Christopher Whippen

Originally a recreational runner, I ran my first half marathon in November 2009, and my running career took off. I was running races and logging miles month after month all over the northeast. Running had become something very special to me, and something that I was getting good at. But over time, I noticed a gradually increasing pain in the front of my hip. For almost 2 years, I sought various physical therapists, orthopedic specialists, cortisone shots, sports consultants, and running advisors trying everything possible to figure it out. I was even told I was just “getting old” by one doctor, after waiting in his office for nearly 2 hours (I was only 28). The pain continued to get worse, and I stubbornly toughed it out for as long as I could.

By the summer of 2011, I could barely walk, which made me increasingly nervous. My wife and I were expecting our first child, a girl, that September, and I was incredibly afraid that I would not be able to be the father that I wanted to be for her. Periods of rest, various pain medications, physical therapy and alternative techniques were simply not working.

I heard about Dr. Bryan Kelly at HSS through Ironman and author Matt Long, a “running hero” of mine, who I was able to meet at the Boston Marathon in April 2011. On my very first visit to Dr. Kelly about two months later, he was able to diagnose the labral tear and schedule my surgery. His office is a well-oiled machine; by far the best medical experience I have ever had. Dr. Kelly has surrounded himself with a superior team, who took the time to hear my concerns and understand my pains. The surgery went very smoothly, and his office supported me through every step of the 13 month recovery process that followed.

Eight months later, I returned to running, and can’t thank God enough for the people at HSS. In 2012 I was able to run a 5K, 10K, 10 Miler, and Half Marathon. In 2013, a year and a half after the surgery, I completed my first full marathon in Washington DC. I feel that I received the best medical treatment available, and couldn’t be happier with the experience and the outcome.