the strength beyond project.
Hip health awareness.
Starting the conversation.
Empowering others.
‘the strength beyond project’ was inspired by my own hip journey. In a time where hope was lost, I decided it was time to make a change. Time for me to do something to help others.
The impact that hip injury and hip disease has on warriors and their families is greater than many can understand. I aim to provide a safe space for hip warriors and their families to come together, be seen & be heard.
Together, we can raise awareness for hip health & the importance of early detection.
Together, we can be the change.
This is my journey...
My name is Olivia. In 2013, I was reluctantly diagnosed with hip dysplasia in my right hip, along with a labrum & ligamentum teres tear. My left hip was borderline dysplastic. The education around hip dysplasia was just not up to par, and myself and my family didn’t think much of it. The tears were the main focus.
I was booked in for an arthroscopy in February of 2014, but after my surgeon broke his arm my surgery was cancelled and never rescheduled, so I went down the path of physiotherapy. I had a cortisone injection and put 100% of my focus into physio. I spent the next 2 years pain free... I thought I’d seen the end of it.
In 2016, at the age of 16, my journey kicked off with a mysterious bruise on my left leg, which was later diagnosed as a femoral neck fracture. I was on crutches for 4 months with signs of bone death and osteoarthritis, and no signs of improvement. I later underwent arthroscopic surgery to attempt to restore bone health and decrease pain in a minimally invasive way. After that proved to be unsuccessful & my bone continued to deteriorate, I went in for a left total hip replacement in 2018 as all other options had been exhausted.
Fast forward three months, my left hip is flying! Unfortunately, team mysterious leg bruise is back again but this time on the right side. An urgent trip to my surgeon’s office confirmed I had hip dysplasia in my right hip and it was showing signs similar to my left hip. A peri acetabular osteotomy (PAO) was recommended immediately. I underwent this surgery in 2019 and to this day, it’s still one of the toughest & most painful experiences I’ve had to overcome.
2020 came around and once again, team mysterious leg bruise is back and bigger than ever. We still don’t know the reasoning behind the bruising, but we do know it was a sign of bone deterioration. After a long discussion with my surgeon, we decided to remove the screws from my PAO surgery & replace my right hip before things progressed any further.
Unfortunately, my left prosthesis was sitting at the wrong angle by nearly 30 degrees & I was experiencing instability episodes more frequently as the months went on. In December 2021, I underwent a revision total hip replacement surgery of my left hip through a posterior approach. It’s been one tough journey since then, and one that is far from over. I am thanking my lucky stars I have amazing physiotherapists on my side. They have been my biggest supports since day one of this journey.
The months following my right hip replacement were tough... but a year later I was hitting goals & making more progress than I had in the past 6 years.
My hip journey has taken so much away for me... so many things I loved so much, including dance. However, I have taken my journey & turned into something empowering. This project aims to bring awareness to hip health, help hip warriors feel a little less alone on their journey and have a safe space to share their story.
Love & strength,
Olivia. Xo