Meet the Consultant: Mr Ghosh

Mr Ghosh is one of our great Orthopaedic Consultants at Spire Harpenden Hospital, specialising in hips and knees. Here he answers common questions regarding ongoing knee pain.

Q – When does knee pain require specialist attention?

A – A sprain or strain to your knee will usually fix itself within a few days or weeks with the help of simple measures like rest, ice and painkillers. However, signs of more serious damage include; ongoing pain regularly causing discomfort, thus reducing the time you can walk or stand, worsening of pain at night or when you bend/straighten your knee and a sudden and severe onset of pain. If you suffer from these symptoms it’s likely you’ll require specialist attention.

Q – What could be the cause of my knee pain?

A – There are various reasons as to why knee pain may occur, depending on your lifestyle. In younger individuals, particularly those who regularly play sport, the pain could be caused by ligament or meniscal cartilage damage. Some may have problems with their kneecap which becomes apparent following a simple injury. The most common cause of knee pain in the middle aged and over is a result of wear and tear to the cartilage and the end of the bones in the knee.

Q – What are the options for relieving knee pain?

A – Simple painkillers, rest and ice/heat may help initially. Physiotherapy may be suggested to strengthen the muscles around the knee. Following this, corticosteroid injections into the joint can be effective at increasing movement and reducing pain, in patients with inflamed knee with wear and tear. If these have no effect, then a specialist can assess the knee to see if other tests like X-rays or MRI will be required and depending on the diagnosis and the severity of the problems, the patient and the specialist will explore the various treatment options which can include surgery.

Q – Will I need a knee replacement?

A – If the pain or limited mobility is continually affecting your everyday life and other treatments have been tried, this is when a knee replacement is offered. Usually, knee replacements are not needed until you’re over 60, however with them lasting 15 years or more, you can get back to, and continue, doing what you love. With modern innovations, an excellent option available to patients is the partial knee replacement, ie OXFORD KNEE - which address the problem area of your knee - thus preserving most of your knee- including your ligaments. These are less painful operations- allowing early return normal life. However, they can be technically more challenging and thus needs considerable expertise and experience of doing these procedures frequently.

Spire Harpenden Hospital has a great range of specialist services available to treat ongoing joint pain. With a specialist team of physiotherapists and radiographs on site, a hydrotherapy pool perfect for rehabilitation and a fantastic team of orthopaedic specialists you’ll be in expert hands.

Mr Subhajit Ghosh is a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon who treats hip and knee problems.

He received his higher orthopaedic training as part of the North-West Thames Orthopaedic Training Programme. After completing his specialty training, he undertook three highly regarded fellowships to further refine his skills:

• Soft Tissue Knee Fellowship at Guy's Hospital
• Arthroplasty and Sarcoma Fellowship at RNOH, Stanmore
• Hip and Knee Arthroplasty Fellowship at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, Oxford

His NHS practice is based at the West Herts Hospitals NHS Trust, based at the St Albans City Hospital and Watford General Hospital.

Mr Ghosh approaches his patients as unique individuals in order to assess their problems and suggest an individual tailor-made plan to suit their needs. A big part of this is to listen to the patients and explain clearly in a way that the patients and their families understand - so the decision-making process is a collaborative one with the patient’s need at its centre.

To book an appointment please call 01582 714 420 or make an online enquiry.