Hip Bursitis Treatment

Before coming to hip bursitis, I will let you know about its origin. The movement between any two tissues in our body, is taken care of by a closed fluid-filled sac known as a bursa. This sac serves as a gliding surface in order to lessen the friction, which occurs when two tissues slide over one another. The tendons near the large joints, such as the shoulders, elbows, hips and knees, are the ones which have the main bursae (plural of 'bursa') in a location adjacent to them. So, when these bursae, due to certain factors or reasons, become inflamed, then this condition arises which is known as bursitis. However, here we are having a discussion on the hip bursitis, which causes pain over the outside the upper thigh. The causes which bring about this condition, associate themselves with running-oriented sports, trauma to thighs and symptoms of a surgery related to the hip.

Symptoms
The hip consists of three main bursae; the trochanteric bursa, the ischial bursa and the iliopectineal bursa. The symptoms for all these three differ from one another. In case of a trochanteric bursitis, the affected person may suffer from a dull pain on the outer hip. This pain also gives rise to a burning sensation and its intensity increases or worsens with excessive walking or stair climbing. Another symptom of trochanteric bursitis is tenderness of the outer hip.

Coming to ischial bursitis, pain in the upper buttock area is the most noticeable. It aggravates when climbing up a hill (any movement involving elevation). This pain might also crop up if the patient has been sitting on hard surface for a long time. Iliopectineal bursitis has the symptom of pain in the groin area.

Treatment
Hip bursitis treatment is aimed towards keeping a check on the inflammation and reducing the discomfort arising from the symptoms. The affected person must go for a period of complete rest, which is void of any activities such as sports or anything which might aggravate the pain.

The doctor will prescribe certain inflammatory medications, which will put the inflammation under control and help in alleviating the pain, as well.

The use of ice also helps in the treatment of hip bursitis. It helps in controlling the inflammation and also restore blood flow to the affected area.

Drainage of the bursa fluid is also something doctors take up to treat the condition of hip bursitis. This process is for those cases, wherein, there is an excessive accumulation of fluid in the bursa. It involves the removal of the fluid, with the help of a needle and syringe. However, this method is rarely required in case of a hip bursitis. Condition which is noninfectious can also be treated with an injection of cortisone, as it is helpful in alleviating pain. This may also be accompanied by the above procedure of draining of the bursa fluid.

Apart from all these medical procedures, stretching exercises and some physical therapy programs are also considered, once the symptoms are under control. Consulting a physical therapist is the best option for seeking helpful tips on some effective bursitis hip exercises, which may help people to recuperate better. These exercises help in conditioning muscles and tendons and thus, aid them in gliding more easily, minimizing the risk of a hip bursitis.

People who religiously follow all the recommendations with respect to rest, medications and exercises, have all chances of achieving a speedy recovery. However, in some cases, the condition may recur. When such cases are no more curable by standard medications, surgery becomes the next option. Otherwise, requirement of a surgery for treating hip bursitis is a rarity.