“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!”
Condition
Musculoskeletal Pain Treatment
in Lakeland and The Villages, FL
Muscle, joint and tendon pain that moves around, changes character or never quite resolves. This is the page for people who do not yet know which box they belong in.
- 22 years in practice
- Doctor of Chiropractic led
- $47 new-patient exam
Medically reviewed by Dr. Justin Bergin, DC Updated September 26, 2026
Quick summary
Musculoskeletal pain is pain arising from muscles, joints, tendons, ligaments or the structures that connect them. It covers everything from a stiff shoulder to widespread aching that has never been given a name.
The first job is working out which structure is generating it. Dr. Justin Bergin examines you, names the source and routes you to the right plan across two Florida offices.
Understanding musculoskeletal pain
Musculoskeletal pain comes from the moving parts: muscle, joint, tendon, ligament, disc and the nerves that serve them. It is acute when it follows an event and persistent when it outlives the tissue healing that should have ended it. The source, not the location, decides treatment.
The trap in this category is that pain location and pain source are often different places. A shoulder can ache because of the neck. A knee can hurt because of a hip that stopped rotating.
Buttock pain can come from the joint, the muscle or the nerve, and those three require different things.
Persistent pain also changes over time: the tissue quietens but the nervous system stays sensitized, so movement that should be comfortable still registers as threatening.
That is why an examination that only presses on the sore spot misses so much. Pain is also not an inevitable part of getting older, whatever you have been told.
How it works
What the pain is coming from
Muscle, joint, tendon, ligament, disc and the nerves that serve them are the structures in play. One of them is generating your symptoms, and it is not always the one that hurts.
Acute against persistent
Pain is acute when it follows an event. It is persistent when it outlives the tissue healing that should have ended it.
Naming the source
History, movement testing and orthopedic and neurological screening decide which structure is generating the pain. Imaging is used where it would change the plan.
Is this one problem or three?
Some people arrive knowing exactly what hurts. Others arrive with a shoulder that aches, a hip that has started clicking and a lower back that flares every few weeks.
They have no idea whether that is one problem or three. Being told nothing structural is wrong still leaves you without an explanation and without a plan.
Why is a general label not enough?
Musculoskeletal pain is common and it is not a diagnosis by itself. It responds much better once somebody has decided which tissue is producing it.
Who does the narrowing down?
Dr. Justin Bergin has spent 22 years doing exactly that: examining, testing, narrowing down, and then saying out loud what the problem is.
Where do the evaluations happen?
Evaluations run at the Lakeland office on South Florida Avenue and at the Lady Lake office serving The Villages. Both offer the same lineup of care.
Independent background: Pain: You Can Get Help, National Institute on Aging.
Symptoms
Most people recognize their own version somewhere in this list. Each one maps to a specific finding the examination checks for.
- Aching that moves between regions
- Stiffness that is worst after sitting
- Pain that flares every few weeks
- Reduced range in a shoulder or hip
- Clicking or grinding with movement
- Muscle tightness that never releases
- Tenderness spread over several areas
- Disturbed sleep because of positional pain
- Fatigue from bracing against pain
Common causes
Joint restriction and altered movement
When one joint stops moving through its full range, the joints either side take up the slack. The restricted joint is often silent and the compensating joint is the one that hurts.
Muscle overload and guarding
Muscle permanently braced against a painful joint becomes painful itself. Trigger points and dense, tight tissue then send symptoms elsewhere, which makes the real source harder to find.
Degenerative change in the joints
Wear becomes more common with age and with past injury. It is not automatically the cause of your pain. Plenty of people have imaging changes and no symptoms, which is why the examination outranks the scan.
Posture and occupational loading
Sustained positions, whether a desk, a truck cab or hours in a golf cart, load the same structures every day. The tissue does not object until it does, usually after a small extra demand.
Sensitization after a long painful period
Where pain has been present for months, the nervous system becomes more efficient at producing it. That does not mean it is imagined. It means the plan has to address movement tolerance too.
How we treat musculoskeletal pain in Lakeland and The Villages
We work out which structure is generating the pain, then treat it directly. Adjustments restore movement to stiff joints. Manual soft tissue work releases the muscle that has been compensating. Omniwave shockwave is added where one structure has stopped responding to hands-on care alone.
Chiropractic assessment and adjustment
The examination decides the plan. Where joints are restricted, adjustment restores movement so the surrounding tissue stops compensating. This is the insurance-billed part of the practice, and our team verifies your benefits before your first visit.
Soft tissue work on the muscle that has been guarding
Hands on and instrument assisted techniques target the dense, tender tissue that builds up around a painful joint. Releasing it is often what makes an adjustment hold rather than unwind within a day.
Omniwave shockwave for a structure that has stalled
Where one structure has been painful for months and has not shifted with manual care, Omniwave delivers acoustic pressure waves into it through the skin. It is self-pay, and it is recommended for a named target rather than applied broadly.
Available at our 2 locations
Treatment at our Lakeland office, and also at:
What recovery usually looks like
Working out the source Your first visit
History, movement testing, orthopedic and neurological screening, and imaging where it would change the plan. You leave with a named source rather than a general label.
Treating the worst problem first The opening block of care
Attention goes to whichever structure is producing the most symptoms. Cases with several sore areas almost always simplify once the main one quietens.
Working through what is left As care continues
Secondary areas are addressed in order. This is where a multi-site problem resolves into one clear issue or reveals itself as something needing a different specialist.
Keeping the improvement Ongoing
Movement, loading and the handful of daily habits that keep bringing it back. Some people need occasional maintenance visits and some do not.
