“I’m in my 60s now but I’ve always had a sporty lifestyle. Dancing, cycling, walking, yoga, Pilates… I absolutely love feeling fit and healthy.”

As a keen runner, Stella has taken part in races of all distances, from 100m sprints to several London Marathons, where she regularly attained a ‘Good For Age’ place.

“We’re a very active family. Our 17-year-old dog hasn’t had the chance not to be fit, living with us,” says Stella.

However, a growing pain in her groin and stiffness in her thigh in 2019 meant Stella soon noticed a drop in how much she could run, and she eventually had to stop running.

“The pain gradually increased over a period of two years, and even walking our dog eventually became too painful. My sleep was very disturbed and I lived on painkillers. I was thoroughly miserable,” says Stella.

After trying sports massages, physiotherapy and acupuncture to no avail, Stella knew that the answer was most likely something she dreaded due to her fear of medical environments. 

“I feel incredibly anxious at the thought of anything to do with illnesses or hospitals, so I always try to seek alternatives. However, it soon became obvious that a hip operation was probably necessary, and an MRI and x-ray confirmed this,” says Stella.

In April 2021, Stella was admitted to The London Clinic where Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon Mr Marcus Bankes performed a total right hip replacement. 

“I was absolutely terrified in the days leading up to the surgery. It was only during the drive to the hospital that I finally felt this sense of calm, when I knew there was no going back,” says Stella.

After her surgery, Stella spent time with The London Clinic’s Therapies team to begin walking again, through aquatic therapy and traditional physiotherapy techniques.

“It was amazing – my surgery was at 10 a.m., and by 3 p.m. that afternoon I was out of bed and walking with the physiotherapist,” says Stella.

“As an active person, it was hard to go through the initial period of recovery with minimal movement. But after being discharged, my husband Peter was the most immense support. He helped me stay as mobile as possible and reminded me to do my daily physiotherapy exercises. My family in general has been incredibly supportive, and chasing after four grandchildren – soon to be five – was an incentive to get better,” says Stella.

Just three weeks after Stella’s surgery, she was gently exercising on her stationary bike, and after six weeks, walking around her village on crutches.

Although the advice that she could do light exercise was received with gratitude, for Stella, getting back into running was her biggest goal. Even if the return to her running shoes felt like a slow and steady journey. 

“To support my competitive nature, I joined my husband and daughters in signing up for the John O Groats To Lands End Virtual Challenge. You run or walk 874 miles over 12 months. I completed the challenge in just a few months and even before my family members! The challenge gave me something to focus on, even if it was only really a competition against myself,” says Stella.

Six months after her surgery, Stella was at last given the all-clear to run again. Although at first it felt slightly painful, Stella soon began running at her local Parkrun every Saturday, and took part in the virtual London Marathon as part of a team. 

“By February 2022 – less than a year after my hip replacement – my time for a 5km run was down to just over 28 minutes. A far cry from the 23 minutes I could run before my surgery, but it was progress,” says Stella.

After a cautious but successful skiing trip and a 30-mile Ride London race with her daughter, Stella began entering into shorter distance races, including the Kent Cross Country League championship.

“My real goal going into that race was just to be able to take part, and hopefully not be last. I never dreamed that I’d actually end up winning the Kent Trophy with my prosthetic hip!” says Stella. 

“My advice for anyone who’s about to go through this is that there is a life after a hip replacement, and it’s a good and pain-free life to enjoy.”

Find out more about hip replacement and revision surgery.

Discover our Therapies offerings.

Book a consultation with Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon Mr Marcus Bankes.