At Tahoe Forest Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, we are focused on a better you. Our specialty-trained hip doctors and staff are dedicated to providing specialized hip care to patients in Truckee, Incline Village, and the surrounding communities.

The hip is the largest ball-and-socket joint in the human body. It's a remarkable joint that has a wide range of motion and helps bear the weight of the body.

When people experience hip pain, they can work with a hip specialist who can diagnose their hip condition or injury and offer treatment options. These treatments could be nonsurgical, such as physical therapy, medications, or injections. Examples of surgical treatments the doctor might recommend include total hip replacement or partial hip replacement.

While hip doctors work with people of all ages, they often treat people who are older and are dealing with hip pain related to bone and cartilage degeneration, such as osteoporosis or a form of arthritis, such as osteoarthritis. Older people are also more prone to injuries from falls, particularly hip fractures.

It is common for older patients with arthritis, as well as people of any age with hip issues, to have questions about surgery, like hip replacement surgery. Hip specialists and surgeons are not only experts at performing surgery but also in addressing patient questions and concerns. These specialty-trained surgeons can provide a wealth of helpful information regarding different hip procedures, such as hip replacement surgery or hip preservation.

Working with their hip doctor or surgeon, patients can then make well-informed decisions regarding their care, whether it is moving ahead with hip replacement, undergoing physical therapy, or even making lifestyle changes that can result in reduced pain.

What your Doctor needs to know

When you make an appointment with a hip doctor or surgeon, you’ll have an opportunity to describe your pain. Doing so can help your doctor better understand your condition and how to effectively treat you. Here are some issues you may be noticing that you’ll want to share with your doctor:

  • Grinding or snapping sensation
  • Knee joint issues and knee pain
  • Limping
  • Pain in the thigh, groin, or buttock
  • Pain when bearing weight on the hip joint
  • Swelling or tenderness

Common hip issues

Your doctor may diagnose you with one of the following hip conditions:

  • Arthritis: Arthritis is a disease that causes swelling, stiffness, and pain in the joints. In hip arthritis, symptoms are contained in the hip joint area.
  • Avascular necrosis: A condition that causes bone tissue to die because of a lack of blood.
  • Femoroacetabular impingement: A condition where excess bone develops along the hip joint, giving the bones an abnormal shape.
  • Hip bursitis: Small fluid-filled sacs called bursae become inflamed, causing pain on the outside of the hip.
  • Hip dysplasia: When a hip socket is deformed and does not completely cover the ball portion of the upper thighbone.
  • Hip fracture: When hip bones are broken. Treatment typically requires surgery.

Once you are diagnosed, your doctor will first consider all nonsurgical treatment options, such as physical therapy or injections, before recommending surgery. However, if these treatments are ineffective, they will explain why and then tell you about the type of surgery they believe will be best for you. If surgery is required, our surgeons have extensive training in the latest surgical procedures for the hip.

For cases of severe hip arthritis, a full replacement of the hip joint may be necessary to restore function and pain-free movement. Our hip replacement surgeons at Tahoe Forest Orthopedics & Sports Medicine offer total hip replacement procedures using innovative and minimally invasive techniques for less pain and a quick recovery. 

Learn more about hip replacement

When you have hip pain, it can take a toll on your whole life. Our hip specialists are not only medical experts, but they’re also knowledgeable professionals who want to do more than just treat your hip; they want to help you get back to what you love. To schedule an appointment, call (530) 587-7461 or make an appointment request.

Exceptional care begins at Tahoe Forest Orthopedics & Sports Medicine

At Tahoe Forest Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, our team of dedicated orthopedic experts is here for you. As specialty-trained and knowledgeable hip doctors and surgeons, Dr. Jeffrey Dodd, Dr. Jonathan Hagen, Dr. Michael Jernick, Dr. Andrew Ringnes, and Dr. Nina Winans are backed by the latest state-of-the-art technology and have extensive experience to bring you the very best in orthopedic care. Our hip doctors have the surgical and nonsurgical expertise you need to reach your goals.

If you have a hip injury or condition, call (530) 587-7461 to schedule an appointment with one of our expert hip doctors or surgeons or make an appointment request. We offer three convenient locations in Truckee, California, and Incline Village, Nevada: Tahoe Forest Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, Tahoe Forest Sports Medicine & Therapy Services, and the Incline Village Community Hospital.