit you in with an orthopaedic consultant within two weeks.
What kind of costs would people be looking at for a consultation?
Consultation costs vary and can change, but are usually around £200 to £250. You can self-pay or use your private medical insurance, and we also have an interest-free finance scheme.
How soon after an initial appointment could treatment be organised, if necessary?
Again, this depends on the procedure needed and the availability. But, the wait time is approximately eight to 10 weeks after your initial consultation.
Could delaying treatment make things worse?
While some injuries can get better on their own, our patients usually want to be treated as soon as possible – and being seen by an experienced professional is essential to help diagnose and put an action plan into place.
Often this might not require surgery, but there are times when surgery may be offered to help treat our patients’ conditions. Either way, an early diagnosis helps with peace of mind and can help make a strategy for the way forward.
Is arthritis inevitable?
No, arthritis is not inevitable! We don’t all get it and even if you have one joint replaced, it doesn’t mean your other ones will need doing.
The majority of joint replacements are for wear and tear (known as osteoarthritis), although a small minority have other conditions that may lead to the joint wearing out – for example trauma or rheumatoid arthritis.
