[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2025\/10\/mikes-story-hip-pain\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2025\/10\/mikes-story-hip-pain\/","headline":"Mike\u2019s Story: From Unbearable Hip Pain to Enjoying Exercise and Grandkids Again","name":"Mike\u2019s Story: From Unbearable Hip Pain to Enjoying Exercise and Grandkids Again","description":"<p><\/p>","datePublished":"2025-10-07","dateModified":"2026-01-16","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/orthopaedics-regions","name":"UPMC Orthopaedic Care","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/orthopaedics-regions","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/orthopaedic-surgery\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/GettyImages-1400564108-e1759524035261.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/GettyImages-1400564108-e1759524035261.jpg","height":866,"width":2000},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2025\/10\/mikes-story-hip-pain\/","about":["Health Topics A-Z","Orthopaedics","Rehabilitation"],"wordCount":1199,"articleBody":"For as long as he could remember, 65-year-old Mike Gaetano stayed active. The Williamsport, Pa., insurance executive wrestled in college, ran outdoors for decades, and worked out before sunrise nearly every day.\u201cI\u2019ve always believed in taking care of my body,\u201d Mike says. \u201cIt\u2019s just how I\u2019m wired. It keeps me sharp for work and present for my family.\u201dThat dedication paid off for decades \u2014 until a subtle ache in his right hip began slowing him down. At first, he brushed it off as a pulled muscle or the cost of staying active into his 60s. But over the years, discomfort became a constant companion.\u201cI would ice it, take some Tylenol, and keep going,\u201d Mike says. \u201cBut each year, it got a little harder.\u201dA Turning Point at ChristmasThe breaking point came in late December 2024. Mike was taking down holiday decorations when he missed a step. It wasn\u2019t a serious fall, but the next morning, he noticed a deep pinch in his hip and a groin pull he hadn\u2019t felt before.\u201cThat changed everything,\u201d Mike says. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t just soreness \u2014 it was sharper, more limiting. I went from working out every day to not being able to work out at all.\u201dThe loss of movement hit him hard. \u201cI\u2019ve built my business around discipline and performance. Suddenly, I couldn\u2019t even walk more than a few hundred yards without pain. It\u2019s humbling \u2014 and frustrating,&#8221; he says.Understanding OsteoarthritisIn a healthy hip, cartilage cushions the ball-and-socket joint, allowing smooth, pain-free movement. Over time, injury, overuse, or the natural aging process can wear that cartilage away, leading to osteoarthritis.In advanced stages, the hip bones rub directly against each other, causing severe pain and stiffness. Bone spurs can also develop, limiting motion even more.By the time Mike saw his doctor in March 2025, he hadn\u2019t worked out in months. An x-ray confirmed his suspicion: His cartilage was gone, and his bones were grinding together. \u201cIt was bone on bone,\u201d Mike says. \u201cOnce I saw the images, I knew it wasn\u2019t going to fix itself.\u201dChoosing Excellence Close to HomeFriends suggested traveling to a larger city for surgery. But Mike had someone local in mind: John Bailey, MD, an orthopaedic surgeon at UPMC Williamsport \u2014 and a longtime friend.\u201cJack told me, \u2018Mike, I do 200 of these a year. If I couldn\u2019t take care of you, I wouldn\u2019t tell you I could,'&#8221; Mike says. \u201cThat gave me all the confidence I needed.\u201dMike also valued staying local. \u201cWe have an incredible health system right here in our town. For a community this size, that\u2019s rare,\u201d he says. \u201cYou get world-class care without leaving home \u2014 and you get a friendliness you don\u2019t find everywhere.\u201dPreparing for SurgeryAt his first appointment, Dr. Bailey explained the procedure step-by-step: removing the damaged bone and cartilage, placing a titanium stem into the femur, attaching a new ball joint, and inserting a cup with a smooth liner into the hip socket.\u201cI was nervous \u2014 it\u2019s my first joint replacement, and the idea of something artificial in my body didn\u2019t sit well at first,\u201d Mike says. \u201cBut Jack never rushed me. He answered every question, even the small ones, until I felt ready.\u201dA week later, Mike returned for a follow-up. That\u2019s when he made the decision.