How to relieve hip bursitis and be on the road to recovery

Hip bursitis is a common condition that can cause chronic hip pain in those that have it. It impacts the small, fluid-filled sacs called bursae that cushion the bones, tendons, and muscles near the joints and help avoid friction during motion. Bursitis is the inflammation of the bursa, which causes them to become swollen and irritated, leading to persistent pain.

Signs that you may have the condition include, if your hip:

• Feels achy or stiff
• Starts to hurt more when moving or when pressing on it
• Looks swollen and red or discoloured

Deciphering what is causing you hip pain can be tricky, which is why it is advisable to seek medical advice about your symptoms so it can be investigated further.

Learn more about the common causes of hip pain and what to look out for with each condition in our video below:

What causes the condition?

Hip bursitis is often caused by overuse or repetitive strain on the bursae around a joint. However, the condition can also be a result of an injury or other health conditions such as osteoarthritis, gout, infection, or inflammatory arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis.

The structure of your body can also put you at risk of developing the condition. This includes if your legs are different lengths, being overweight or obese, or having bad posture such as standing shifted onto one leg or sitting crossed legged.

Hip bursitis is relatively common and can affect anyone, particularly women and those who are middle-aged or elderly. It can also impact athletes and people who exercise regularly.

Strategies to help relieve hip pain

Although bursitis often goes away on its own, if it continues to persist, you may need to get further treatment to help relieve your symptoms and prevent the condition from coming back.

There are many interventions available to help alleviate the pain felt by hip bursitis.

Non-surgical treatment options

The type of treatment you may be recommended will depend on the cause of your condition.

If your condition is caused by an injury, you may be recommended to rest the joint for a while and follow the RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation) method until it heals. If the cause is to do with the ‘structure’ of your body, you may be recommended to make certain lifestyle changes such as maintaining a healthy weight or correcting your posture.

If an infection is causing the inflammation in the bursae, you may be prescribed antibiotics to help fight the infection and clear up your condition.

You may also be recommended steroid injections into the affected area, particularly if the cause is due to a form of arthritis. Administered corticosteroid medicine can quickly relieve pain, swelling, and irritation in the hip. It can also help make physiotherapy easier to do.

Partaking in physiotherapy or exercises can help strengthen your muscles in the affected area to ease pain and prevent bursitis from coming back.

Depending on the cause of your condition, you may also be recommended to use a walking cane or other device for a short period of time to help ease pressure on the affected area. Using devices such as cushions, pads and braces can also help protect your joints.

Surgical treatment options

Surgery is rarely needed for hip bursitis. However, if non-surgical treatment is proving ineffective or the cause of your condition is a severe injury, you may be recommended for an operation. There are many surgical techniques that may be done to help tackle the chronic inflammation effecting your bursa.

These include:

• Bursectomy (removing the affected bursa)
• Osteotomy (removing part of the hip bone)
• Tendon repair surgery

Your consultant will discuss what your surgical treatment options are and detail which procedure may be best for you based on your individual condition.

Can I prevent getting hip bursitis?

Although hip bursitis can’t always be prevented, there are things you can do to prevent the inflammation from getting worse.

Avoid repetitive activities that put stress on the hips, such as excessive walking or running, prolonged sitting, or standing with your weight shifted to one side of your body. These activities can put extra friction and pressure on the already irritated bursae, which can lead to worsening of your symptoms.

It’s important to maintain a healthy weight to help ease extra pressure on the hips. If you need assistance in losing weight healthily, check out our weight-loss clinic for further support.

Maintaining the strength and flexibility of your hip muscles is also essential in avoiding stiffness and pain in the joint. You can do this by taking part in exercises, such as yoga or Pilates, or general stretches regularly.

Get help with Circle Health Group

Hip bursitis is often caused by repetitive everyday stress. Attending to these risks early can prevent symptoms from getting worse. If your hip pain persists or begins to affect daily activity, getting medical advice from a healthcare professional is crucial.

At Circle Health Group, we offer a wide variety of treatments and therapies for hip pain and problems, including hip bursitis. From specialist physiotherapists to orthopaedic surgeons, we have the expertise to diagnose, treat and manage your hip pain. 

If you would like to learn more about our treatment options, book your appointment online today or call a member of our team directly.