Kylie Adams, a 39-year-old Civil Servant from Plympton, Plymouth and lifelong judo competitor, thought her sporting career might be over after years of chronic hip pain. But thanks to timely hip surgery at Practice Plus Group Hospital, Plymouth, Kylie is now pain-free, back in the dojo, and soon to be representing Great Britain at the World Veterans Judo Championships in Paris.
“I’m proud of what I’ve achieved, but I couldn’t have done it without the care I received at Practice Plus Group Hospital, Plymouth. They didn’t just replace my hip – they gave me my life and identity back.”
Kylie Adams, hip replacement patient at Practice Plus Group Hospital, Plymouth
Here, she shares how it all turned around: “I’ve been doing judo since I was 11 and teaching it since I was 17 – it’s a huge part of my life. But after tearing cartilage in my hip during training in 2011, I started having recurring pain that slowly got worse over the years. By 2017, I went to my GP who referred me for an X-ray and physio. That’s when I was told I had mild osteoarthritis and was given my first steroid injection on the NHS. The consultant warned me I might need a hip replacement before I turned 50. At the time, I didn’t want to believe it – it seemed years away at my age!
“I carried on training and managed the pain with regular steroid injections for several years, which helped. Then life changed again. We planned our first child in 2021, had my daughter Freya in summer 2022, and like fellow judo team mates, was forced to take a break from training during the Covid pandemic. I was out of the dojo for about 18 months, gained weight, and the pressure on my hip joint got so much worse.
“By the time Freya was crawling, I could barely walk. Looking after a baby in so much pain and with limited mobility was incredibly hard. I felt like I was losing my identity and the mental impact of the pain and not training really took its toll. I knew something had to change.
“In October 2022, I went back for another steroid injection – but this time it had no effect. I was sent for a new X-ray and was told my joint had deteriorated severely. There was no cartilage left, it was bone-on-bone. I was put on the waiting list for a total hip replacement at my local hospital – but told I’d have to wait 18 to 24 months. That felt devastating. My daughter was only just learning to walk, and I was terrified I wouldn’t be able to chase after her or keep her safe if she ran off.
“By October 2024 – just 10 months after surgery – I entered my first judo competition and won gold. I was so emotional. I couldn’t believe how far I’d come.”
Kylie Adams, hip replacement patient at Practice Plus Group Hospital, Plymouth
“I pleaded with my GP for options, and thankfully, they told me about NHS Patient Choice. I was told if I was prepared to switch to a different hospital with a shorter waiting list I could have surgery much sooner. That’s how I was referred to Practice Plus Group Hospital, Plymouth – a private hospital which also treats NHS patients which had significantly shorter waiting times than my local hospital.
“I met Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Mr Simon Coleridge in September 2023 – who had also operated on one of my martial arts friends, which gave me confidence. He’d spoken highly of the hospital and the surgeon. Mr Coleridge immediately put me at ease, answered all my questions, and explained the whole process clearly. I felt safe and reassured from the start.
“Within just three months, I had my hip replacement surgery at Practice Plus Group Hospital, Plymouth – just before Christmas. I was first on the list that morning, went into theatre at 9am, was back on the ward by 11am, and discharged the next day. The hospital was immaculate, the staff were brilliant, and the care was second to none. I felt completely looked after.
“I started physio straight away at the hospital which gave me the best chance of getting back to sport. By March 2024, I was back doing jujutsu to gently rebuild my strength and working with my coach. Shortly after, we went on our first family holiday in ages, and I could walk pain-free, play with Freya and enjoy life again.
“I started working carefully with my judo club, choosing the right partners and building back confidence. By October 2024 – just 10 months after surgery – I entered my first judo competition and won gold. I was so emotional. I couldn’t believe how far I’d come. Then in March 2025, I won silver at the British Veterans Judo Open, and in July I took gold at the British Veterans Championships – which qualified me for the Great Britain Veterans Squad. I recently competed in Paris at the World Veteran Judo Championships and came 7th – something I never thought would be possible again.
“I’m proud of what I’ve achieved, but I couldn’t have done it without the care I received at Practice Plus Group Hospital, Plymouth. They didn’t just replace my hip – they gave me my life and identity back. I’m now pain-free, confident, and stronger than I’ve been in years. I want other people – especially mums and women in sport – to know that pain or surgery doesn’t mean the end. With the right treatment and support, it can be the beginning of something amazing.”
