I did the Loch Ness 10k in 2008 and 2009 when I was still able to run and round about that time was the first time when my symptoms (hip pain) started. At first I thought it was just fatigue from running – I would run 4-5 days a week, distances of 5k, 10k and half marathons. I had taken part in lots of road races by then and never had any issues.
Only when I fell pregnant for the first time (I’m a mum of two boys age 9 and 11) my body just refused to run (sickness and hip joint pain). Initially, I thought that was just the pregnancy and never really got that investigated. Both labours were natural and without complications.
Only after starting weight training in 2017, I started feeling hip pain to the point where I went to my GP and got an x-ray done. Even then the results were fine, and no structural abnormalities (pelvis and hip bone shape) were detected.
Only last week a hip surgeon looked at the MRI and CT scan results and diagnosed me with hip dysplasia and osteoarthritis of the right hip. That means I no longer qualify for a joint restoration surgery, PAO due to the degree of the osteoarthritis, but due to my age (38 years), I also do not qualify for a total hip replacement. Instead, I got told that if my symptoms get worse, I should get in touch with the GP in the meantime.
However, my condition has started getting worse quite quickly. Over the last year, the pain intensified and has been more frequent than before.
I am at the point where I decided to book a private consultation with the surgeon to talk about a faster way to get the hip replacement done privately. I have already started saving up, but the total cost of the procedure and the hospital stay is beyond my budget, so I will be asking for a possibility of being discharged the same day after the surgical procedure to reduce hospital stay charges.
Professionally I am a strength and conditioning coach at a sports school and my condition affects my work. Standing for longer than a few minutes is very painful and any demonstrations of exercises need to be done on the good side.
I am hoping to get back to strength training at some point this month, but my emotional state hasn’t been the best with the current situation and my personal circumstances.
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Aggie is taking part in the Baxters Loch Ness Run in October 2021. You can support her fundraising here.
You can find out more about hip dysplasia here and more about hip dysplasia for adults here.
