Michael Ball, the 63-year-old West End star, was left unable to walk and in excruciating pain before undergoing a full hip replacement. The Les Misérables actor revealed that he had been suffering from intermittent hip pain for years but delayed seeking medical help because he was “too busy.”
Pain Worsened During Rehearsals
Ball explained to Saga Magazine that the pain became unbearable while rehearsing for Les Misérables in Australia. “A cortisone injection helped but a week into rehearsals, I could hardly walk and was in agony, hobbling around on stage,” he said. Despite taking pain medication, he noted that “you can’t take too much because otherwise you are away with the fairies.”
Severe Hip Damage Discovered
After a scan, doctors told Ball that the ligament on his hip had severed and there was no cartilage left, resulting in bone-on-bone friction. “The bone was wearing away,” he said. “My hip had to be replaced as soon as possible, so that was booked for my return to the UK.”
Missed Performances and Recovery
Ball was forced to miss two performances of Les Misérables because he “literally couldn’t walk.” He described the hip operation as a “game-changer,” but admitted that recovery involved six more weeks of agony. To distract himself from the pain, he watched the reality show The Traitors.
Chronic Pain for Three Years
Reflecting on his ordeal, Ball confessed: “It was then I realised I'd been existing with chronic pain for three years.” The actor, who had just finished a UK tour with singing partner Alfie Boe, finally sought medical help after the pain became acute during rehearsals.
