The Girl Who Cried Hip Pain

Since my diagnosis, I’ve read plenty of PAO blogs and websites and they’ve all helped me come to terms with what my body is going through, and what else it needs to go through to eventually become pain free. I decided to write this blog to try and help others who are facing similar surgery.

The initial pain began in my right hip roughly 18 months ago whilst out for a long run. The pain came on gradually and was very mild, but once I stopped to walk for a short while, I found it very hard to break into a run again because the pain had become more severe.  So I hobbled home to stretch. I didn’t think anything of it and believed it would go away, but every run from here onwards I could feel it niggling but nothing too serious (as long as I didn’t stop and walk). I didn’t become too concerned until the same pain could be felt whilst walking for significant periods of time. This was short-lived as very rapidly, ‘significant periods of walking’ was a thing of the past and the onset of pain and limping became the norm. I recall numerous situations where I would be out and could feel my hip ‘going’ and ‘going’ until ‘it went,’ and I could no longer weight bear without extreme difficulty and pain. There were occasions where my partner Andy was with me and despite being usually very caring, he thought I was putting it on, and would nag me to stop moaning and walk properly. Ok, maybe I should have mentioned previously that I’m very injury prone and have been known by family and friends to be a hypochondriac. So maybe his behaviour was justified…

Hip pain and limping isn’t very practical when working in the fitness industry, but working in a sports rehabilitation clinic allowed me to get some advice from the physios and rehabbers. Over the course of six months I had a few possible diagnosis’s including: a hip flexor spasm, tendonitis, a labral tear, and bursitis. Obviously I researched them all and some seemed a little inaccurate, with the most plausible being bursitis. So in March 2012 I made my first trip to the doctors (bearing in mind this is a 5 minute walk down the road and by this point, I couldn’t walk 10 seconds without limping). I limped in to see the Doc, and after a brief examination, I cried all the way home. I was told that I was too young to have hip pain and she recommended I just take ibuprofen. Despite explaining that I couldn’t walk easily, had ‘clicky’ and ‘clunky’ hips, had a lot of pain with internal rotation, and had been recommended by five different physios to have X-rays/scans, she still turned me away. Her reasons being because I had stated my hips had always ‘clicked and clunked’ and that I mentioned I could run for longer than I could walk. Now, I know how this sounds. It doesn’t make sense that I couldn’t walk, yet running was easier. But it was the truth. Luckily, the Doc called me a few hours later to explain that she may have made a mistake and after conferring with fellow Docs, it was recommended I have some scans. I was beginning to think that my friends and family had told her I was known hypochondriac.

Between seeing the doctor and waiting for my first scan, my left hip starting playing up. It was identical to the initial pain that I had felt 12 months previously in the right, so I decided I would mention this during the scans and get both hips looked at. With bursitis top of the agenda, I had an ultrasound in April 2012. Both hips were negative so I was sent home and had to wait for the next letter with a scan date. With bursitis ruled out, I began worrying that I had a torn labrum and would require keyhole surgery to fix it. From my earlier research I knew that a labral tear required a CT or MRI scan to diagnose, so when I received my letter with a date for an X-ray and consultation, I wasn’t worried. Andy and I had booked a holiday to St. Lucia on May 25^th to celebrate my 25^th Birthday so I was just relieved that the appointment was the day before. Little did I know that I would remember the 24^th May 2012 for the rest of my life...

The consultant explained that I was born with bilateral hip dysplasia and the X-rays confirmed that I required major hip reconstructive surgery known as periacetabular osteotomy (PAO). The rest is a blur. My only memory is having a humongous breakdown in the hospital corridor and strangers comforting me. I was totally not prepared for this news and was in shock for a good 24 hours. Cue Caribbean sun – perfect timing or what?!

Fast forward 6 months and I am now 6 days away from my first of three hip surgeries with a renowned young-adult hip specialist; Marcus Bankes (http://www.bankes.com/hipsurgery_2011/index.html). On Monday 26^th November 2012 I am having my right hip socket reconstructed. If all goes well, I should be having the same procedure on my left hip in February 2013. Then in August 2013 I should have keyhole surgery to remove the screws, ‘clean up’ the ball and socket joints and wait for it… stitch up the labral tears. To say that I’m anxious, apprehensive or scared is an understatement!  There have been situations when I have cried like a baby. There have been occasions when I’ve thought “Why me?” and there have been times when I thought how much of an inconvenience this all is. My life revolves around sport and being active so I’m extremely nervous about life post-surgery. Of course I’m a little worried about having my first general anaesthetic and epidural too. But I’m most scared about waking up next Monday evening and knowing that I have a long old couple of years ahead of me. However, feeling sorry for myself won’t get me anywhere. This surgery is happening whether I like it or not, so I’m channelling my energy into staying positive and focusing on my rehabilitation.

My next post will be when I’m out of hospital. Wish me luck J