Frequently Asked Questions

You can book a consultation by contacting Mr Hussain's dedicated secretary, Wendy Richards, by telephone, email or WhatsApp. You can also complete the enquiry form on the Book a Consultation page, and the team will get back to you promptly.

A GP referral is welcome but not essential for a private consultation. If you are using private medical insurance, your insurer may require a GP referral letter and an authorisation code before your appointment — please check with your insurance provider.

Mr Hussain sees private patients at three locations across Birmingham:

• The Woodlands Suite at the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital, Bristol Road South
• Harborne Hospital (HCA Healthcare), Queen Elizabeth Medical Centre
• The Priory Hospital Edgbaston (Circle Health Group), Priory Road

Full addresses, maps and booking links for each hospital are available on the Book a Consultation page.

During your initial consultation, Mr Hussain will take a thorough history and examine your hip or knee. He will review any existing scans or X-rays and may arrange further imaging if needed. You will receive a clear explanation of your diagnosis, a discussion of all treatment options — both surgical and non-surgical — and a personalised management plan. There is always plenty of time for your questions.

Absolutely. Mr Hussain regularly sees patients seeking a second opinion and is happy to review your case. Please bring any previous reports, scans or correspondence from your current treating surgeon so that he can give you the most informed advice.

A pre-operative assessment is a health check carried out before your surgery to ensure you are medically fit for the procedure. It typically includes blood tests, an electrocardiogram (ECG), a review of your medications, and an assessment by an anaesthetist. The nursing team will also discuss your home situation and any equipment you may need for your recovery.

A standard primary hip or knee replacement typically takes between 60 and 90 minutes. More complex cases or revision surgery may take longer, sometimes two to three hours or more, depending on the complexity involved. Mr Hussain will give you a realistic estimate during your consultation.

For a primary hip or knee replacement, most patients stay one to two nights. Some suitable patients may be discharged on the same day as their surgery (day-case arthroplasty). Mr Hussain was the first surgeon at the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital to introduce day-case total hip and knee replacement. Revision surgery usually requires a longer hospital stay — typically three to five days, sometimes more depending on the complexity of the procedure.

Good preparation can make a real difference to your outcome. Key steps include staying as active as possible before surgery, maintaining a healthy weight, stopping smoking if applicable, ensuring any long-term medical conditions are well controlled, and following any specific instructions from the pre-assessment team. You will also be advised on medications to stop or continue before surgery, particularly blood-thinning medications.

Some medications may need to be adjusted or temporarily stopped before surgery — particularly blood thinners such as warfarin, aspirin or newer anticoagulants. This will be discussed in detail at your pre-operative assessment. It is important not to stop any medication without specific guidance from the surgical or anaesthetic team.

With spinal anaesthesia and sedation, you will be comfortably drowsy and unlikely to be fully aware of the surgery, although you will not be in a deep sleep as with a general anaesthetic. Most patients have little or no recollection of the procedure. If you have strong feelings about being awake or asleep, discuss this with your anaesthetist — your wishes will always be accommodated.

Effective pain management is a priority. After surgery, you will receive a combination of regular painkillers — typically paracetamol and anti-inflammatories — along with stronger medication if needed. Local anaesthetic injections given during the operation provide additional relief in the first 12 to 24 hours. For revision surgery, an epidural may be used for ongoing pain relief. The goal is to keep you comfortable enough to begin mobilising and physiotherapy as soon as possible.

Most patients are up and walking with a physiotherapist on the same day as their surgery or early the following morning. You will initially use a walking frame or crutches, and the physiotherapy team will guide you through a structured recovery programme before you leave hospital.

This depends on which side was operated on and your individual recovery. As a general guide, most patients can resume driving at around four to six weeks after hip or knee replacement. You must be able to perform an emergency stop safely and should not drive while taking strong painkillers. Mr Hussain will advise you on timing during your post-operative review.

This varies depending on the type of work you do. Patients with desk-based or sedentary roles may return to work from around three to four weeks. More physically demanding jobs may require six to twelve weeks off. Mr Hussain will provide tailored guidance based on your occupation and recovery progress.

One of the key goals of surgery is to restore your ability to lead an active life. Most patients return to low-impact activities such as swimming, cycling, walking, yoga and golf within three to six months. Higher-impact activities may be possible depending on the type of procedure — for example, hip resurfacing is specifically designed for patients who wish to maintain high-level activities including running and contact sports. Mr Hussain will discuss realistic expectations based on your procedure.

Modern hip and knee implants are designed to last a long time. Current evidence shows that over 90% of joint replacements are still functioning well at 15 to 20 years, and many last significantly longer. Factors such as patient activity level, body weight and implant type can influence longevity. Mr Hussain uses only well-proven, registry-validated implants to give you the best long-term outcome.

You will typically be seen at around two weeks for a wound check, then at six weeks and three months for clinical and X-ray review. Ongoing annual or biennial reviews are recommended to monitor the longevity of your implant. Mr Hussain's team remains available between appointments if you have any concerns at all.

Possibly, yes. Mr Hussain regularly sees patients who have been declined surgery at other hospitals because of complex medical needs or a lack of specialist post-operative facilities. He will carry out a thorough assessment of your condition and work with other specialists to determine whether surgery can be performed safely, with appropriate pre-operative optimisation and post-operative support such as HDU care.

Yes. Many patients with diabetes undergo successful hip and knee replacement surgery. Good blood sugar control before and after surgery is important to reduce the risk of infection and promote healing. The pre-assessment team will review your diabetes management and work with your diabetologist or GP to ensure your blood sugar levels are optimised ahead of the procedure.

There is no fixed age limit. What matters most is your overall health and fitness for surgery, not your age alone. Mr Hussain has successfully performed joint replacements on patients in their eighties and nineties. Each case is assessed individually, and the decision to proceed is made collaboratively with you, based on the potential benefits and risks.

Mr Hussain is recognised by all major private medical insurers, including Bupa, Aviva, AXA PPP, Vitality, Cigna, The Exeter, Freedom Health, Healix, Legal & General and Police Mutual. If your insurer is not listed, please contact the team to check — recognition can often be arranged.

Yes. Self-pay options are available at all three of Mr Hussain's private practice locations. For detailed information about consultation fees and surgery costs, please visit the Fees page or contact the team directly.

Private consultations are usually available within one to two weeks. Urgent cases can often be accommodated sooner. Once a decision to proceed with surgery is made, the procedure is typically scheduled within two to four weeks, depending on your preference and availability.

Yes, and it is often encouraged. Having a partner, family member or friend with you can be helpful — they may think of questions you hadn't considered, and having a second pair of ears can make it easier to remember the information discussed during your appointment.

Please bring a list of your current medications, any relevant imaging (X-rays, MRI scans) or reports, your insurance details or authorisation code if applicable, and a note of any questions you would like to ask. If you have been seen by another surgeon, please bring their correspondence too.