“The take away from my story is this… If you have hip discomfort, get X-rays first vs. self-diagnosis. Trust in everything Dr. Phillips recommends. He is the expert. I only wish I would have had the hip replacements sooner rather than go through three years of pain, restless nights of sleep and altering my quality of life. Trust in his office and staff. I wouldn’t go anywhere else.”
A retired dental hygienist, Jennifer Sigeti has always taken pride in leading an active lifestyle and staying in great shape. She weight trains and exercises daily and enjoys hiking, biking and traveling. Family is also at the center of her life. She is married, has three adult sons and two daughters-in-law, as well as three stepchildren and a step-grandson.
When Sigeti was in her mid-50s, she was introduced to pickleball and quickly fell in love with the sport. Her competitive nature took over, and before long she was playing seven days a week for up to three hours a day — sometimes even twice a day. She played in several tournaments, but after only two months of playing the sport, she began experiencing pain on the tops of her thighs.
Matthew J. Phillips, MD
Despite the increasing pain, Sigeti pushed through and continued playing pickleball with the help of a hip brace. Over the next year, her symptoms worsened, affecting her sleep and daily activities. She explored several conservative treatment options, including chiropractic care, physical therapy and stretching programs, but found little relief. When the discomfort persisted, Sigeti eventually sought answers from the orthopaedic specialists at UBMD Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine.
Here, she shares more about her journey to finding relief with the help of Matthew J. Phillips, MD, her experience undergoing two hip replacement surgeries and recovery, and her advice for others facing similar hip pain.
How did your condition/injury occur and in what year?
Playing pickleball (arthritis was probably there but never felt it until all the lateral movements). 2022 is when the pain started.
What made you seek treatment from UBMD Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine?
After exhausting every option, I found myself at an orthopedic office on an emergency basis due to pain and lack of sleep. The office took X-rays and told me I had arthritis in both hips and that it was up to me what I wanted to do. I scheduled an appointment for cortisone shots, which only lasted one month. I was reluctant to have any more cortisone shots. I then decided to have plasma injections in both hips. I thought it would allow me to hold off on hip replacements. It did take the sharp pains away when I pivoted. What it didn’t do was cure me.
As months went by, the tightness in both hips began affecting my quality of life. It wasn’t until I had a gynecologist appointment and couldn’t even spread my legs to put them in the stirrups that I knew it was time. I did a lot of research and talked to patients who had hip replacements done by Dr. Phillips. It was then that I reached out to his office.
What was the diagnosis and recommended treatment?
Dr. Phillips confirmed that I needed both hips replaced. It was my request to have each surgery done six weeks apart, knowing that my personal life was too busy to go through recovery again six months later if I spread out the surgeries. Best decision of my life.
How would you describe the care you received from Dr. Phillips, and how did your recovery progress after each hip replacement?
My first hip replacement was remarkably pain-free, including the surgery and the entire recovery process. I was walking more than four miles by week five. From day three post-surgery, I was gently lifting light weights for my upper body to promote blood flow and stay strong. I followed the strict guidelines provided by Dr. Phillips and his physical therapy team.
I also maintained a healthy diet throughout recovery and for one month prior to surgery, including eliminating alcohol and caffeine. Dr. Phillips recommended a protein shake to drink for two weeks before surgery and two weeks afterward. I would strongly encourage other patients to follow his recommendations and use the specific drink he recommends for surgical recovery. Everything that Dr. Phillips recommends is a must.
Three weeks post-surgery from my second hip replacement, I was already walking two miles. I kept a log from my first hip replacement, so I could follow the same steps as I did during the first hip recovery.
What advice do you have for those dealing with a similar injury?
The take away from my story is this… If you have hip discomfort, get X-rays first vs. self-diagnosis. Trust in everything Dr. Phillips recommends. He is the expert. I only wish I would have had the hip replacements sooner rather than go through three years of pain, restless nights of sleep and altering my quality of life. Trust in his office and staff. I wouldn’t go anywhere else.