The Unexpected Diagnosis: Discovering Hip Dysplasia

For years, I built my life around movement. CrossFit, Zumba, Pilates, Yoga, long walks with my dog — being active was simply who I was. So when pain began creeping in back in 2018, I did what most of us do: initially ignored it, explained it away, and tried to push through.

What followed was a year-long journey filled with misdiagnoses, frustration, and eventually, the life-changing discovery that I had hip dysplasia.

The most ridiculous thing was that back in 2018 I WAS diagnosed with a labral tear (see below), but no-one actually communicated it to me. I only found out about that diagnosis in 2024 when I requested my medical records. Back then I was given strengthening exercises to do at home and nothing else. Up until 2024 I actually never even knew what a labral tear was.

Living in the Shadows

I call that phase of my life  - ‘Living in the shadows’. At first, I brushed the pain aside. Maybe I was overstretching. Maybe it was inflammation. Maybe I was overtraining. Maybe it was a combination of all of the above! But when the pain worsened, I had to start doing something. I saw my GP, NHS physio and two private physiotherapists. I spent a lot of money and time only to be told I had bursitis or hip impingement. One physio prodded me so hard that I couldn’t walk for a week. Another gave me short-term relief, but nothing lasted.

My GP refused to send me for an X-ray and none of the physios suggested an X-ray or MRI. So I kept going — still doing CrossFit (with modifications), cancelling classes here and there, and hoping things would improve.

The Turning Point: A £2 X-ray

In the spring of 2019 I visited my family in Belarus and finally had an X-ray done. It cost me just £2 — the best £2 I’ve spent that year by a mile.

The results showed changes in my hip joint. I wasn’t able to see an orthopaedic consultant while I was there, but I was told to avoid high-impact activities, and get it checked further.

That was the moment I knew I had to say goodbye to CrossFit, sweaty cardio, and all the high-intensity training I loved. I still remember phoning my sister afterwards. She noticed straight away that I was speaking in a high-pitched, rushed voice. Shock had set in before I even realised what it all meant. After 20 odd years of living the life powered by adrenalin and cortisol I had to go almost cold turkey and embrace a slower paced existence (which turned out to be not that bad!). I suppose one could say I was grieving the loss of my old life and it took me a few months to make peace with the new reality.

A Five-Minute Appointment

Back in Scotland, in spring of 2019, based on the X-ray from Belarus, my GP finally referred me to see an orthopaedic consultant. The appointment took place in autumn of 2019 and lasted less than five minutes. He told me I had hip dysplasia, advised me not to run or jump, and suggested swimming, cycling, Pilates, and yoga. He added casually that I’d need a hip replacement one day. That was it.

Worse, his report labelled me “asymptomatic” twice — despite the referral letter from my GP outlining my pain and symptoms. He also wrote that I’d had hip problems “for years,” which wasn’t true.

No mention of my labral tear. No discussion of treatment options. Just a pat on the back and “good luck.”

When It Got Worse

By 2024, my symptoms had worsened, and I began doing my own extensive research into the condition. I self-diagnosed a labral tear, which was later confirmed by my medical records and by a visit to a private specialist.

Looking back, I know that the torn labrum — not my joint — was the main source of my pain in those early years. I didn’t even develop arthritis until much later.

Even without any medical training it was not hard to come to that conclusion: in someone with hip dysplasia, if pain wasn’t coming from the joint, it usually soft tissue that would be the cause of discomfort: labral tears, cysts, etc.

Relief and Frustration

How did I feel back then? When the diagnosis finally came - hip dysplasia - I felt a strange mix of relief and frustration. Relief, because there was finally a name for what I had been experiencing. Frustration, because I had never even heard of hip dysplasia before, and suddenly it explained why my body wasn’t keeping up the way I wanted it to. At the time, I had minimal pain, so I skimmed a few articles and just carried on with life. In hindsight though, I wish I’d done more.

What I Would Have Done Differently

If I could go back knowing what I had, I would have:

• Researched labral tears properly.

• Learned exercises to minimise pain.

• Explored alternative to a hip replacemne treatment options, such as Periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) - a complex surgery that can preserve the hip joint.

• Planned for a hip replacement with a clear understanding of the procedure and everything else involved

• Prepared myself mentally for what was coming.

• Sought out help from hip dysplasia specialists at earlier stages of the condition

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Lessons Learned

Part of it was my own fault, part of it was a case of negligence from the medical team. Because my life at that point was 75% normal with an occasional bleep, I just did not take it seriously.

Everything is a lesson and all we can do is learn from our mistakes. I am not a big fan of ‘what if’ scenarios. ‘What if’ scenarios do not move the needle forward, they trap us in the past and consume our energy. We can choose to ruminate over what could have happened, or deal with what is happening now. I chose the latter.

Why I’m Sharing This

If you’re reading this and you’re in the “what’s wrong with my hip?” phase, I want you to know you’re not alone. Hip dysplasia in adults isn’t rare - it’s just not talked about enough. Getting the right diagnosis is the first step, and it can be both scary and empowering.

To be continued…

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Clarifying the Terminology

Hip Dysplasia

When the hip socket doesn’t fully cover the ball of the joint, the ball shifts too much, causing wear and tear. Over time this leads to arthritis, labral tears, and pain. Many people are born with it but don’t discover it until adulthood. It’s especially common among gymnasts, dancers, and those with very flexible hips.

Labral Tear

The labrum is a rim of cartilage that stabilises the hip socket. Tears can cause pain, clicking, or locking sensations. In hip dysplasia, the shallow socket puts extra strain on the labrum, making tears more likely.

For people with normal hips, hip arthroscopy (keyhole surgery) can repair it. Unfortunately, this doesn’t work for dysplastic hips.

Periacetabular Osteotomy (PAO)

A surgery where the socket is repositioned for better coverage of the joint. It preserves the natural hip, but recovery is long — much longer than after hip replacement.