Hippy New Year: A slow and icy start to 2026 post surgery

Happy New Year! I sit here looking out at the sun shining over a dusting of white. Waiting to see how quickly it will thaw the frost and ice, so I can consider whether to go out for a swim as planned. I’m sure I’m not alone, even for someone with good mobility, ice can change our plans. With hip dysplasia, crutches and some recent niggly pains, the stakes feel somewhat higher right now. My partner left for work with the wise words “whatever you choose to do, put your safety first”.

2025 was dominated by one word. Surgery. Or to be more accurate, the next surgery on my orthopaedic journey with hip dysplasia.

The start of the year was planning for surgery, and with no fixed date just the guide of “from early Spring” it meant no chance to book a holiday beyond a couple of cancellable days in a shepherds hut in March. Surgery loomed as I waited for my new custom socket to be ready.

The middle of the year was having the surgery. The three days prior showering in special disinfectant and shielding from potential infection. The day of surgery with the pre-surgery fainting, the gowns, the machines, the waking in a daze, the drugs, the nausea. The post-surgical hospital stay watching others older than me recover so much more quickly and dreaming of getting home and snuggling our cat.

The hot summer was rehab. My personal lockdown in my makeshift bedroom by the front door. The complete dependence on my partner to do most things. The tentative walking indoors only. The flannel washes whilst dreaming of a shower. The physio exercises three times a day. And the wonderful friends who came to visit because I couldn’t get out – which will never be forgotten. Also then the series of small victories – the first walk outside which brought me to tears of joy, the first trip out in a car to physio, the first coffee and cake in a cafe with 3 cushions in tow, the first swim of pure joy.

The autumn was recovery. Starting to function again beyond rehab. Returning slowly to work, a few hours a day, hardly able to sit for more than 30 minutes at a time. Enjoying the connection and purpose whilst cranking my brain and body into a different gear as working to deadlines and external dependencies reappeared. Thank goodness I can work from home or honestly I really don’t think I could have returned to work at all. A little trip to another hut for two days holiday – not very active but a change of wallpaper and a glimpse of life beyond Walton. And finally in late November, starting to drive. A massive step towards independence. Not feeling like a kid asking “can you give me a lift?!” whilst knowing it’s an inconvenience. At the end of the year, my first in-person work meeting where colleagues travelled close to me. Attending a local service for the chance to give the vocal cords a run around ding dong merrily.

2025 was the year of surgery. I am incredibly lucky and grateful to have had it. Yet I hope 2026 will be about other things than my hips and knees. Neighbours and friends ask me “how long will it take to fully recover?” (ie not need the crutches). The answer really is, I might not. Hip dysplasia is a life-long condition. The prognosis has always been walking differently and not taking walking for granted, as Steps Charity say. I suspect walking sticks or crutches will be here to stay.

The last few weeks I’ve had various niggly pains. I strained the muscles between my ribs and right hip just before Christmas when my crutch slipped down a small hole. I can only just lay on that side or walk without pain. Yesterday I replaced the raised toilet seat and arms, with just arms. Today I have significant pain in my left hip and can hardly walk or sit. So too early for that.

These things will pass of course and they come with the territory. Good days and less good days. Finding the balance between too much and too little.

For 2026 I hope that there are fewer of these setbacks and pains.

• I look forward to making it onto a train (perhaps not in the icy conditions) so I can get back to the joy of rehearsing and performing with my choir again. And so I can make some of the more fun, creative work meetings that happen when we’re in an actual room together.
• I have everything crossed to get a blue badge this time (have applied and failed before), so I know I can always get in and out of my mini since I can’t get in and out laterally.
• I hope to have a holiday of more than two nights this year. See the sea, enjoy different birdsong.
• And to making it up north to see my family or friends, rather than everyone having to visit me.
• The little, yet important things that I’d taken for granted and bring joy to my life.

My real New Year’s resolution is to get back to where I was at the start of last year.

Anything else will be a welcome bonus.

Jill Pringle was born with bilateral hip dysplasia in the early 70s. She has had several childhood and adult surgeries throughout her life. Her blog diff-abled.co.uk shares her journey living and walking with hip dysplasia.