Share review of Professor Damian Griffin OBE TD VR BM BCh MA MPhil FRCS(Tr&Orth)

Professor Damian Griffin OBE TD VR BM BCh MA MPhil FRCS(Tr&Orth) 2023-02-08 Person 5 5 0

I've always been active and especially love yoga and long distance hill walking, so found it extremely frustrating when I developed hip discomfort in the mid 2000's when I was in my thirties. Over the following 15 years I saw specialist after specialist, but nothing made a difference. I blamed myself, because I found it difficult to describe precisely what my symptoms were. It was easy to see that the range of movement in my left hip was restricted, so it was this that tended to be the focus of any physio I was offered. However, there were other symptoms too, which would come and go without any specific trigger. For example, my hip joint would sometimes feel very stiff or as if it was swollen; at other times it would feel as though I had a pinched nerve; it was too uncomfortable to sleep on my left side. In 2022, I had the good fortune of being referred to Prof Griffin. After so many experiences of unsuccessful treatment, I admit that I was sceptical when he told me within my first 30-minute consultation that he was pretty sure he knew what was causing my pain. Three months later, with confirmation of Prof Griffin's diagnosis of synovial chondromatosis, I was admitted to the Harley St Specialist Hospital for a hip arthroscopy. The whole process from start to finish was outstanding. Within an hour of coming out of the anaesthetic I left the hospital on crutches. Within three weeks I was driving and back at work. Six months on, I am still doing physio (no surprise after 15 years of restricted movement) but am as close to my 'old self' as I could be. I am absolutely delighted with the outcome and have no reservation about recommending Prof Griffin to anyone with hip pain. I am so grateful to have 'found' him and it is no exaggeration to say that his care has changed my life for the better.