Ready To Talk Hip Pain?
If you’re dealing with nagging hip pain—especially one that hasn’t responded to stretching, foam rolling, or even previous physical therapy—you might be looking in the wrong place. At Alliance Regen & Rehabilitation in St. Petersburg, FL, we see this often: patients frustrated with persistent “hip” discomfort that turns out to be referred pain from the lower back or SI joint—not the hip itself.
In this blog, Dr. John Broussard, DO, a specialist in diagnostic musculoskeletal ultrasound, and Dr. Brian Broussard, DPT, a hip pain and back rehab expert, explain how to differentiate between true hip pain and spine-related dysfunction—and why that distinction matters for treatment and long-term results.
Hip Pain vs. Referred Back Pain: What's The Difference?
True hip pain is caused by an injury to the hip joint itself—labral damage, arthritis, tendon issues, or bursitis.
- Pinching pain in the front of the hip usually when squatting or bringing knee across body
- Side of the hip
- A gripping pain that goes from front to back of the hip
Referred pain comes from lumbar nerve roots, facet joints, or the sacroiliac joint (SIJ) and shows up in places like:
- The front of the hip or groin
- The outer glute
- The top of the hamstring or inner thigh
“When hip imaging looks clean and the symptoms don’t line up with a primary hip pathology, we start looking at the spine and sacroiliac joint. Diagnostic ultrasound helps us confirm what structures are truly involved.”
— Dr. John Broussard, DO
The Limitations of Cortisone Injections and Surgeries
Cortisone injections can temporarily reduce inflammation and mask pain, but they do not promote healing and may actually weaken tissues over time—especially with repeated use. If the cortisone actually relieves the pain, the patient typically feels that ‘they’re healed’ and go out using the shoulder as they were before. This severely increased the likelihood for worsening of the injury.
Similarly, unnecessary surgery can sometimes lead to scar tissue, long rehab times, or even additional complications.
At Alliance, we believe in using conservative options first, especially when so many patients respond well to regenerative medicine and physical therapy when paired together properly.
Red Flags Your Hip Pain May Be Spine Related
When you’re dealing with pain in and around the hip, it can be hard to pin point and figure out what’s wrong or what will help. It’s good to know a few things that may indicate that you’re dealing with some referred pain.
1. The pain moves around or is hard to pinpoint
2. It worsens after sitting or long-standing
3. Stretching or foam rolling doesn’t help (or makes it worse)
4. You feel deep aching or nerve-like symptoms without clear injury
5. Hip X-rays or MRIs show no major findings
As you probably already noticed, many of the symptoms can be similar for both hip pain and referred pain. That’s why we urge patients to seek a physical therapist or non-surgical physician to assess the hip and back.
🧠 Why This Happens: The Spine-Hip Connection
The lumbar spine shares nerve roots (L1–L4) with the hip and thigh region. If one of these nerves is irritated (from a disc, joint, or even muscle tension), it can refer pain directly to the hip—even when the hip is structurally normal.
You might find our previous blog helpful: “Back Pain Secrets: 6 Sure Fire Ways to End Back Pain”
From a movement perspective, the spine and hips rely on each other and impact each other! Your hip and spine are part of the same kinetic chain, meaning they don’t work in isolation—every movement involving your lower back or pelvis depends on healthy hip mechanics, and vice versa.
Here’s how the connection works:
The lumbar spine sits right above the pelvis and relies on the hips to provide adequate motion, especially in movements like squatting, bending, lunging, or walking.
The hips are ball-and-socket joints, designed for large ranges of motion and power generation. In contrast, the spine (especially the lumbar spine) is built more for stability than mobility.
When hip mobility or strength is limited…
The spine has to compensate by moving more than it should, especially during rotation, extension, or bending. This often leads to:
Low back pain from overuse of spinal joints and muscles
Disc irritation due to repeated flexion or shearing forces
SI joint stress from altered load transfer between the pelvis and spine
When spine stiffness or instability is present…
The hips may compensate with poor movement patterns, such as:
Increased hip internal rotation, leading to joint irritation or labral stress
Excessive pelvic tilt or lumbar sway, straining both the hips and the spine
Overloading of glutes or hip flexors, creating muscle imbalances or tendonitis
Some Real World Examples…
A runner with tight hip flexors may compensate with excessive lumbar extension, leading to low back pain during long runs.
A CrossFitter with poor hip external rotation might twist through the low back to get depth in a squat—putting stress on the spine and SI joint.
Someone with chronic disc issues may unconsciously limit spinal motion and force the hips to take over awkwardly—leading to hip bursitis or labral irritation.
🧪 How We Get Hip Pain & Back Pain Right At Alliance
Step 1: Identify the Root Cause
At Alliance Regen & Rehabilitation, we combine clinical expertise with diagnostic ultrasound imaging to eliminate guesswork.
