Hip Pain, Arthritis & Orthopedic Treatment
Hip pain is often misread — blamed on the back, the groin, or “just getting older.” Dr. Michael Mikolajczak, DO evaluates the hip, pelvis, and lower back together to find the true driver of your symptoms, then builds a plan aimed at keeping you walking, golfing, and living without limitation.
Conditions We Evaluate
- Hip osteoarthritis — deep groin or buttock pain, stiffness after sitting, shortened walking tolerance, and difficulty with socks and shoes.
- Labral tears — catching, clicking, or pinching in the groin, often worse with deep flexion or rotation.
- Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) — abnormal contact between the femoral head and socket that limits rotation and irritates the labrum.
- Greater trochanteric bursitis and gluteal tendinopathy — pain over the outside of the hip, tender to lie on, aggravated by stairs and side-lying.
- Hip flexor and adductor strains — groin pain related to activity load or a specific injury.
- Referred pain from the lumbar spine — carefully screened so the hip is not treated for a problem originating in the back.
- Avascular necrosis and other structural conditions — identified through appropriate imaging when suspicion is raised.
Our Approach
Conservative-first care for the hip is about restoring capacity, not simply avoiding activity.
Physical therapy focused on the gluteal complex and core. Hip pain often improves substantially once the deep stabilizers and abductors are strong enough to control the joint.
Injection therapy. Corticosteroid or viscosupplementation injections in appropriate candidates, and regenerative options such as PRP discussed where indicated.
Gait and load management. Cane use on the correct side, walking-surface strategy, stride adjustments, and sensible activity pacing.
Weight and conditioning support. Low-impact cross-training that maintains fitness while calming the joint.
Home and workplace adjustments. Seat height, sleeping position, and small changes that remove daily aggravators.
When Surgery Is Considered
Hip replacement is one of the most reliable operations in medicine — but it is still an operation, and timing matters. Dr. Mikolajczak recommends it only when the evidence and your goals align.
- Total hip replacement when indicated — for advanced arthritis with structural joint loss, persistent pain despite thorough conservative care, and meaningful loss of daily function.
- Arthroscopic hip procedures for selected impingement and labral problems in appropriate candidates.
- Continued conservative management — a legitimate, actively managed choice, not a delay tactic, for patients who are not yet ready for or appropriate for surgery.
We review implant options, expected recovery milestones, rehabilitation requirements, and risks in detail, alongside what happens if you choose to wait. The decision is always yours.
What to Expect at Your Visit
- Imaging review. Weight-bearing X-rays and, when needed, advanced imaging — reviewed with you directly.
- Comprehensive exam. Hip range of motion, impingement testing, strength assessment, gait analysis, and lumbar spine screening.
- Goal-driven plan. Built around the specific activities you want back, with a realistic sequence and timeline.
Request Hip Consultation
Call 561-670-2010 or request an appointment online.