“I have had sich a great experience seeing Dr. Bergin. When other offices have told me I just had muscle damage or the only thing they could do for me was give shots, he said he had others ways to manage my pain and numbness, along with improving mobility. And he was right! I feel so much better! With such friendly staff and welcoming office environment, it makes for an amazing experience. I'll definitely continue seeing him!”
Condition
Hip Pain Treatment
in Lakeland and The Villages, FL
Many of the hips we examine are not hip joints at all. They are sacroiliac joints, gluteal tendons or lower backs sending pain down. Finding out which changes the whole plan.
- 22 years in practice
- Spine and pelvis examined together
- Non-surgical
- $47 new-patient exam
Medically reviewed by Dr. Justin Bergin, DC Updated September 18, 2026
Quick summary
Hip pain comes from one of four places: the joint itself, the tendons outside it, the sacroiliac joint, or the lower back. Each needs a different plan. Dr. Justin Bergin, DC examines all four sources before treating any of them, at Lakeland and at Lady Lake.
Understanding hip pain
Hip pain is any pain felt around the hip, and it has four usual sources. The ball and socket joint in the groin. The tendons and bursa on the outside. The sacroiliac joint at the back of the pelvis. The lower back, sending pain down. Where the pain sits narrows which one it is.
The hip joint proper is a deep ball and socket carrying body weight with every step. True hip joint pain is usually felt in the groin and the front of the thigh. It is worse on turning, on getting out of a car and on putting socks on.
The outside of the hip is a different neighborhood. The bony point there has gluteal tendons attaching to it and a bursa underneath. Pain there is worse lying on that side at night and worse standing on one leg. That is tendon pain, not joint pain.
Behind it, the sacroiliac joint transfers load between spine and legs, referring pain into the buttock and down the back of the thigh.
The lumbar spine, meanwhile, can refer pain into all of those areas without the back hurting at all. A hip that examines clean while the lower back reproduces the symptoms is a spine problem wearing a hip costume.
How it works
Where the pain sits
Groin, the bony point on the outside, or the buttock. The location narrows the list of likely structures before anything is treated.
Loading each structure separately
The hip joint, the pelvis and the lower back are tested in one examination. A hip that moves fully and painlessly when tested is usually not the source.
Matching the finding to the symptom
Dr. Bergin explains which structure came up positive, and the plan is built for that structure rather than for the most common diagnosis.
Where exactly are you pointing?
People point to very different places when they say hip. Some point to the groin, some to the bony point on the side, some to the back of the pelvis just off the spine.
Those are three separate problems with three separate answers, and one word covers all of them.
Where does hip care usually go wrong?
A gluteal tendon gets treated as arthritis. A sacroiliac joint gets treated as a hip. A lower back quietly sending pain down the thigh gets ignored altogether.
Dr. Justin Bergin, DC, 22 years in practice, tests the hip joint, the pelvis and the lower back in one examination. A practice built on spinal care does not miss the spine in a hip complaint.
What does the care itself involve?
What happens next is non-surgical and involves no injections.
Adjusting for the pelvis and lower back. Omniwave shockwave for tendon pain that has stopped answering to rest. Manual therapy for the deep hip muscles, and adapted care when the pain belongs to a pregnancy.
Independent background: Hip pain causes, Mayo Clinic.
Symptoms
Most people recognize their own version somewhere in this list. Each one maps to a specific finding the examination checks for.
- Groin pain on walking
- Pain on the bony point of the hip
- Aching in the buttock
- Pain lying on that side at night
- Stiffness getting out of a car
- Difficulty putting on socks or shoes
- A limp that appears when tired
- Pain down the outside of the thigh
- Clicking or catching on rotation
Common causes
Hip osteoarthritis
Cartilage wear in the ball and socket produces groin pain, loss of rotation and morning stiffness that eases with movement. It is the most common true hip joint diagnosis in older adults.
Gluteal tendinopathy and trochanteric bursitis
The tendons attaching to the bony point degrade under load and the bursa beneath them becomes irritated. Night pain lying on that side is the signature.
Sacroiliac joint dysfunction
The joint between pelvis and spine can move too much or too little, referring pain into the buttock and back of the thigh. Pregnancy and falls are common triggers.
Referred pain from the lumbar spine
An irritated lumbar segment or nerve root sends pain into the buttock, groin and outer thigh while the hip tests normally. This is the source most often missed.
Hip impingement and labral irritation
Extra bone at the rim of the socket or on the thigh bone pinches soft tissue at the edge of the joint. That gives deep groin pain on squatting, sitting low and turning.
Pregnancy related pelvic change
Looser ligaments and a widening pelvis change how load passes through the sacroiliac joints. Pelvic and hip pain climbs through the later trimesters.