Dr. John Broussard, DO provides:
- Real-time musculoskeletal ultrasound to assess tendons, bursa, joint space, and dynamic hip movement
- Differential testing to distinguish hip vs. lumbar/SIJ involvement
- Ultrasound-guided injections if needed to confirm or treat underlying pathology
Dr. Brian Broussard, DPT performs:
- Functional movement and gait analysis
- Joint-by-joint orthopedic screens
- Manual testing to reproduce or relieve symptoms
- Load-based evaluations of pelvic, hip, and spinal stability
“When you blend diagnostic ultrasound with movement testing, you get clarity—and fast. It’s a game-changer for complex hip cases.”
— Dr. Brian Broussard
✅ What Hip Pain or Back Pain Treatment Looks Like - Once We Know The Source
If it’s true hip dysfunction (labrum, tendons, etc.):
→ Your plan may include joint loading, strengthening, mobility work, and posture training.
If it’s spine- or SI-joint-related:
→ You’ll focus on:
- Lumbar/SIJ mobility
- Core and pelvic control
- Neural mobility
- Unloading strategies and motor retraining
Bonus:
If symptoms persist despite conservative care, ultrasound-guided interventions can be used to precisely target inflammation and confirm diagnosis—without unnecessary imaging or surgical exploration.
Why Active Adults with Hip Pain In St. Petersburg Choose Us
Our patients are people like you—not looking for a “quick fix,” but real solutions. They want to get back to:
Deadlifting at the gym without back pain
Playing pickleball without knee pain
Going on long walks without back or SI pain
Benching and doing Crossfit workouts without shoulder issues
Running without knee pain and hip pain
Here’s why so many active adults in St. Pete trust us with their care:
A true one-stop shop: From diagnosis to treatment to recovery, we provide it all under one roof.
Regenerative + Rehab synergy: We’re one of the few clinics that combine regenerative medicine (like PRP and MFAT) with expert physical therapy for long-lasting results.
Expert clinicians: Your care team includes a Sports Medicine Physician, Physical Therapists, and Movement Specialists who understand the needs of athletes and active adults.
Advanced diagnostics: With in-house diagnostic ultrasound and movement testing, we don’t just guess—we get to the root of the issue fast.
Personalized care: Every plan is tailored to your activity level, goals, and unique needs. We know your time and performance matter.
— Dr. John Broussard
You Don't Have to Settle for Hip Pain
Sick of being told your only options are medications or surgery? Don’t give up yet. There is a better, smarter way to address joint pain that focuses on healing, movement, and your lifestyle.
Prevention and Maintenance
Our job isn’t done once the pain goes away. At Alliance, we focus on building strength, restoring mobility, and creating a maintenance plan to prevent future injuries. Whether you’re training for a race, playing a sport, or just want to move better in everyday life, we’re here to support you every step of the way.
Schedule Your Hip & Back Pain Diagnostic & Treatment Consultation
We’re currently offering a 72% discount on our comprehensive joint assessment with our Doctors:
Diagnostic ultrasound
Full movement & kinetic chain evaluation
Personalized report of findings & recovery roadmap
Let us help you get back to doing what you love, pain-free and without surgery.
Call us today at 727-258-7224 to start your recovery journey!
What to Expect During Your First Visit
- Comprehensive Assessment
- A full movement analysis to determine the cause of your pain.
- Hands-on diagnostic testing to evaluate joint health and integrity.
- Diagnostic Ultrasound Imaging and manual testing
- Customized Treatment Plan
- Progressive joint loading exercises with your physical therapist
- Regenerative treatments (PRP, shockwave therapy, MFAT etc.).
- Manual therapy, dry needling, and other advanced techniques.
- A Roadmap for Recovery
- Specific exercises to perform at home.
- Follow-up visits to progress your treatment safely.
- Strategies to prevent future joint overload or breakdown.
Contact Alliance Regen and Rehab
📍 Location: St. Petersburg, FL
📞 Phone: (727) 258-7224
📧 Email: info@thealliancerx.com
🌐 Website: thealliancerx.com
Inquire About Availability & Pricing
What types of joint pain do you treat?
We commonly treat knee pain, hip and SI dysfunction, ankle joint, shoulder injuries, and chronic tendon issues. We also treat cervical spine, rib pain, and TMJ pain. There isn't many joints in the body that we don't treat.
Is PRP or Prolotherapy right for me?
We assess every patient individually and recommend the best treatment for your specific injury, lifestyle, and goals.
How long until I see some results from treatment
Patient's often find relief within the first session of physical therapy. When it comes to regenerative treatments, patients can see improvement within a few days due to the inflammatory properties of the PPR (this is good inflammation and a sign your body is healing). We follow these treatments up with physical therapy to help expedite the progress.
Do I have to stop working out?
In most cases, no! Our approach is to keep you active while modifying your routine to protect the healing tissue. In some situations, your physical therapist and physician may require a hold on some activity while allowing other movements. We understanding staying active is important to the fabric of who you are!
Is Physical Therapy right for me?
- Yes! In fact, you don't have to be on your last leg until you see a physical therapist. You also don't need a script from your doctor. But, you can see a PT even with mild soreness or just on a preventative basis. Our physical therapists can help you swing better, run better, and lift better so you don't get hurt in the process!
Stop masking the pain—start addressing the root cause. Contact us today to begin your recovery journey!