25 Years Later: From Bowling Alley to the Operating Room

Documenting this personal story for the many who DM'd me - thank you for all the love, care, and kind words. Your support means more than you know. ??

If you had told 17-year-old me that one day I'd need surgery from too much bowling, I probably would have laughed, thrown another strike and kept chasing the next pinfall.

Back then, bowling wasn’t just something I did - it was my passion and identity. At my peak, I trained 10 games a day, five days a week, with weekends spent in the gym or swimming.

This rigorous routine was part of the relentless grind that led me to the 1998 Malaysian Games (SUKMA), where I proudly represented Pahang. I became the first female bowler from my state to reach the Round Robbin stage in this biennial competition and was offered a spot in the national athlete program a year later (shame! I could have been playing in the SEA Games or even the Olympics! – It’s one of those “what if” moments that linger, but at the time, life had other plans.).

March 2023: The Diagnosis I Didn't See Coming

I was driven by passion and the pursuit of excellence. But what I didn’t know then was that I was unknowingly pushing my body beyond its limits.

The overuse of my left leg, which bore the brunt of every pivot, slide and release, eventually tore the labrum in my hip (labrum is a ring of cartilage that lines the hip socket, providing cushioning and stability). I discovered the damage through an MRI in March 2023, 25 years later, after over a year of unexplained numbness, discomfort and a locking or catching sensation at the hip joint.

Instead of opting for immediate surgery, I decided to take the conservative route. I hit the gym to strengthen the surrounding muscles, managed pain with physiotherapy sessions, and even tried dry needling. For an extended time, this regimen gradually improved my condition, giving me a glimmer of hope that surgery could be avoided.

Despite the occasional pain, I was able to enjoy life — I travelled to Europe a few times and more within Asia, ran some kilometres, climbed up hills, and even danced at some of our biggest work events. The pain and discomfort were manageable, and I thought I had things under control.

All was well until it wasn’t.

In trying to protect my hip, I overcompensated - which led to a secondary injury. I herniated L3-L5 in my spine, resulting in excruciating lower back pain that rushed me to the emergency room.

It became clear that surgery was inevitable.

So, last week, on December 20th, I underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair the labral tear. The surgery was successful, though it took two hours longer than expected. Remarkably, I could stand up just four hours after the procedure - assisted, of course!

Recovery will be a long journey.

It has only been one week post-op, but the outlook seems positive. One day, I was strong enough to head to the mall with my kids, zooming around in a wheelchair just because I needed Sri Lankan hoppers (and delivery wasn’t going to cut it). The next day, I felt vulnerable, sore and emotional, letting myself curled up in bed, binge-watching Marvel movies to distract from the discomfort.

These moments remind me of resilience and adaptability – values that have always been a part of my story - shaping not only my personal life but my professional journey as well. It’s about recognising when to push forward and when to pause. And sometimes, a little downtime (and maybe a Marvel marathon) is exactly what’s needed to rediscover that strength.

And so, that’s how I’m closing out 2024 – with gratitude for the lessons, a heart full of hope, and an eye on the next phase… rehab.

Now, I’m ready to dream boldly and step forward with purpose in 2025!