How we treat hip pain in Lakeland and The Villages
Hip care here begins by deciding which of the four sources is causing your pain, then treats that one. The tools are chiropractic care for the pelvis and lower back, and Omniwave shockwave for worn tendons. Manual therapy frees the deep hip muscles, and technique is adapted during pregnancy.
Chiropractic Care for the Pelvis and Lower Back
Where the sacroiliac joint or a lumbar segment is the source, restoring movement there is the treatment rather than a preliminary to it. Adjusting is matched to the joint and the patient, with lower force options available. This is the insurance billed part, checked before you come in.
Omniwave Shockwave for Gluteal Tendon Pain
Tendon pain on the outside of the hip is one of the more stubborn problems there is. It usually arrives here after months of rest have changed nothing. The Omniwave system delivers acoustic waves into the tendon through the skin, no needle involved. Cash pay protocol, quoted first.
Manual Therapy for the Deep Hip Muscles
Active Release Technique and Graston work address the glutes, deep rotators and hip flexors. Those shorten and thicken around a hip that has been guarded a long time. Freeing those is often what lets the adjusting and the home program hold.
Pregnancy Adapted Care for Pelvic Pain
Hip and pelvic pain in pregnancy is mechanical and responds to mechanical care. Positioning, technique and expectations are adapted by trimester, and nothing is done that the pregnancy does not allow.
Available at our 2 locations
Treatment at our Lakeland office, and also at:
What recovery usually looks like
Settling the source The opening visits
Care aims at whichever structure the examination implicated. Walking distance and getting out of a chair usually shift before the night pain does.
Rebuilding tolerance Through the plan
The hip has to be loaded to improve, so the home program matters as much as anything done in the office. Visits space out as improvement holds longer.
Protecting the result After the active plan
For a pelvis with a long history, a small number of planned reviews protects the gains. Offered and explained, never assumed.
No meaningful change At the agreed review
If nothing has moved by the review point, the diagnosis is revisited. That may mean imaging, or an orthopedic or rheumatology opinion. Unchanged care is not an option we take.
When to seek care sooner
There is plenty worth trying at home first. For hip pain of a few weeks with no injury and no warning signs, keep walking on flat ground.
Cut the loads that aggravate it: deep squatting, crossing the legs, long periods sitting low, and sleeping directly on the painful side.
A pillow between the knees at night takes strain off the outside of the hip and often improves sleep within days.
Gentle hip range and glute strengthening beat static stretching, and stretching an irritated gluteal tendon usually makes it worse.
Give that three weeks. If your walking distance is still falling, get examined.
See a physician rather than us if the hip hurts alongside unexplained weight loss, or if you have had cancer. Spreading leg numbness or weakness is also medical.
Some hip symptoms need a doctor the same day. If you cannot put weight on the leg after a fall, get medical care first, and an older adult who falls should be checked for a fracture even when they can still walk.
Same for a hip that is hot and swollen with a fever, or a leg that looks shorter or turned out. Any change in bladder or bowel control is also same day.
Cost, insurance and financing
Hip care is priced from the diagnosis, not from a package. A sacroiliac plan and a gluteal tendon plan are not the same length. Whatever your plan involves is set out in writing at the report of findings.
The one published price
Consultation, Exam, X-Rays (If Needed) & Report of Findings: Only $47
What affects the cost
- Which structure the examination identifies as the source
- Whether the lumbar spine is treated alongside the pelvis
- Whether an Omniwave shockwave course is part of the plan
- Whether imaging is needed to settle the diagnosis
What a course includes
- The consultation, examination and report of findings
- Digital X-rays where they change the plan
- A written home program specific to your hip
Payment:
Chiropractic and the hands-on care delivered with it bill insurance, with benefits verified before your first visit. Omniwave shockwave is cash pay and priced in writing before the course begins. Payment plans are available for self-pay care. Ask the front desk which plan fits your course of care.
Who you would be seeing
Why does a spine background matter for a hip?
Dr. Justin Bergin, DC brings 22 years of examining spines to a complaint that is routinely mislabelled.
Hips are where that background earns its keep, because the referred cases look exactly like the joint cases until somebody tests both.
Who runs the examination?
He runs it himself and explains which structure came up positive.
When the answer sits outside what this practice does, he tells you, instead of starting a plan that cannot work.
Dr. Justin Bergin, DC, 22 years in practice, performs the examination personally and explains the findings before any program starts. Lakeland: 6595 Florida Ave S, Suite 13, Lakeland. The Villages market office: 929 US-441 #404, Lady Lake. Both offices run the same program.
Getting to us
How easy is the Lakeland office to reach?
