Hip Pain Treatment in St. Marys

Types of hip pain we treat

“Hip pain” covers a wide range of conditions, and knowing which one you’re dealing with changes everything about the care plan. We help people in the St. Marys area with:

• Hip bursitis — inflammation of the fluid-filled sac over the greater trochanter, causing aching pain on the outer hip or thigh that’s worst lying on that side or after stairs (see our bursitis page).
• Hip impingement (FAI) — extra bone growth at the ball or socket that pinches the labrum with deep flexion; common in active adults and athletes.
• Referred pain from the spine — a lumbar disc, facet joint, or sacroiliac problem can send pain directly into the hip or groin. Treating the hip alone won’t fix it (see Low Back Pain and Sciatica).
• Labral irritation — the cartilage ring lining the socket can become irritated from twisting, repetitive loading, or an underlying alignment problem; it often presents as a deep clicking or catching sensation.
• Hip osteoarthritis — gradual cartilage wear that causes morning stiffness and aching with activity; conservative care can ease pain and stiffness and help keep you moving.
• Muscle-imbalance pain — tight hip flexors and weak glutes alter how the joint loads with every step, leading to chronic irritation that responds well to adjustments plus targeted stretches and strengthening you can do at home.
• Sports and overuse injuries — IT band syndrome, hip flexor strains, and stress reactions from running or cycling are common presentations we treat through athlete care.
• Pregnancy-related hip and pelvic pain — loosening ligaments and a shifting center of gravity can strain the pelvis and hips as pregnancy progresses. Our gentle prenatal care includes the Webster Technique, which focuses on balancing the pelvis and sacrum; Dr. Durbin is Webster Certified through the ICPA.

Your exam tells us which pattern is driving your pain so your plan is built around your hip — not a generic protocol.

What to expect at your first visit

Your first appointment is unhurried, and it’s focused on understanding your hip before we treat it. We’ll:

1. Listen to your story — when the pain started, what makes it worse or better, how it affects your daily movement and activity.
2. Examine thoroughly — orthopedic tests, gait analysis, and movement screening of the hip, pelvis, and low back as a unit. We order imaging only when it will change your care.
3. Explain what we found — in plain English, with a clear care plan and honest expectations for your recovery.
4. Begin care when appropriate — your first gentle adjustment may happen the same day, by hand or with the low-force Activator Method.

Dr. Durbin reviews your plan with you as you progress, and you leave with home exercises to help keep the hip stable once the pain settles. Any ongoing visits are always your choice.

Drug-free hip pain relief — without injections or surgery

Cortisone injections can quiet hip pain for a few weeks, but they don’t correct the alignment or muscle imbalance that’s driving it. Surgery is often avoidable for the most common hip conditions. Chiropractic care works differently — we relieve the pain and address the mechanics causing it, without drugs or downtime. The goal is to get you back to walking, stairs, exercise, and sleep — and keep you there. If your exam ever shows that imaging, a specialist, or a surgical consult is the right next step, we’ll tell you directly and help coordinate that care.

When to see a chiropractor in St. Marys

Hip pain deserves attention sooner rather than later. Waiting allows compensatory patterns to develop in your gait and posture that can drag the knee, low back, and opposite hip into the problem. Consider booking an exam if you notice:

• Pain in the hip, groin, or outer thigh that lingers more than a few days
• Stiffness that makes it hard to get dressed, get in and out of a car, or climb stairs
• Limping or unconsciously shifting your weight to the other side
• Hip discomfort that gets worse after sitting for long periods
• Pain that seems connected to your low back — or that radiates down the leg (see Low Back Pain)

We do refer when it’s appropriate: if your exam or imaging points to a hip replacement candidate, severe arthritis, or a fracture, we’ll tell you clearly and coordinate with the right specialist.

Why choose Prairie Star Chiropractic in St. Marys

For people in St. Marys, Rossville, Wamego, Belvue, and Silver Lake, we look past the symptom to find the cause. Dr. James Durbin uses a thorough orthopedic and movement assessment to map the hip-pelvis-low back relationship, then builds a plan that uses chiropractic adjustment to restore proper joint mechanics, simple home exercises to correct the muscle imbalances driving the problem, and athlete care for athletes who need to return to full activity.

Hip pain and low back pain are closely linked — if you’re dealing with both, our approach addresses them together rather than in isolation. Ready to find out what’s really going on? Our New Patient Special makes it easy to get started, and you can book your exam online.