You probably don’t think much about your hip and joints, that is until they start acting up. Here at our office, we see patients for just about any and every joint issue including hip bursitis. But what is this condition and how can it be treated? Let’s take a closer look and see.

What Is Hip Bursitis?

There are two types of hip bursitis, both of which cause inflammation in the hip.

• Trochanteric Bursitis: This is the most common type of bursitis, and it takes place on the bony part of the hip called the trochanteric bursa.
• Iliopsoas Bursitis: This is a lot less common than trochanteric bursitis and takes place on the inside of the hip toward the groin.

What are the symptoms?

Typically, patients experience sharp, intense, acute pain that spreads from their hip and then goes down their legs. The pain tends to be worse at night, after long walks, climbing a lot of stairs, or a lot of time spent in a squatting position.

Who Gets Bursitis?

Patients with bursitis tend to be either elderly or women. Also, patients who experience the following are at a greater risk of getting it:

• Hip Injury – This can be a fall onto your hip, a bump with your hip, or even when you lie on one side of your body for an extended period.
• Spine disease – Scoliosis, osteoarthritis in the lumbar spine, and other diseases inflame the hip bursae.
• Unequal leg lengths – When one leg is significantly shorter than the other, the stress when walking can lead to irritation of the bursa.
• Rheumatoid arthritis – This increases the likelihood that your bursa will become inflamed.
• Bone spurs – These can develop within the tendons that attach muscles to the trochanter.
• Repetitive stress or overuse – When you’re a runner, cyclist, run stairs, or have a job that keeps you on your feet for long periods, you’re more likely to develop bursitis.
• Previous surgery – Hip replacement or surgery in the area can lead to bursitis.

What Is treatment Like?

Depending on how severe your bursitis is,we  will determine what kind of treatment you may best benefit from. Treatments include:

• Making some changes in your activities
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs)
• Physical therapy
• Steroid Injections

If you suffer from hip bursitis or if you want to learn more about it, contact our office and call us at  910.295.0224.