Everything You Need to Know about Trochanteric Bursitis

Trochanteric bursitis or “runner’s hip” or ‘pinching of the hip’ is a condition associated with pain and discomfort. It develops in the area where the thigh bone (femur) meets the pelvis just above the knee joint. The trochanteric bursa, the fluid-filled sac, is located just below and in front of this area on the hip’s side. This fluid-filled sac becomes painful when it becomes inflamed and irritated, creating the need for treatment.

Trochanteric bursitis treatment is the non-surgical treatment of pain and inflammation due to trochanteric bursitis, which is an inflammation of the bursa between the upper part of the femur bone and the greater trochanter. The bursa aids in protecting these areas from friction and stress.

This article explains how trochanteric bursitis treatment works, the symptoms, and how to avoid this condition.

Why Go for Trochanteric Bursitis Treatment?

Going for trochanteric bursitis treatment for the following reasons;

Help Overcome Pain

Hip pain can be debilitating, preventing you from living your everyday life to the fullest. With trochanteric bursitis treatment, you can fight your pain and get back to feeling like yourself again.

What Causes Trochanteric Bursitis?

Tendon and ligament injuries around the hip are referred to as trochanteric bursitis or trochanteric inflammation. This condition can be triggered by several factors, including a hard fall, overuse of the area, rheumatoid arthritis, or any other chronic inflammatory condition of the body.

Besides, the condition is triggered by inflammation in the bursa, which is designed to protect the area between bones and tendons. This condition tends to affect older adults who participate in activities that strain hip joints, such as golfing. Unlike other forms of hip pain, which are usually felt in the groin, the location of pain from trochanteric bursitis is generally along the sides of the hips and sometimes in the groin.

What are the Symptoms?

Trochanteric bursitis condition is characterized by excess fluid buildup under the affected trochanter. In most cases, trochanteric bursitis begins with hip pain that is worsened by walking or running.

In some cases, the pain might only be present during sitting. Other symptoms include inflammation and tenderness in the affected area, especially when pressure is applied.

Other than pain, the affected person can experience swelling and tenderness, weakness in the surrounding muscles, and an increased risk of injury to the hip. The worse it gets, there is the bigger risk that it will lead to arthritis.

These symptoms are usually due to excessive pressure and tension placed on the hip area while running or walking.

How Trochanteric Bursitis Treatment Works

The treatment for trochanteric bursitis involves relieving pressure on the inflamed bursa and restoring blood flow to it. This can be accomplished through a procedure that may require a small incision to drain any trapped blood or fluids, thereby reducing inflammation. Recovery from the procedure is quick; patients typically go home from the surgery within a day. They often prescribed rest, ice packs, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen and naproxen, for pain relief.

How to Treat Trochanteric Bursitis

There are several treatment options for trochanteric bursitis. The most common option is non-operative, which simply means medications and activity modification may be used to treat this condition. This includes physical therapy over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen, naproxen, or aspirin. Pain relief is often the first priority in patients with trochanteric bursitis, and the goal of non-operative treatment is pain relief and return to normal daily activities like walking.

Corticosteroids injections are also used to treat trochanteric bursitis and reduce pain. Normally, the doctor injects Corticosteroids directly into the area where the patient is experiencing inflammation. These injections are given multiple times to help provide lasting pain relief.

In severe conditions, the doctor may recommend surgery. Actually, surgery is used to treat trochanteric bursitis.  The surgeon removes the inflamed bursa.  The advantage of surgery is that it eliminates any chance of getting the condition back.

Keep in mind that most cases of trochanteric bursitis are treated with non-surgical methods and over-the-counter pain medications to relieve pain in the hip area.

How Can You Prevent Trochanteric?

You can prevent this condition by doing the following

Do kegel exercises-To prevent trochanteric bursitis, perform exercises to strengthen your pelvic muscles, according to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. These exercises are called Kegel exercises. They will increase the tone and strength of muscles in the pelvic area, which will pull on the iliopsoas muscle where it inserts at the top of your thigh bone, reducing your chances of getting trochanteric bursitis. You perform these exercises by squeezing as if you were trying to stop the flow of urine. Squeezing too hard should be avoided as this may cause pain or discomfort upon release.

Cut off extra weight-Weight loss is one of the most effective ways to help prevent trochanteric bursitis. Human knees are designed to carry around 10-20% of their body weight, anything above that, and you risk an unnecessary strain on your joints. Reducing excess weight will lead to less pressure and strain on your joints and decrease the chance of injury.

Avoid doing activities that put a lot of pressure on your joints-Trochanteric bursitis can occur when a tendon becomes irritated or inflamed over time. Simple activities such as walking, or even getting in and out of bed, maybe difficult and painful. One way to help prevent trochanteric bursitis is to avoid strenuous activities such as excessive running and jumping or repetitive squatting. Instead of wearing high heels, which often rub against the hips, choose sneakers with good arch support––and don’t stand for prolonged periods of time.

Finally, minor injuries occur every day, and unless you plan on taking complete bed rest, trochanteric bursitis treatment must be practiced in order to avoid further damage. By following the routine exercises, avoiding strenuous activities, and finding healthy ways of shedding off excess pounds, you can completely avoid trochanteric bursitis. However, if you start experiencing pain, it’s advisable to seek medical care earlier to prevent the problem from escalating.