Keen hiker Roger making great strides after hip operation
18 April 2018
He played rugby for over 25 years, and has been a keen runner since the 1980s but sixty-seven-year-old Roger Parsons had to put a temporary stop to his outdoor activities when he developed arthritis in his hip.
But amazingly, less than two months after a hip replacement operation, the chartered accountant, who lives in Lapworth, is now back doing five mile walks and hoping to increase his distances as his recovery continues at a cracking pace.
When he was younger, Roger, who is 6ft 5in tall, was a regular in the Edwardians FC rugby teams, based in Solihull, even captaining the side in the 1970’s.
Just 12 years ago his love of running led him to complete the London Marathon, and as a keen walker he would regularly cover distances of 15 miles as he and a group of friends went on walking holidays around Britain and Europe.
When he first developed leg pain he thought it was knee trouble. However, a proper examination showed it to be his right hip and Roger met with Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Mr Trevor Lawrence, at Spire Parkway Hospital in Solihull, Birmingham West Midlands.
He explained: “Roger was a very fit man but, as happens to many people, he simply ‘wore away’ part of his hip which developed osteoarthritis. This can be for a variety of reasons – he may have genetic predisposition such as thinner cartilage or a slightly mismatched ball and socket or he may have had ‘repetitive trauma’ such as being regularly tackled in that area while playing rugby.
“Whatever the problem it had reached the stage where a complete hip replacement was needed if he was going to be able walk ‘pain free’ in the future.”
As for Roger, he is already contemplating getting back on the golf course and has his sights set on joining his mates for a walking holiday this summer.
“I am delighted at the way my recovery is going. I might have to settle for walking rather than running in the future but I certainly intend on staying very active for many years to come,” he said.
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