6595 Florida Ave S, Suite 13 is on South Florida Avenue with quick access off the Polk Parkway. Patients come from Highland City, Christina, Grasslands, Cleveland Heights and the Harden Blvd corridor.
Bonnet Springs Park and the walking routes around Lake Hollingsworth are where many of these hips get tested on a Saturday.
What about the Lady Lake office?
The Lady Lake office at 929 US-441 #404 sits just north of CR 466. It is an easy trip from The Villages, Summerfield, Oxford, Fruitland Park, Wildwood and Leesburg across Lake, Sumter and Marion counties.
Hips there carry golf, pickleball, gardening and dancing, and losing one usually means losing the calendar that goes with it.
Browse every condition on the conditions we treat index.
Hip Pain in recent research
These sources are independent of this practice and none of them endorses it. They are listed so the reasoning behind the care can be checked rather than taken on trust.
- Exercise for osteoarthritis of the hip
The current Cochrane review of exercise for hip osteoarthritis, showing small to moderate gains in pain and function that fade without continued work.
- Hip Injuries and Disorders
The National Library of Medicine summary of what causes hip pain, useful because several of those causes are not treatable in this office.
Options compared, honestly
This is treated very differently depending on who you walk in to see. Here is the full set, including the options this practice does not provide.
| Option | What it is | Typically considered when | Invasive? | Offered at ChiroMed? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chiropractic care for the pelvis and lumbar spine Our approach | Restoring movement at the sacroiliac joint and the lumbar segments loading the hip | The pelvis or lower back reproduces the pain and the hip joint tests clean | No | Yes. Billed to insurance, benefits verified first |
| Omniwave shockwave | Acoustic pressure waves delivered through the skin into a degenerated tendon | Tendon pain outside the hip has outlasted months of rest | No | Yes. Cash pay protocol |
| Manual soft tissue therapy | Hands-on and instrument work on glutes, deep rotators and hip flexors | Deep muscle is guarded and range keeps collapsing between visits | No | Yes. Delivered with the adjusting plan |
| Image guided cortisone injection | A steroid injected into the joint or bursa under imaging | Pain is severe enough that no rehabilitation can begin | Minimally | Not performed here. Reasonable for short term control before rehabilitation |
| Prescription anti-inflammatory medication | Medication reducing inflammation and pain for a period | A short course is needed to settle a severe flare | No | Not performed here. We do not prescribe |
| Total hip replacement | Surgery replacing the ball and socket with an implant | Joint space is gone, pain is constant, walking distance has collapsed | Yes | Not performed here. An end stage hip belongs with an orthopedic surgeon |
The last three options are things we do not provide. A hip that needs replacing should hear that at the first visit, not after months of care that was never going to change the joint.
What to expect
From evaluation to a plan for your hip pain
A course, not a single visit. The examination decides the length and the cost, and both are written down first.
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01Evaluation
Orthopedic and neurological testing, with imaging on site where it changes the plan.
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02Findings, in plain language
What the examination actually found, and honestly whether this is a case conservative care can help at all.
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03A written program
Which disciplines, how many visits, over what period, and what it costs. Decided before anything begins.
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04Reassessment as it runs
Function is re-measured through the course. If the response says the plan should change, it changes.
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Find out what is actually driving it before choosing a program.
“Dr. Bergin was instrumental in relieving my back pain which I had for many years. The techniques he used on relieving my back pain were impressive. I been going to chiropractors for years and Dr. Bergin is the best. Thank You Dr. Bergin :)”
“Took a good amount of time going over my preliminary results and going over potential care plan. Great adjustment and doesn’t sugarcoat when discussing. Would recommend”
“The environment is incredible at this office with the staff and also both doctors are extremely friendly and great at what they do”
“Amazing, Super friendly and talented Staff and Doctors! My back was a hot mess after a semi hit my car on my first day moving to Florida. But after going through the treatment program I was able to get my neck, my back and my life in alignment. It was a total transformation. Thank You New City Chiropractic!”
“Hands down the best chiropractic office out there! They are super friendly and make me feel comfortable to tell then what’s wrong. They always ensure the best treatment for their patients!”
“I absolutely love this place , it is like going to visit family. They are always so pleasant , happy , and professional. I always enjoy seeing the ladies , they always put a smile on my face and even if I am having a bad day. The doctors are always so friendly and concerned with my well being. I actually look forward to going there and miss them on the days that I don't go.”
“I only wish it was closer. You are welcome it's definitely a compliment and I have read the great comments people made about the facility and staff! Amen Open one in Auburndale please!!”
“HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend coming here if you have any pains in your back or neck!! These guys are AMAZING at what they do!! Just a few months into coming here, I feel a change in the way I walk, the way my head sits on my shoulders, and I just feel GREAT; ALL THE TIME!! Crazy what some little adjustments did for me!!”
