Hip Pain Treatment in Lakeville MN: Is Your Back the Real Problem?

Hip pain in Lakeville MN is one of the most common reasons patients visit our office. Surprisingly, many of those patients don't actually have a hip problem at all.

As a Lakeville chiropractor, I frequently evaluate patients who have been told they have hip arthritis, bursitis, or a muscle strain—only to discover the true source of their pain is the lumbar spine.

Conditions such as lumbar disc herniations, degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, or other space-occupying lesions can compress spinal nerves that travel directly into the hip and leg. The result? Pain that feels like it's coming from your hip when the problem is actually in your lower back.

How Your Spine Can Cause Hip Pain in Lakeville MN

Your lumbar spine contains the nerve roots responsible for sensation and muscle function throughout the hip and lower extremity. When one of these nerves becomes irritated, your brain often interprets the pain as originating in the hip itself.

Research has shown that lumbar spine disorders commonly mimic hip disease, making a careful spinal examination essential before assuming the hip joint is responsible for your symptoms.

At ALIGN Integrated Health, our structural chiropractic approach begins by determining where the pain originates—not simply where it is felt. That philosophy helps us identify patients whose hip pain is actually the result of spinal nerve compression.

Signs You May Need a Chiropractor Instead of Hip Treatment

Many patients with spinal-related hip pain experience:

• Deep buttock pain
• Pain along the outside of the hip
• Groin discomfort
• Burning or tingling into the thigh
• Pain extending below the knee
• Leg weakness
• Numbness in the foot
• Symptoms that worsen while sitting
• Hip pain despite "normal" hip imaging

If several of these sound familiar, your lumbar spine deserves evaluation by an experienced chiropractor before assuming your hip is the culprit.

Why Chiropractic Evaluation Matters

Treating the hip without identifying the true pain generator often leads to temporary relief rather than lasting improvement.

As a chiropractor, my goal is to identify whether your symptoms originate from a spinal disc, irritated nerve root, spinal degeneration, or another mechanical problem affecting the lumbar spine.

At ALIGN Integrated Health, we perform comprehensive orthopedic and neurological examinations and, when clinically appropriate, obtain Digital X-Rays to evaluate spinal alignment and degeneration. If examination findings suggest a lumbar disc herniation or another space-occupying lesion, advanced imaging such as MRI may be recommended to visualize the spinal nerves and discs before developing a personalized chiropractic treatment plan.

Chiropractic Care for Hip Pain Starts with the Correct Diagnosis

One of the biggest misconceptions in healthcare is believing pain always comes from the place it hurts.

Every week, Dr. Cody Rodewald evaluates patients whose "hip pain" is actually caused by spinal nerve irritation. Once the underlying spinal condition is identified, treatment can focus on addressing the true source of the problem instead of repeatedly chasing symptoms.

Whether your pain is caused by a lumbar disc herniation, spinal degeneration, or another spinal condition, receiving the proper diagnosis is the first step toward recovery.

If you've been searching for a chiropractor for hip pain in Lakeville, learn more about our Structural Chiropractic Care, explore our Digital X-Ray technology, or schedule an evaluation with Dr. Cody Rodewald today.

References

Offierski CM, MacNab I. Hip-Spine Syndrome. Spine. 1983;8(3):316-321.

Vroomen PC, de Krom MC, Wilmink JT, et al. Diagnostic accuracy of history and physical examination in patients suspected of lumbosacral nerve root compression. Journal of Neurology. 2002.

Deyo RA, Mirza SK, Turner JA, Martin BI. Overtreating chronic back pain: Time to back off? Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine. 2009