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.