“This is an awesome chiropractic!! They are all nice and kind! Ever Since I have been adjusting my back, I don't need to take medicine before I go to bed. Also, I have been sleeping without waking up in the middle of the night because of the pain!! I really recommend the chiropractic 😊”
“Dr. Bergin at Chiromed Wellness Centers is the best chiropractor in town. I no longer have to take pain meds. If you still have pain, you’re not seeing to best chiropractor.”
“Love this place!! Cynthia and Angie are amazing! So nice and helpful!! The chiropractor’s are also amazing!! Just a great place overall! I highly recommended it!!”
“Look them up I waited so long to see a chiropractor and I found this place and am so happy that I did . Love the Drs they are so helpful and make feel like family.”
“The staff is super friendly and they walked me through the whole process. I’ve been going for a few weeks now and I’m already feeling results! The treatment the offer is very hands on and informative. I’ve never had manual adjustments until coming to this office and the staff makes you feel comfortable and takes care of your needs. Highly recommend !”
“The best Chiropractic center in South lakeland! love it here the Doctors are very urged to help with any of your needs, the beautiful assistants are nice and helpful they really make you feel welcomed. Most highly recommended Chiropractic Center. :)”
“Muy profesional la atención es formidable todos los empleados son muy amigables.Y muy efectiva sus terapias..Los recomiendo 100x100%”
“My pain has decreased dramatically, I’m no longer stretching and moving my neck in every angle trying to find relief. Every part of my body I can feel is finally getting closer to symmetry! All I can say is you should give new city a try!”
“I love this place!! They're very caring for their patients and strive to help you feel better. I strongly recommend giving them a try. I promise you won't regret it”
“The staff is very knowledgeable and organized, they get to know you and are flexible about fitting your treatment in to your life. They use proven methods to treat the root of your issues and the results are incredible. I was in a lot of pain after a car crash and within a few weeks I was able to go back to my normal routine with no discomfort.”
“I have seen and feel the change in my body since I started, I use to have major pain in my knees and neck ache. I'm an athlete and constantly need more adjustments, and every time I come I always without a doubt feel welcomed and important.”
Get in touch
Schedule your hip pain evaluation
Tell us what you are feeling and which office is closer. The front desk answers during office hours; leave a message after hours and they call back the next open day.
- 1
Send the form
Two minutes. Tell us what hurts and which office is closer.
- 2
We call you back
A real person, during office hours, to find a time that works.
- 3
Exam and answers
History, orthopedic and neurological testing, imaging on site when it changes the plan.
- $47 consultation, exam, X-rays if needed and report of findings
- Payment plans available on the self-pay programs
- 4.8 out of 5 from 225 Google reviews
- Choose Lakeland or The Villages on the form
Hip Pain questions
Tap a message for the honest answer. Call Lakeland (863) 940-3444
Do you need a referral to go to a pain management clinic?
It depends on the clinic and your insurance plan, and many do require one. You do not need a referral to be examined at ChiroMed.
Book the consultation, exam and report of findings directly at either office.
If the examination says your hip needs a medical specialist, we will tell you what to ask your physician for.
What is the difference between pain management and pain clinic?
In practice the terms are used interchangeably, and both usually describe medical clinics whose main tools are medication and injections.
A chiropractic and rehabilitation practice works from the other direction, at the mechanics producing the pain rather than the pain signal.
The useful question is which your diagnosis calls for.
What not to tell your pain management doctor?
Tell them everything, including what has not worked and what worries you.
The question behind this one is usually about being dismissed or pushed toward medication you do not want.
You can say plainly that you want non-surgical options first. That is a reasonable request and a good provider will work with it.
Is my hip pain coming from my hip or my back?
Groin pain with lost rotation usually means the hip joint itself. Pain in the buttock or down the outside of the thigh usually means the lower back or the sacroiliac joint.
The tell is a hip that moves fully and painlessly when tested.
The examination settles it by loading each structure separately.
Why does my hip hurt more when I lie on that side at night?
Lying on that side presses the tendons and bursa against the bony point of the hip. Gluteal tendinopathy and trochanteric bursitis are the usual explanations.
It is a useful clue, because hip joint arthritis more often gives groin pain and stiffness.
A pillow between the knees frequently reduces it.
Can chiropractic care help hip arthritis?
It will not rebuild the joint surface and we will not suggest otherwise.
What care can do is restore movement in the joints above and below, settle the guarding around the hip and improve how you load it. For many people that means better function and less pain.
If joint space is gone, that is a surgical conversation.
Same-week appointments
Start with an examination, not a package.
Find out what is actually driving it before choosing a program.
- 4.8 out of 5 on Google
Consultation, Exam, X-Rays (If Needed) & Report of Findings: Only $47