How I Wasted $26,000 on Hip Pain Treatments—What Finally Healed Me
By Shane Dowd, CES, CMP
The Story of Three Paths
Imagine spending $26,000 trying to fix a problem, only to realize that none of it actually worked.
Today, I want to share a story about three different people who are all facing the same challenge: hip impingement.
Each took a different path to find relief, and only one succeeded.
Let me introduce you to Tom, Jerry, and Max—three active dudes determined to overcome hip pain.
Tom's Journey with Traditional Physical Therapy
Tom decided to take the traditional route—Physical Therapy. It seemed logical because it was covered by insurance. However, Tom’s sessions were short, and the exercises he received were generic and designed for the average patient.
After weeks of treatment, Tom noticed a slight improvement, but his progress quickly plateaued. His pain lingered, and he found himself stuck in a rut, wondering if this was as good as it would get.
Still being frustrated and unable to lift weights, Tom resigned himself to less physical activity and the probable, almost certain future of hip surgery.
Jerry's Journey with the Shotgun Approach
Then there’s Jerry. Jerry didn’t want to rely on traditional methods, so he took matters into his own hands. He spent hours on YouTube, piecing together promising exercises and routines.
First, he started with Yoga because…Yoga is good for everything, right?
Even though he felt stretching helped, many poses still hurt his hips. Yoga's group stretching environment kept him motivated, but Jerry's progress could have been more consistent at best with a clear plan and professional guidance.
Next, he tried the YouTube star, a powerlifter, and a jacked dude. This guru said that his hip pain was just due to weakness. This guru growled and said.
“It’s ALL load management and progressive overload, bro. You’re just too weak, and we gotta get you strong.”
Jerry liked the feeling of getting stronger, but his hip ache never left, so he kept searching.
When stretching and strengthening had all but failed him, he “knew” he must need something more exotic. He found hope in online gurus who seemed to know what they were talking about because they used models of skeletons to illustrate complex biomechanical principles:
“The anterior pelvic tilt observed in patients with Left AIC dominance is often exacerbated by the asymmetrical activation of the left hemidiaphragm, leading to compensatory overuse of the right posterior mediastinal diaphragm. This maladaptive pattern results in concurrent right lateralization of the pelvis, promoting a pathological pattern of right thoracic rotation and left lumbar counter-rotation, perpetuating a state of neuromuscular inefficiency and imbalanced respiratory mechanics. The result is that I can help you fix this for $500/session.”
“The language they use is so…advanced,” he thought…
“Maybe I DO need to improve my breathing mechanics left AIC dominance,” he mused.
Jerry spent more and more money on online courses, gadgets, supplements, and consultations, during which he was coached to blow into a balloon while meticulously moving his limbs in tiny yet seemingly important ways.
Yet, as the months passed, and he hopped around from internet guru to internet guru, his hip pain persisted and, in some cases, even worsened.
Max's Journey with VIP Mentorship
Finally, we have Max. Max was determined to find a solution, so he decided to invest in a 1:1 Mentorship program with someone who had suffered from – and beaten – the same hip impingement problems he was dealing with.
This coach assessed and gave him a comprehensive, personalized plan and supported him 24/7 over several months. This approach wasn’t as cheap as insurance-based physical therapy or do-it-yourself internet videos, but Max was willing to invest in his health.
With the guidance of a mentor w, Max’s results were dramatic. After 3 months, his pain was gone. After 6 months, his mobility had radically improved, and today, Max is entirely pain-free, flexible, strong, and doing ALL his favorite sports and activities.
The Plot Twist and Reveal
Here’s the twist: Tom, Jerry, and Max aren’t three different people. They’re all me.
I was the one who spent years trying every possible solution, pouring money into treatments that didn’t work, before I finally found what truly healed me.
I tried just stretching my way out of my problems with Yoga…
I tried working with a strength coach just to get stronger…
I tried paying thousands of dollars for PRI (Postural Restoration Institute) treatments…
I tried every random YouTube video and internet article I could find.
It’s not that any of these treatments are worthless. It’s just they are often incomplete. They would address one piece of the puzzle but not the whole picture. And this matters because pain is complex. So, the solution to pain must be equally complete, like what we do in our VIP Mentorship program for hip pain.
The bottom line is this: I spent $26,000 on various treatments and therapies that only treated 1 or 2 areas. It wasn’t until I found the right approach—a comprehensive, personalized plan—that I finally got better.
What Finally Worked
So, what made all the difference? What healed me?
It was a program that didn’t just focus on one aspect of the problem but addressed my hip pain from every angle. Mobility work, strength training, and consistent, personalized guidance were key. Having a mentor who had walked the same path made all the difference.
When I started working with my mentor, I was a train wreck. Here is the first email I sent him in 2011, listing all my issues.
Fortunately (for me), my mentor had been through 5 hip surgeries because the first 4 had failed. So he had suffered like I was suffering. On his plan, I wasn’t just following a set of generic exercises; I was following a plan tailored to my specific needs, adjusting as I progressed.
Key Components of the Healing Plan:
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Mobility Work: Addressing the root cause of the impingement.
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Strength Training: Building the muscles needed to support healthy movement.
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Personalized 1:1 Guidance: Frequent video communication and ongoing accountability, motivation, and support to stay on track.
Conclusion: What You Can Learn from My Journey
Looking back at my first five years of trying generic PT and shotgun approaches, the actual cost wasn’t just financial. It was the time, the frustration, and the physical toll. But I’m sharing this story so you don’t have to experience the same.
Whether you’re like Tom, Jerry, or Max (aka ME) —or maybe a bit of all three—know that finding the right solution is worth the investment. Don’t waste years and thousands of dollars like I did.
Take control of your recovery and find a plan that works for you. Don’t be afraid to invest in your health; in the long run, it is worth it.
Take the Next Step
If you’re dealing with similar hip challenges, don’t wait.
Start exploring your options today. Whether through a personalized mentorship program like ours or another comprehensive approach, ensure it addresses your specific needs.
Remember, you don’t have to spend $26,000 to find relief—you just have to find the right plan.
Thank you for watching. If you found this video helpful, please like, share, and subscribe. And as always, remember—you’re just one step away from building, or rebuilding, your perfect body.
About The Author
Shane Dowd, CES, CMP, is the owner/founder of GotROM.com. He is also a sports performance & mobility coach specializing in injury prevention and flexibility for athletes.
