My name is Kaelynn. At 14, I never expected hip pain to completely change my life. 

My mom was diagnosed with hip dysplasia in her mid-30s and went through her own journey, including a PAO just one year before I began experiencing major symptoms. Growing up, there weren’t many obvious signs that I had hip dysplasia. The only thing we noticed was that instead of crawling, I would scoot or hop around on my knees, but it never raised any red flags. 

It wasn’t until I became an active teenager that I started noticing something was wrong. I was used to working hard and pushing through long days. So when I started feeling tired and achy after everyday activities, I didn’t think much of it. After several weeks of worsening pain, we decided to look into it. Following X-rays and several appointments, I was eventually diagnosed with acetabular hip dysplasia. 

We tried six months of physical therapy, but instead of improving, my pain continued to get worse. After an MRI and CT scan, my surgeon explained that my dysplasia was more advanced than originally thought. I also had labral tears in both hips.

I was given several choices of treatment, and ultimately chose to have a right periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) and a hip arthroscopy to fix my labral tear. These surgeries were in December 2024.

Recovery was challenging. I spent weeks on crutches, went through physical therapy with my mom who was still in PT from her surgery (a real humbling moment for sure), and pool therapy. I had to relearn how to walk normally. I also experienced several complications along the way. Going from being constantly active to needing help with everyday things was difficult, especially as a teenager who just wanted her independence back.

In 2025, I faced another difficult decision. I still wasn’t 100%, and additional scans showed that I would likely need a second PAO and labral repair on my other hip. I ultimately decided not to move forward with the surgery at that time because my pain was manageable. It is a decision I still struggle with today. 

My hip journey has been a crazy one. It has introduced me to people who understand what it’s like to live with hip dysplasia as well as other chronic conditions. And those people taught me to trust myself, and reminded me not to give up. Most importantly, it has shown me that you can’t always tell when someone is struggling. Hip dysplasia and chronic pain aren’t always visible, and there is still so much that needs to be understood and researched. I’ve learned to accept help, and advocate for myself when something doesn’t feel right.

Today, I’m back to doing many of the things I love, including things I once thought I might never be able to do again. Hip dysplasia doesn’t define me, but it is a part of me. It has pushed me, challenged me, and shaped the person I am today. I hope sharing my story encourages other young people to keep looking for answers, advocate for themselves, and remember that they are never alone.