Hockey has always been a big part of my life and whilst I love hockey, bad hips do not. Two years ago I thought I had picked up my hockey stick for the last time in what turned about to be the most enjoyable game of my life.
 
Cardiff University Ladies 4’s vs Cardiff University Ladies Medics 2’s. With two home teams, a crowd of 100 and promotion on the line, this was a VERY big game! We came out victorious and I reluctantly said goodbye to my hockey days. Or so I thought…
 
Since the hip replacement I have slowly been training harder, getter better, faster and stronger as Kanye West would say. So 2 months ago I tentatively emailed my surgeon and asked if I was allowed to go back to training. After all, you never know unless you ask. I know I will never be able to play matches as I get far too competitive and injuring my hip is just not worth the risk, but surely training would be ok? To my surprise, he said yes! Seven weeks into the season and I am absolutely loving it! There is no better feeling than having a laugh with friends whilst playing sport. Endorphins eat your heart out.
 
But like everything with my hip, playing isn’t simple. In hockey your dominant leg is your left, the same side as my THR! Every player is heavily dependent on their stabilising muscles (the muscles that stop you wobbling when you make a movement) when they make passes on the run or make a ‘slap pass’. Something I am certainly lacking!
 
Welcome to Lily’s THR hockey 101...

This summer I ventured further than I have before traveling to Iringa, Tanzania. I took four different flights to get there and at every security check my explanation and wild gesticulations for the bleeping alarm system was met with great confusion,

'Hip... Metal... not real...'

This was much easier on the Spanish leg of the journey compared to passing through Abu Dhabi but surprisingly I have never been asked for proof!

​Throw back to 4 years ago and I was studying for my AS levels, struggling with hip pain while trying to keep up with the busy life of a 17 year old. My hip pain slowly started to resurface after being dormant for a few months when I started sixth form. By the Easter holidays I had been referred to a hip dysplasia specialist. My Mum, Dad and I sat there and routinely discussed my latest pain issues and awaited the usual reply, ‘your growing, see how it is in time’. This time was different. He sat and patiently explained, in a very clear and calm voice, that my hip was deteriorating and was like that of an 80 year old.
 
‘In the long term Lily, a hip replacement will be the only option’.
 
He carried on explaining the reasons why but I don’t think any of us were truly taking the words in. I couldn’t help it, silent tears tumbled down my cheeks, dragging my make up with it. We left his office and I fixed myself up, all the emotions that had come out in that room were left behind when the door shut. We continued our day in London and put the news behind us.
 
My parents had been to I would need a THR, but they weren’t expecting it before I was 30.

​For this blog I would like to introduce Shuana. Her story takes us away from the world of DDH and introduces us to SUFE, Slipped Upper Femoral Epiphysis, something I had never heard about till I found her through my Instagram. Hopefully sharing this story can help us spread the support even further.

Hi my name is Shauna and I’m 20 years old. Unlike most cases of young hip replacements that I came across when searching the internet - not that I could find many my age - I did not have DDH as a child. Instead my hip problems developed when I was 10 years old and had a Slipped Upper Femoral Epiphysis, SUFE, which resulted in a fracture after my left femur slipped. Before this I had minor joint pain which I dismissed as ‘growing pains’ etc and later found out it is hard to detect SUFE in a child before it fully slips due to the range of symptoms.

While in school I twisted quickly and the strain on my hip caused it to fracture.

​Week 0 - Operation day
Week 1 - Walking with Crutches
Week 2 - Walking without crutches and mastering the stairs
Week 3 - Walking normally and now mastered the stairs
Week 4 - I could get myself dressed
Week 5 - I got very frustrated
Week 6 - I was allowed to try touching my toes and could drive again!
Week 7 - I managed my first day out at Americas Cup World Series
Week 8 - First time back in the gym, cycling and swimming.
Week 9 - Had my first night out post-op
Week 10 - Today! I have found myself a job!
Week 11 - I started back at work
Week 12 - Spent the weekend at Bestival and Did LOTS of walking (22km/day nearly)
Week 13 - My 21st Birthday, I was able to wear heels!

 
So it has been an extremely long time since I last blogged and for those of you who are regular readers I apologise! The last few weeks have been a bit of a whirl-wind. I have made it back to work!

My hip has always been a huge part of my life, as much as I hate to admit that, and only now am I beginning to realise the magnitude of that impact. Wednesday was my 21st birthday and I managed to wear heels again! I spent the evening with my parents and sister, reminiscing over the past 21 years. Throughout the evening there was an underlining theme, my hip. 1 year ago I went shopping with Mum in Exeter for my 20th birthday but could only manage 2 or 3 hours because of the pain. For my 15th birthday I went on DofE the weekend before and spent the following three days, including my birthday, on crutches. For my 8th birthday I was at a new sporty school and spent about a week around my birthday on and off crutches.

It is such a relief to know that for the foreseeable future (hopefully 20 years, if not more) my hip pain will be a thing of the past!

On Monday I had my 6 week post-op appointment, in the waiting room I met a group of young women who had also undergone recent hip surgery as hip dysplasia treatment (hello if your reading this!).

Most had had a periacetabular osteotomy, PAO, in the recent months. The PAO is a procedure I know very little about but I do know the longevity of the treatment longevity is very sporadic and individual. They were all very interested in my progress as for some a hip replacement is the next treatment in the pipeline.

Conversation was flowing, all exchanging stories of our hospital stay and how our progress was going. It made me realise just how important it is to have someone to discuss the little tips and tricks with and just to talk to someone who can fully empathise.

Half way through a new lady joined the conversation,

‘Excuse me, are you Lily? I’ve been reading your blog!’

5 weeks post op and the last two weeks have by far been the hardest.

With any recovery there comes a point when you hit the wall, the point at which you feel you aren't improving anymore. What they don't tell you about is week 3 & ½. I had always know there was going to be a point where my progress slowed down and wasn't marked by those extremely obvious milestones, the first steps, climbing the stairs, getting yourself dressed, but I hadn't expected to get this frustrated.

By nature I am very determined, I have never let my hip hold me back, but I also know this is the crux of my frustration. Being told I can't do something only makes me want to do it more. In some situations this is a very good quality to have, come 6 weeks post op when I can start pushing those physical barriers it will be fantastic, but currently at week 5 abiding by my two post-hip replacement rules is testing my patience. 

The hip journeys other people have been through never fail to surprise me. Today I would like to introduce you to Ariel. An outstandingly strong 15 year old from America, who has had more than her fair share of ups and downs with her hip journey, but she is currently on an up, and long may that continue!

Meet Ariel…
My name is Ariel and I am 15 years old. The day I was born my parents noticed my hips looked ‘odd’ and were not in a normal position. My dad asked the doctor what was wrong, so they checked me for hip dysplasia. That day I was diagnosed with congenital bilateral hip dysplasia, CDH. Understandably, my parents were very alarmed.

The doctors put me in three diapers for 5 months. My parents followed all the instructions and once I finally got out of them, the doctor said everything was fine. Years later, aged 6, the pain started to come back, I would tell my mom my hips hurt all the time but my parents didn’t think much of it, assuming it was just your average growing six-year-old.