While there are many bursa around the hip joint, bursitis of the hip is not as common as once thought. In the past, many types of hip pain were described incorrectly by well-intentioned providers as hip bursitis. If you’ve been diagnosed with hip bursitis, and it is persisting and limiting your sleep and /or quality of life, we are interested in trying to help you improve and return to your normal activity.
Hip Bursitis
Greater trochanteric pain syndrome (GTPS) is the most common cause of outer (lateral) hip pain. GTPS affects 15% of women aged 50-70 years old. Historically, the term “trochanteric bursitis” was utilized to describe pain in that area. In reality, trochanteric bursitis is very rare.
Risk factors for GTPS include knee pain, low back pain, female, and overweight. Like other tendinopathies, GTPS results from repeatedly overloading the gluteus medius and minimus muscles and tendons.
Common symptoms of GTPS include pain with climbing stairs, lying on the painful side at night, rising from a chair, and walking. A careful history and physical exam by a sports medicine doctor can help pinpoint the cause of the hip pain. In addition to x-ray imaging, at Sports Health Northwest, we can utilize musculoskeletal ultrasound to help identify the cause of pain and evaluate the hip tendons and bursa.
GTPS can be a frustrating problem because of its negative effect on sleep and daily activities. There are many effective non-surgical treatment options to help promote healing, reduce pain, and help you return to normal activities.
