Hip Bursitis
The bursae are critical for helping our joints move smoothly. They act as cushions for the bones, tendons, and ligaments in our joints. Overuse these small fluid-filled sacs at your own peril — they’ll tell you by becoming irritated and swollen. If this is the case, you have bursitis.
Bursitis is common in the shoulders, elbows, and hips. In the hips, there are two bursae that become irritated and inflamed. At Pinehurst Surgical Orthopaedic & Joint Replacement Center, we’ll help you get past the pain of hip bursitis.
WHAT IS HIP BURSITIS?
In the hip, there are two major bursae. One bursa covers the bony point of the hip, This is the greater trochanteric bursa. Inflammation of this bursa is called trochanteric bursitis. It is the more common bursitis of the hip. The other bursa is located on the inside of the hip toward the groin. It is called the iliopsoas bursa. Bursitis in the iliopsoas bursa is far less common than trochanteric bursitis. Both of these inflammations are known as hip bursitis.
IS BURSITIS A FORM OF ARTHRITIS?
Bursitis is not a form of arthritis. Arthritis is joint inflammation. In the hips, this is usually associated with osteoarthritis (wear and tear arthritis). Bursitis is inflammation of the bursa, the small, jelly-like sacs that are positioned between bones and soft tissues.
HOW IS HIP BURSITIS DIAGNOSED?
Hip bursitis can be mistaken for symptoms of other conditions. That’s where Dr. Moore’s extensive experience as a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon comes into play. When diagnosing hip bursitis, he first must rule out other potential causes, such as hip osteoarthritis, tendonitis, iliotibial band syndrome, and conditions affecting the lower back. To rule out conditions such as osteoarthritis, Dr. Moore may order imaging tests, such as x-rays, bone scans, or magnetic resonance imaging. Blood tests may be used to rule out or confirm certain systemic inflammatory conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and gout.
Dr. Moore will conduct a physical exam and discuss your symptom history, along with your medical history. We’re looking for a pattern of pain and other symptoms.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF HIP BURSITIS?
The main symptom of any bursitis is pain. With trochanteric bursitis that pain is at the point of the hip, and it usually extends to the outside of the thighs. Initially, the pain is acute, sharp and intense. As the pain endures, it becomes more of an ache and spreads across a larger area.
The pain can be worse after long walks, climbing many stairs, or any time squatting. The pain typically worsens at night, when lying on the affected hip, and when getting up from a chair after being seated for a period of time.
RISK FACTORS FOR HIP BURSITIS
Hip bursitis is more common in women, and in middle-aged and elderly people. There are certain risk factors that are associated with a person developing hip bursitis.
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 of time.
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.
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.
Spine disease – Scoliosis, osteoarthritis in the lumbar spine, and other diseases inflame the hip bursae.
Previous surgery – Hip replacement or surgery in the area can lead to bursitis.
Bone spurs – These can develop within the tendons that attach muscles to the trochanter.
CAN BURSITIS SPREAD TO OTHER JOINTS?
The bursa are individual sacs that provide cushioning between bones and adjacent soft tissues. They don’t work together and are not susceptible to inflammation spreading from one bursa to another.
What can happen is not spreading, per se, but evolving inflammation. If the activities you’re doing are irritating and inflaming bursa in one area, it would be logical that if you don’t cease the activity you could begin to irritate adjacent bursa. In the hips, the bursa that covers the bony point of the hip bone called the greater trochanter is prone to inflammation. This is trochanteric bursitis. Another bursa, the iliopsoas bursa, is located on the inside of the hip. If you have a hip injury or are overusing the hips such as when running, you could cause both bursae to become inflamed.
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Hip Bursitis