OUTER HIP PAIN
Hip bursitis is a common condition caused by the inflammation of a bursa, a small fluid-filled sac that cushions the bony point of your hip. Known specifically as trochanteric bursitis, this condition causes sharp, localized pain on the **outside** of the hip that can spread down the thigh. Often mistaken for arthritis or a spine issue, the pain from bursitis is distinct and typically worsens with direct pressure, such as lying on your side at night. Fortunately, with an accurate diagnosis, hip bursitis is a highly treatable condition.
RISK FACTORS
Hip bursitis typically results from repetitive friction or pressure on the bursa, which can be caused by overuse, injury, or underlying biomechanical issues.
The most common cause. Activities like running, prolonged walking, or cycling can repeatedly rub the IT band over the bursa, leading to irritation.
Weakness in the hip abductor muscles (glutes) can cause the IT band to tighten, increasing friction. Leg length differences can also contribute.
A fall directly onto the outside of your hip, or bumping it hard against a surface, can cause the bursa to become inflamed (traumatic bursitis).
Conditions of the lower back, such as scoliosis or arthritis, can alter your gait and posture, placing abnormal stress on the hip bursa.
RECOGNIZING THE SIGNS
The primary symptom of hip bursitis is pain on the outer point of the hip. The pain is often sharp at first and can later become a more constant ache.
The hallmark symptom: pain and tenderness located directly on the bony point on the side of your hip.
A classic sign is pain at night that awakens you or makes it impossible to sleep on the affected side due to the direct pressure.
Pain that gets worse with activities like prolonged walking, climbing stairs, squatting, or getting up from a deep chair.
The specific bony point on the outside of your hip is often very tender when you press on it.
The aching pain can spread from the point of the hip down the outside of the thigh, but it typically does not go past the knee.
Some people experience a snapping sensation on the outside of the hip as the tight IT band rolls over the inflamed bursa during movement.
ADVANCED SOLUTIONS
The goal of treatment is to reduce the inflammation in the bursa and then correct the underlying biomechanical issues that caused the irritation in the first place.
The most effective initial treatment. A targeted, ultrasound-guided injection of a powerful anti-inflammatory medication directly into the bursa provides rapid pain relief.
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Essential for long-term success. A targeted program to stretch the IT band and strengthen the hip abductor (gluteus) muscles helps correct the underlying cause.
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For chronic or recurrent bursitis, Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) injections can be used to stimulate a more robust and lasting healing response in the bursa and surrounding tissues.
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Initial management involves avoiding the activities that cause pain and applying ice to the area to help reduce inflammation and swelling.
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This non-invasive therapy uses acoustic waves to stimulate blood flow and the body's natural healing processes in the chronically inflamed bursa and surrounding tendons.
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Using musculoskeletal ultrasound to guide our injections ensures that the medication is delivered with pinpoint accuracy directly into the inflamed bursa for maximum effect.
Learn MoreIf pain on the outside of your hip is keeping you up at night and making it hard to walk, you may have hip bursitis. An accurate diagnosis is the first step to effective relief. Contact us to learn about targeted treatments that can quickly calm the inflammation and get you moving comfortably again.