FAQs

• Does Dr. King treat other areas in addition to the hip?
  Although Dr. King has a unique interest in treating hip injuries, he is fellowship trained in sports medicine to repair injuries of the shoulder, knee, elbow and ankle.
  
• If I have an injury to my hip joint, where would it hurt?
  Injuries to the hip joint cause pain in the groin, outside or lateral aspect of the hip and even in the buttocks. Unlike other joints in the body, such as the knee or elbow, the hip joint is deep in the pelvis. Due to the deep positioning of the joint, referred pain is often felt in multiple areas unique to each individual patient. Read More
  
• How did I "get" hip impingement (femoroacetabular impingement)?
  We currently do not know the reason for the excess bone seen in the hip region with impingement. Although there are specific causes like slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE), the majority of cases are felt to represent a lack of "remodeling" during the developmental years through adolescence. Read More
  
• If I have a hip labral tear and impingement, will I continue to damage my hip if I run, exercise and participate in sports without fixing it first?
  The short answer is yes. The difficult issue is that we don't know how quickly and to what extent patients will continue to damage the hip joint if they remain active prior to fixing a labral tear and impingement. The type of activity and intensity are important factors. In general, I tell patients to "use pain as their guide." Activities that cause more pain, may be causing more damage. As far as time, I recommend fixing these injuries within 3 months of diagnosis. If patients wait 4-6 months or longer, I recommend re-evaluation with X-rays to ensure that arthritis has not developed. Read More
  
• How do I know if I am a candidate for hip arthroscopy?
  Dr. King will provide a free evaluation of a patient's X-ray and MRIs to see if an office visit and examination are appropriate when a patient is considering hip arthroscopy. Often X-rays and/or MRIs will show advanced arthritis in the joint making hip arthroscopy a poor treatment choice. Because many patients travel long distances and multiple states to be evaluated, this service is intended for patients outside of the St. Louis area.
  
• How much physical therapy will I need after surgery?
  Dr. King believes very strongly in the need for appropriate physical therapy after injuries and surgical procedures. Each patient has unique needs and will have established therapy protocols modified by Dr King for their individual needs. The number of visits required is directly related to a patient's improvement and return of function.
  
• How do I schedule an appointment with Dr. King?
  The best way to schedule an appointment is to call the main number, (314) 991-2113, and follow the directions to reach Dr. King's personal scheduler. It may take a few menus before you are connected to a live scheduler, but you will always be able to talk to a person and will not have to leave messages. Quick questions and issues can be addressed in the "contact" section of this website, but all scheduling must be over the phone. For your convenience, please download, print and complete the following two forms and bring them to your first appointment with Dr. King. 
  Patient Information Form and Patient History Form