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Description of Hip Bursitis.

Bursitis is caused by inflammation of bursa, a small connective tissue sac that contains small amount of fluid. Bursas are located throughout the joints of the body such as shoulder; elbow, hip, knee, and heel. They act as cushions between bones and the overlying soft tissues, and reduce friction between the gliding muscles and the bone.

Trochanteric Bursa and Relationship of the Iiotibial Band and the Greater Trochanter.

The bony point of the hip is called the Greater Trochanter. This is the attachment point for muscles that move the hip joint. The Trochanter has a large Bursa overlying it that occasionally becomes irritated, resulting in Hip Bursitis (Trochanteric Bursitis).

Another Bursa is located on the inside of the hip (the groin) this is known as Iliopsoas Bursa. When this Bursa becomes inflamed, the condition is also sometimes referred to as hip Bursitis, but the pain is located in the groin area. This condition is not as common as Iliopsoas Bursitis, but is treated in a similar manner.

Symptoms

The main symptom of Hip Bursitis is pain at the point of the hip. The pain extends to the outside of the thigh area. In the early stages, the pain can be described as sharp and intense. Later, it may become a dull ache.

Typically, the pain becomes worse at night, when lying on the affected hip, also when rising up from a chair after being seated for a long period. It also may get worse with walking, and the climbing of stairs. Hip Bursitis can affect anyone, but is more common in the 60 to 80 year olds and the middle-aged with more women being affected than men.

The following risk factors have been associated with the development of hip bursitis.

o    Nepetitive stress injury. This can occur in any sporting activity such as running, football bicycling, or standing for excessive periods of time.

o    Hip injury. An injury to the point of the hip can occur when you fall onto to hip or just a bump or bang the hip.

o    Spine disease. Scoliosis, Arthritis of the lumbar (lower) spine, and other spine problems, are further risk factors.

o    Leg-length inequality. When one leg is shorter than the other by more than an inch or so, it affects the way you walk and can lead to irritation of a Trochanteric Bursa. The risk can be reduced by the use of heel or arthopedic foot lift.

o    Rheumatoid arthritis. This makes the Bursae more likely to become inflamed.

o    Previous surgery. Surgery of the hip area or prosthetic implants in the hip can be a cause of irradiation and cause Bursitis.

o    Bone Spurs or Calcium Deposits. These can develop within the tendons that attach to the Great Trochanter. They can irritate the Bursa and cause inflammation and resulting in pain.

Diagnosis

To diagnose the Hip Bursitis, the practitioner will perform a physical examination, looking for tenderness at the point on the hip; additional tests will be carried out to rule out other possible injuries or conditions. These tests can include X-rays, Bone scanning, and M.R.I. scanning.

Nonsurgical Treatment

There is little evidence to support the use of physiotherapy to treat hip Bursitis. However Cold Laser Therapy is extremely effective in the treatment of Bursitis.

See our Cold Laser Therapy Section under conditions Treated.

Injection of a Corticosteroid along with a local anesthetic can help relieve the symptoms of hip Bursitis. This is an effective treatment that your doctor may provide.