Lady Gaga Thanks Fans After Hip Surgery

Lady Gaga has thanked fans for their support after she had surgery on her hip, telling them "you really gave me a lot of strength".

Writing on her blog, the pop superstar told fans: "Everything happened so fast, but when it came time to face it I reflected on the many stories and experiences you've shared with me about your lives ... you have completely blown my mind."

She went on: "As they wheeled me into surgery, I thought about all of your pain and perseverance ... sometimes you are so brave that it terrifies me. I wonder how it's even possible.

"So I thought to myself, I'm alive, I'm living my dream, and this is just a bump in the road.

"I'm grateful because this is temporary, and for some it is not. You have changed my life. I love you and am proud to be a part of your lives. If you can do it, I can do it too, and if we stick together we can get through anything."

The singer, who has 34 million Twitter followers, cancelled the remaining 21 dates of her two-year Born This Way Ball world tour last week.

She had already said that she was suffering from a case of severe joint inflammation called synovitis.

Then a news release said the 26-year-old had a tear in the labrum in her right hip that would require surgery followed by a recovery period.

The labrum is a layer of muscle that helps holds the ball-shaped hip joint in place.

Gaga earlier told her "little monsters", as her fans are known, that she had hurt herself a while ago, but initially tried to cover up the injury.

She tweeted: "I hid it from my staff, I didn't want to disappoint my amazing fans. However after last night's performance I could not walk and still can't."

Over the last month, the injury became worse and she said she was unable to walk following a performance in Montreal.

She followed it up with another tweet declaring: "I'm on crutches and occasionally using a wheelchair, but I'm okay, I promise!"

The tour, in support of her second album Born This Way, began last April in Asia and was one of the biggest money earners of the year.

The tour made an estimated \$161m (£104m) with an average attendance of more than 31,000, making it the fifth-highest grossing tour.

Fans who have already bought tickets for the cancelled shows will receive a refund.