What are Bursae?

A bursa is a fluid-filled space that acts as a cushion between tendons, bone, and skin. Bursae help your joints move with ease. There are over 150 bursae in your body. Several are found around the outer area of the hip near the portion of your thigh bone (the femur) called the greater trochanter. If you think about how much you walk each day, it makes sense why this section of bursae can become inflamed fairly often. When these fluid-filled spaces become inflamed, this is known as bursitis.

Causes and Symptoms

Inflammation of a bursa is caused by repetitive-use injuries, prolonged pressure, lumbar spine diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, and sometimes infection. Repetitive-use injuries can occur with things like running, dancing, playing sports, and long hikes. These injuries can affect anyone at any age but are most common in middle-aged women.

Symptoms of hip bursitis include:

Joint pain and tenderness
Swelling around the hip
Hip is hot to the touch
Sharp pain receding by the end of the day
Pain while sleeping on one side

Your doctor will be able to diagnose bursitis when he physically examines the specific area causing pain and tenderness. An X-ray may also be taken to rule out other causes.

Treatments for Hip Bursitis

Initial treatment of bursitis involves resting, immobilizing the area, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) to reduce inflammation and relieve pain. These tend to be the most effective way to treat the problem. Exercise and physical therapy, especially for the hip and lower back, can be helpful to strengthen the surrounding muscles and help prevent further injuries.

If these measures don’t relieve your pain, a doctor may recommend an injection of corticosteroids around the bursa, which usually brings rapid pain relief.

Surgery to remove the damaged bursa may be an option in severe cases.

Prevention

Hip bursitis, while not always preventable, can often be avoided by doing the following:

Stretching your hip muscles before activity
Practicing good posture
Avoiding repetitive hip movements that cause the pain
Cushioning your joints (cushion chairs when sitting and use extra hip support when sleeping)

If you suspect that you have signs or symptoms of hip bursitis, please contact Dr. Larson’s office for evaluation and treatment options.

What We Are Doing To Keep You Safe From COVID-19

Here in Dr. Larson’s office, we are doing everything we can to ensure patient safety. We are prepared for the challenges COVID-19 presents and want to keep you updated on what we’re doing to keep you safe. We are following CDC guidelines in regard to the disinfection of surfaces and rooms and are doing our best to practice social distancing to minimize the spread of COVID-19. Although elective surgeries have been canceled/postponed, we are still offering consultations to help ease the pain and discomfort associated with musculoskeletal system disorders. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Larson, please call (435)787-2000. As always, we have the health and safety of our patients as our top priority. Together, we can do our best to limit the spread of illness such as COVID-19.

Bursitis of the Hip