If you are dealing with ongoing hip pain and starting to think about surgery, scheduling a consultation is an important next step.
For many patients, this visit answers key questions, provides clarity, and helps determine whether hip replacement is appropriate—or whether other options should still be considered.
Just as importantly, it gives you the opportunity to understand your condition and feel confident about your next move.
A common concern is not knowing what will happen during the appointment. In reality, a hip replacement consultation is a structured, informative, and patient-focused visit designed to evaluate your symptoms and guide you toward the right treatment plan.
What the Visit Is Really For
The goal of your consultation is not to pressure you into surgery. It is to understand your situation and determine the best path forward based on your symptoms, lifestyle, and goals.
During the visit, your surgeon evaluates:
- The severity and pattern of your hip pain
- How your mobility and daily activities are affected
- What treatments have you already tried
- Whether those treatments are still helping
From there, the conversation focuses on whether you may be a candidate for hip replacement — or whether continued non-surgical care makes more sense.
Step 1: Talking Through Your Symptoms and Goals
The consultation usually starts with a detailed discussion of your hip pain and its impact on your life.
You may be asked:
- Where exactly do you feel the pain (groin, thigh, side of the hip)
- When it occurs (walking, sitting, at night)
- What activities have become difficult
- How long have symptoms been progressing
This part of the visit matters more than many people expect. Two patients with similar X-rays may have very different symptoms — and therefore very different treatment recommendations.
Equally important is understanding your goals. Whether you want to return to golf, travel more comfortably, or simply walk without pain, those priorities help guide the treatment plan.
Step 2: Physical Examination
Next, your hip will be examined to assess motion, strength, and function.
This may include:
- Checking range of motion
- Evaluating stiffness and joint movement
- Observing how you walk
- Identifying which movements reproduce pain
These findings help confirm whether the hip joint is the primary source of the problem and the extent of the condition.
Step 3: Imaging Review
If you already have X-rays, they will be reviewed. If not, imaging may be obtained during or after the visit.
X-rays help show:
- Joint space narrowing (often referred to as “bone-on-bone”)
- Bone changes related to arthritis
- Alignment of the hip joint
However, imaging is just one piece of the puzzle. The decision to move forward with surgery is based on the combination of your symptoms, exam, and imaging — not any single factor alone.
Step 4: Are You a Candidate for Hip Replacement?
Once your symptoms, exam, and imaging are reviewed, the conversation turns to whether you may be an appropriate candidate for hip replacement.
In general, surgery may be considered if:
- Hip pain is limiting daily activities or independence.
- Symptoms are affecting sleep or quality of life.
- Non-surgical treatments are no longer providing relief.
- Imaging supports advanced arthritis.
If you are not quite at that point, that is equally valuable to know. Many patients leave the consultation with a clearer plan for continued non-surgical care and a better understanding of what to watch for over time.
Step 5: Understanding Your Surgical Options
If hip replacement is discussed, your surgeon will explain the procedure and available techniques.
This may include:
- How hip replacement works
- The role of robotic-assisted surgery using Mako technology
- Surgical approach options, including direct anterior hip replacement
- What may be appropriate based on your anatomy and goals
This is also your opportunity to ask questions and understand how experience, technology, and surgical planning may impact your care.
Robert J. Avino, M.D., is a board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon specializing in hip and knee replacement, including robotic-assisted hip replacement with Mako technology. He has extensive experience in joint replacement and emphasizes a personalized, patient-centered approach to care.
Step 6: Recovery and Next Steps
A key part of the consultation is understanding what happens after surgery — and what recovery may look like.
You may discuss:
- Expected recovery timeline
- Walking and activity progression
- Driving and travel
- Same-day discharge when appropriate
- Physical therapy and follow-up care
This helps set realistic expectations and allows you to plan ahead if you decide to move forward.
You Are Not Committing to Surgery
One of the most important things to understand is that a consultation is simply a conversation. You are not committing to surgery by scheduling a visit.
Instead, you are:
- Getting a clear diagnosis
- Understanding your options
- Learning whether you are a candidate
- Deciding on the right timing for you
For many patients, this clarity alone provides peace of mind — even if surgery is not immediate.
When to Take the Next Step
If hip pain is starting to limit your mobility, affect your sleep, or interfere with activities you enjoy, it may be time to get answers.
Scheduling a consultation allows you to understand where you are in the process and what options are available to help you stay active and independent.
You can request an appointment through the website form or call to schedule a consultation with Dr. Avino.
Schedule a Consultation Today
If hip or knee pain is slowing you down, don’t wait. Request a consultation online or call
Palm Beach Orthopedic Institute and ask for Dr. Robert J. Avino.