When to seek care sooner
What to try at home first: keep moving within comfort, since long rest stiffens joints and weakens muscle. Change position often rather than holding one.
Use heat for stiffness and ice for a fresh flare. Walk daily, even briefly.
Check how you sleep, because a large share of morning shoulder and hip pain comes from the position you lie in.
Get a medical opinion first for pain that followed a significant fall or collision, fever with a swollen joint, weakness in a limb that keeps getting worse, any change in bowel or bladder control, night pain that wakes you, or new pain with unexplained weight loss.
Cost, insurance and financing
Cost tracks how complicated the problem is. One stiff joint is not the same piece of work as four sore areas of two years standing.
The one published price
Consultation, Exam, X-Rays (If Needed) & Report of Findings: Only $47
What affects the cost
- How many regions are involved
- Whether the problem is recent or long standing
- Whether a device protocol such as shockwave is added
What a course includes
- The consultation, examination and report of findings
- Reassessment at intervals through the plan
- An honest referral where the problem is not ours to treat
Payment:
Chiropractic care bills insurance and our team verifies your benefits before your first visit. Shockwave and the wider regenerative line are cash pay, said up front rather than at the desk afterwards.
Medicare coverage varies by plan and by service, and our front desk will tell you what applies before you commit to anything.
New patients start with a consultation, exam, x-rays if needed and report of findings for only $47.
Who you would be seeing
Why does shifting pain need the examination?
Widespread or shifting pain is the kind most likely to be waved through elsewhere with a general label. It is also the kind where naming the actual source changes everything.
Who does the evaluation?
Dr. Justin Bergin, DC is 22 years into practice and has built this clinic around the examination. He does the evaluation himself at both offices.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Justin Bergin, DC.
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
Who drives in to the Lakeland office?
Patients reach the Lakeland office at 6595 Florida Ave S, Suite 13 from Dixieland, Cleveland Heights, Grasslands, Lakeside Village and the Harden Blvd corridor.
The Polk Parkway makes the run from the east side straightforward, and Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center sits about fifteen minutes north.
Who uses the Lady Lake office?
The Lady Lake office at 929 US-441 #404 is just north of CR 466 and draws from The Villages, Leesburg, Fruitland Park and Summerfield.
It is close enough to Spanish Springs Town Square to fit a morning appointment around the rest of the day.
Browse every condition on the conditions we treat index.
Musculoskeletal 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.
- Pain
The federal source for what research does and does not support among non-drug approaches to pain, including where the evidence is still thin.
- Chronic Pain
The National Library of Medicine overview of chronic pain, useful for understanding why pain can persist after the original injury has healed.
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 adjustment Our approach | Manual restoration of movement to a restricted joint | Examination finds joint restriction driving the pattern | No | Yes |
| Soft tissue therapy | Hands on and tool assisted release of muscle and fascia | Muscle guarding is holding the problem in place | No | Yes |
| Omniwave shockwave therapy | Acoustic pressure waves applied to one named structure | A single structure has stalled despite manual care | No | Yes |
| Prescription pain medication | Oral medication prescribed to reduce pain or muscle spasm | Pain is blocking sleep and basic daily function | No | Not performed here. Appropriate when a physician judges short term medication necessary to restore sleep and function. |
| Steroid or nerve-root injection | An injection placed at a specific joint or nerve under guidance | Symptoms are severe and localized to one confirmed structure | Minimally | Not performed here. Appropriate when conservative care has failed and imaging identifies a specific target. |
Most people do best with the least invasive option that addresses their actual source. Part of the first visit is saying whether that is us or somebody else.
What to expect
From evaluation to a plan for your musculoskeletal 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 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. :)”
“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 😊”
“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!”
“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!”
“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 musculoskeletal 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.
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Send the form
Two minutes. Tell us what hurts and which office is closer.
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We call you back
A real person, during office hours, to find a time that works.
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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
Musculoskeletal Pain questions
Tap a message for the honest answer. Call Lakeland (863) 940-3444
What is the difference between pain management and pain clinic?
In practice, pain management usually describes the medical approach: medication, injections and procedures aimed at controlling symptoms. A pain control clinic can mean either. This is a chiropractic and rehabilitation practice, so the work is manual, device assisted and movement based, and nothing is prescribed or injected here.
Do you need a referral to go to a pain management clinic?
Not here. You can book an evaluation directly at either office. If your plan or your physician wants a referral on file, our team will help you sort that out. Nothing about starting care depends on it.
Why do doctors discourage chiropractors?
Some do and many do not. Where the caution is genuine it usually concerns cases that were adjusted without being properly screened first. That is why the examination here includes orthopedic and neurological screening. Some people are told plainly that adjustment is not the right answer for them.
What is a red flag in chiropractic?
Findings that point away from a mechanical problem. Unexplained weight loss. Fever with spinal pain. Weakness in a limb that keeps getting worse. Changes in bowel or bladder control. Night pain that never varies with position. Pain after a significant injury. Any of these should be medically assessed first, and we refer rather than treat.
Does everything have to be one diagnosis?
No, and assuming so causes problems. It is very common to have a genuine primary driver plus two or three secondary areas that are compensating. We treat them in order of importance rather than pretending a single label explains all of it.
What is the average cost of a chiropractic adjustment in Florida?
Prices vary widely by practice, by region and by whether insurance is involved, so any single figure would mislead you. We can be specific about our own entry point. A consultation, exam, x-rays if needed and report of findings for $47. The rest of the plan is explained before it starts.
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