Trochanteric Bursitis

What Is Trochanteric Bursitis?

Trochanteric bursitis refers to a painful hip condition because of an inflamed trochanteric bursa at the greater trochanter. The greater trochanter is the ridge at the top of the femur or thigh bone. A fluid-filled bursa provides cushioning between your muscles, ligaments, tendons and bones.

The bursa facilitates smooth movement of your hips and legs with minimal friction at the joint. The inflammation of the trochanteric bursa causes the painful condition known as greater trochanteric pain syndrome (GTPS). This area is the attachment site for several muscles, and any injury directly at the site can lead to incapacitating pain and problems with walking and body movements.

An early diagnosis for trochanteric bursitis can boost the outcomes of trochanteric bursitis treatment. Dr. Amr Hosny and the expert pain management specialists at New York Pain Care use advanced techniques for the correct diagnosis and the most appropriate treatment of this hip condition. If you’re experiencing hip pain, tenderness or immobility, call on the experts in Midtown Manhattan, the Financial District or Greenwich Village. In New Jersey, visit the offices in Morris County, Bergen County or Union County.

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Amr Hosny, MD, MBA, FASABook Now David Chu, MD, FAAPMRBook Now Vivek Mehta, MD, FAAPMRBook Now Deepali Gupta, MD, DABA, DABPMBook Now

What Causes Trochanteric Bursitis?

There are multiple factors that can irritate or inflame the trochanteric bursa. This bursa sac reduces friction between the bones and soft tissue in the greater trochanter. When injured, you experience a lot of pain and other incapacitating symptoms. Some of the common causes of trochanteric bursitis include:

• A hip sprain or strain
• A sports injury, causing the bursa to fill with fluid and leading to inflammation
• Overuse of the hip joint
• Poor posture
• Certain diseases, including gout, and hip osteoarthritis
• Muscle tears around the greater trochanter
• Bone spurs in your thigh bone or hip
• Complications from hip surgery
• Extreme movements of the hip, such as overextension
• Lumbar spine complications

Diagnosis of trochanteric bursitis requires specialized skills and equipment. Dr. Hosny is a board-certified and Harvard-trained specialist in pain-causing conditions. He uses the latest medical technology for diagnosis and greater trochanteric bursitis treatment.

What Are the Symptoms of Trochanteric Bursitis?

Your doctor asks about your pain and other symptoms to narrow down the source of your pain and develop the best treatment plan. Most symptoms of greater trochanteric pain syndrome are like those of other hip conditions, such as hip tendonitis. Only your doctor can provide the correct diagnosis, although you may need to undergo additional tests. Some signs that point to trochanteric bursitis include:

• Chronic pain accompanied by hip tenderness
• Sharp pain on the outside of the hip
• Sharp pain radiating down the outside of your thigh or in your buttocks area
• A snapping sensation on the outside of your hip
• Pain when you lie on the affected part
• Pain that worsens when you press the outside of the hip
• Worsening pain with activities such as sitting up or stepping out of a car
• Pain when ascending stairs
• Sleeping problems due to pain

These symptoms provide important clues to your diagnosis, so you must tell your spine specialist about all your symptoms during your consultation. The team at New York Pain Care works to fully understand your condition through a review of your medical history, physical examination and imaging tests.

How Is Trochanteric Bursitis Treated?

After the diagnosis, your doctor starts trochanteric bursitis treatment. The treatment plan depends on the underlying cause of the inflammation, severity of the condition, symptoms, your age, medical history and other factors. Treatment options for trochanteric bursitis include:

• Trochanteric bursitis injection. Your doctor may choose an injection of corticosteroid medicine with a local anesthetic to reduce inflammation and control your hip pain.
• Trochanteric bursitis physical therapy. Recommended exercises can help strengthen your muscles, enhance flexibility and improve hip joint mechanics. These exercises reduce the pain and improve your range of motion.
• Assistive devices. Using supportive devices such as braces and walking canes reduce the pressure on the trochanteric bursa in the greater trochanter.
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Your doctor can prescribe anti-inflammatory medication to reduce the pain and any swelling.
• Ice treatment. Placing an ice pack on the tender and painful area of your hip offers temporary relief by numbing the inflamed joint and reducing inflammation.
• Surgery. This is a last option and is only used when the affected bursa is damaged beyond repair. It’s a minimally invasive procedure where the doctor uses an arthroscope to locate the affected bursa and remove it.

Tired of dealing with the debilitating pain in your hip area? Contact the team at New York Pain Care for a trochanteric bursitis diagnosis and treatment. The doctors operate a number of state-of-the-art facilities in New York City and northern New Jersey. They’re equipped with the latest medical equipment to help you out of pain.

New York Pain Care
20 Squadron Blvd, Suite 290
New City, NY 10956
(212) 242-8160