Hip impingement.
In patients’ words.

For almost half of my life, pain was not something that happened to me. It was the backdrop against which everything else happened. I am 23. Since I was 13, I cannot remember waking up without stiffness/pain in my back. Pain has a way of changing shape over time, beginning as a symptom but becoming part of your identity. Somewhere along the way, I stopped hoping to feel better and accepted it as part of my life. As a former UCLA Division I tennis player who has always loved being active, I spent years searching for an answer: physical therapy, massage, cupping, acupuncture, strengthening, injections, imaging, and countless evaluations across the world. I never got a clear diagnosis despite seeing several orthopedists, and was told to consider chronic pain syndrome, with exploratory spine surgery as a last resort. Every opinion carried the same message: learn to live with it. Meeting Dr. Prem Ramkumar was the first time someone wasn't just listening to my symptoms; he was trying to understand my story, asking why instead of accepting the limits of what had already been tried. As a former D1 athlete, I'd worked with plenty of physicians, but he treated me with the same precision I've learned he gives medal-winning Olympians and Stanley Cup champions he treats professionally. I felt like one of his VIPs. It changed everything when he diagnosed me with hip impingement after a careful battery of tests, since my presentation was atypical. It was the first time I had an answer, and a solution. What will stay with me forever is not just the surgery itself, but the morning after. I sat on my bed and waited for the familiar stiffness in my lower back. It never came, and to this day, it still hasn't. I biked 130 miles the first day after surgery!! I began physical therapy on day three at his office, and weaned off my crutches and brace within a week. Since then, I have moved through daily life without pain. The absence of pain has been remarkable, but what surprised me even more is everything that was restored: I sleep through the night, my mind feels quieter, and the constant background noise chronic pain creates has disappeared. My mood and energy are better, and I'm standing taller. My wearable's resting heart rate and sleep scores reflect it too: my body is finally healing, not merely enduring. It isn't just excitement, but disbelief; my brain keeps searching for the pain it's so accustomed to finding. Then, little by little, I realized it isn't temporary relief. It's freedom, for the first time in a decade. People often think surgery changes your body. With Dr. Ramkumar, it also changed my relationship with the future. For years, every decision carried an invisible calculation: could my back handle this, would I wake up unable to move? Pain quietly dictated where I went and who I believed I could become. I didn't realize how much space it occupied until it was gone. Today, I believe this surgery will make me a better athlete than I was. So many others told me this wasn't possible. Dr. Ramkumar never accepted that answer. That speaks to his character: his persistence, his curiosity, his genuine commitment to patients who've spent years searching for someone willing to keep looking. He treated me as a person whose story deserved to be understood, not another MRI. As someone who now works in medicine, I've learned he believed in me when no one else would. Medicine is often described as restoring function. Sometimes it restores possibility. No review could fully express what he gave me: mornings I had forgotten were possible, confidence in my body, and a future no longer defined by limitations. If you have spent years searching for answers, feeling unheard, or wondering whether anyone will look beyond the obvious, I cannot recommend Dr. Ramkumar enough. My experience changed the course of my life, and I will always be grateful he refused to stop asking why, and fixed me. Additionally, Margo, his NP, matches that same excellence. Her clinical sharpness was matched only by the genuine care she brought to my recovery.

Prem N. Ramkumar, MD, MBA

Just so happened to stumble upon this clinic and get scheduled with the soonest available appointment and it was with Dr Ramkumar, I am so blessed. Being an athlete, I was training for a half marathon when my knees didn’t feel right..shortly thereafter my pain transferred to my hip, resulting in the diagnosis of a bilateral hip impingement, Dr Ramkumar’s expertise. Surgery has always been my last resort, but once Dr Ramkumar went over the explanation clearly and concisely, I felt that I was in good hands and immediately decided to pursue with the arthroscopic surgery. He explained my diagnosis in simple human terms that allowed it easy to understand and made sure all of my questions were answered. I was honestly amazed by how smoothly everything went and how quickly I healed, which truly speaks to his precision and skill in the operating room. Beyond being an incredibly talented surgeon, Dr. Ramkumar is also such a light-hearted, kind human who genuinely cares about his patients as people, not just cases. He took the time to listen to my story, understand my goals as an athlete, and support me every step of the way. He is such a caring surgeon, if not the most caring surgeon I’ve had, from pre-op to post op appointments, it’s always a joy to be in his clinic.

Prem N. Ramkumar, MD, MBA

Dr. Ramkumar completely relieved my left hip pain—something I’d struggled with for several years. I’ve always been active, having played field hockey and tennis in my younger days, but the pain eventually became so severe that I could barely walk a couple of blocks. I was diagnosed with a left hip impingement and labral tear, and underwent surgery with Dr. Ramkumar. Now, five weeks post-op, I’m walking pain-free and steadily regaining my strength. From the initial consultations to the surgery, physical therapy, and follow-up visits, every step of the process was seamless. Dr. Ramkumar’s expertise, compassion, and genuine passion for helping patients made all the difference. I’m deeply grateful to Dr. Ramkumar and his team. Thanks to them, I can walk without pain again and look forward to staying active for years to come.

Prem N. Ramkumar, MD, MBA

Dr. Ramkumar is an excellent and highly knowledgeable physician! I came to him after spending 6 months at physical therapy working on my lower back pain with no relief. After just one visit with the doctor, he immediately diagnosed me with hip impingement (it wasn't even my back after all this time spent at PT!). He reviewed all treatment options, and I made the decision to proceed with conservative management. My physical therapists began to focus on hip exercises and within just a few months, all of my pain subsided. I am so grateful for Dr. Ramkumar for his knowledge, patience, and dedication to the field of Orthopedics!

Prem N. Ramkumar, MD, MBA

I cannot recommend Dr. Prem Ramkumar at Southern California Orthopedic Knee & Hip highly enough. From my very first appointment, he was incredibly responsive, thorough, and genuinely cared about my well-being—exactly how a real doctor should. He took the time to properly diagnose my hip impingement and guided me through every step of the process leading up to surgery. What stands out the most is his professionalism and dedication. Within just two months, I went from my initial consultation to having the surgery that ultimately saved my quality of life. His expertise, precision, and compassion made all the difference, and I am beyond grateful for the care I received. If you’re looking for a skilled, trustworthy, and patient-focused orthopedic specialist, Dr. Ramkumar is the best you will find. I had my surgery on 01/27/2025 He literally saved my life, others could not. I feel like a new human after the surgery

Prem N. Ramkumar, MD, MBA

The first time I met Dr. Ramkumar, I felt comfortable and at ease. I came to him with "knee pain" but after being assessed and taking a few x-rays, he quickly informed me that the issue was not my knee but was actually my hip. I had seen multiple doctors in the past who had diagnosed me with arthritis in the knee and claimed that was causing pain that I felt. Dr. Ramkumar explained what the issue was, how the issue probably happened and the solution. I came to him with previous medical trauma and skepticism of the health care system. My experience with him has been nothing short of amazing. The hip impingement surgery went well and recovery was better than I expected. I was on a stationary bike the day after surgery and started PT within days. Pain level was minimal with the exception of occasional stiffness at the surgery site. I've been able to walk and recovery quicker than I imagined possible. I haven't experience any of the pain (lower back, hip and knee) that I had prior to the surgery since the morning after surgery. If you are someone who is unsure or confused about hip and/or knee issues, I'd urge you to see Dr. Ramkumar. He got it right with me the first time and I have seen nothing but improvements to my day to day and overall quality of life. If I have to undergo the surgery on my other hip, I would not hesitate to contact Dr. Ramkumar again.

Prem N. Ramkumar, MD, MBA