\u201cThe pain wasn\u2019t getting better, and I didn\u2019t want to lose more time with my grandkids or my workouts,\u201d he says. \u201cIt was time.\u201dSurgery Day: Fears Eased by the TeamIn April 2025, Mike arrived early for surgery. The nurse navigator greeted him, reviewed the plan, and made sure he understood every step.\u201cThey had me prepped and ready, but they also made sure I felt calm,\u201d Mike says. \u201cThe anesthesiologist, the nurses \u2014 everyone made me feel like I was their only patient that day.\u201dBy 2 p.m., just hours after surgery began, Mike was on his feet with the help of a physical therapist. \u201cThat blew my mind,\u201d he says. \u201cI thought I\u2019d be in bed for days.\u201dRecovery at HomeMike went home the next morning with a recovery plan: one month of at-home physical therapy, followed by a gradual return to the gym. His nurse navigator called regularly to check on his progress, answer questions, and adjust recommendations as needed.His early exercises included leg lifts, side steps, and gentle stretches. \u201cIt\u2019s not glamorous, but it works,\u201d Mike says. \u201cEvery day, I could feel a little more strength and stability coming back.\u201dBy six weeks, Mike was back on the elliptical and stationary bike. At eight weeks, he began light weightlifting.\u201cWalking long distances still gave me a little pinch, but it was improving,\u201d he says.His biggest motivator? Getting back to the activities he loves.\u201cI\u2019ve got six grandkids, and I want to be the kind of grandfather who can get down on the floor, pick them up, and take them for walks,\u201d he says. \u201cBefore surgery, I couldn\u2019t do that without pain.\u201dThe Power of Kindness and ExcellenceMike says two words define his experience: kindness and compassion. \u201cEveryone \u2014 from check-in to follow-up \u2014 treated me with respect and genuine care,\u201d he says. \u201cCombine that with medical excellence, and you can\u2019t ask for more.\u201dHe also believes staying local was the right call.\u201cWe\u2019re blessed to have this level of care in Williamsport,\u201d Mike says. \u201cI want people to know you don\u2019t have to leave your community for great care.\u201dLooking AheadNow fully back to his early-morning workouts, Mike is focused on building strength, maintaining flexibility, and staying healthy for years to come.\u201cThis surgery gave me my routine back,\u201d he says. \u201cAnd that routine is what keeps me grounded.\u201dHe also shares his story whenever someone asks about hip replacements.\u201cMy only regret is not doing it sooner,\u201d Mike says. \u201cIf you\u2019re living with that kind of pain, don\u2019t wait. Get it checked. You might be surprised how good life can feel again.\u201dWhether you\u2019re living with hip pain from arthritis, injury, or wear and tear, UPMC offers advanced joint and hip replacement options close to home. Our orthopaedic experts provide personalized care to help you get back to the activities you love.SourcesMotahareh Karimijashni, Forough Abtahi, Shokoofih Abbasalipour, Parisa Ranjbar, Armaghan Dabbagh, Marie Westby, Tim Ramsay, Paul E. Beaul\u00e9, St\u00e9phane Poitras. American College of Rheumatology. Functional Patient-Reported Outcome Measures After Hip or Knee Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review and Content Analysis Using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health. Accessed August 2025. Link. https:\/\/acrjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/full\/10.1002\/acr.25413Jayakumar, Prakash MD, PhD; Crijns, Tom J. MD; Misciagna, Will BS; Manickas-Hill, Olivia BA; Malay, Morven PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT; Jiranek, William MD; Mather, Richard C. III MD, MBA; Lentz, Trevor A. PT, PhD, MPH. Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research. What Are the Underlying Mental Health Constructs Associated With Level of Capability in People With Knee and Hip Osteoarthritis? Accessed August 2025. Link. https:\/\/journals.lww.com\/clinorthop\/abstract\/2024\/04000\/what_are_the_underlying_mental_health_constructs.14.aspx?context=featuredarticles&amp;collectionid=6 "},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2025","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2025\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"10","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2025\/\/10\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Mike\u2019s Story: From Unbearable Hip Pain to Enjoying Exercise and Grandkids Again","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2025\/10\/mikes-story-hip-pain\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]