What to Expect at Your First Orthopaedic Consultation
For many patients, booking the consultation is the hardest part. Uncertainty about what will happen — or worry about wasting the surgeon's time — can delay care by months or longer. Here is exactly what to expect when you come to see Mr Kosuge for the first time.
Your History and Symptoms
The consultation begins with a detailed conversation about your symptoms. When did the pain start? What makes it worse or better? How is it affecting your day-to-day life and the activities you care about? There are no right or wrong answers — the aim is to understand your experience as fully as possible before any examination takes place.
A Physical Examination
Mr Kosuge will examine your affected joint, assessing range of movement, stability, and where exactly the pain is located. This is important for understanding the mechanical state of your joint, confirming where the problem originates, and ruling out other potential causes of pain such as referred pain from the spine or a soft tissue problem rather than the joint itself.
Reviewing Your Imaging
If you have had X-rays or an MRI scan, these will be reviewed at the consultation. If you have not had any imaging, Mr Kosuge may arrange this at the appointment or shortly after. Scans help clarify the extent of any structural damage and whether it correlates with your symptoms — the two do not always line up, and understanding this is an important part of forming the right plan.
A Discussion of Your Options
This is where the consultation becomes a genuine conversation. Mr Kosuge will explain what has been found, what it means in practical terms, and what the full range of treatment options looks like — from physiotherapy and injections through to surgical intervention. No decision is pressed at the consultation. The aim is for you to leave feeling informed and clear about what each path involves, so that any decision you make is on your own terms.
What to Bring
Bring any previous imaging — X-rays or MRI scans — along with a list of current medications. If your imaging has been performed externally, please contact the hospital so that we can arrange for them to be transferred electronically to our viewing system. If you have been seen by your GP or another specialist, a referral letter is helpful but not essential for a private appointment. The most important thing to bring is a clear sense of how your symptoms are affecting your daily life, as this shapes the whole conversation.
Ready to take the next step?
Mr Kosuge offers private consultations at The Rivers Hospital, Sawbridgeworth. and NHS consultations at The Princess Alexandra Hospital, Harlow.
To book an appointment with Mr Kosuge at The Rivers Hospital:
Telephone: 01279 602675