Hip Bursitis

If You have Bursitis of the Hip (Trochanteric Bursitis) 
then You've come to the right place! 

Hip Bursitis, sometimes more technically known as trochanteric bursitis, is an extremely painful and disabling condition. Being located where it is, it affects most activities during the day and night, especially walking, standing and sleeping. Bursitis of the hip is often mistaken for arthritis because of the similarity of the pain and symptoms. However, bursitis has causes which are more specific than arthrits, affecting the bursa in the joint.     

What is Bursitis?

According to the Cleveland Clinic, bursitis is an inflammation or irritation of a bursa which is a small fluid filled pad or sac that acts as a cushion for bones that are located near the joint areas of the body. The bursa pad cushions the bone from muscle and tendons which would rub against and wear down bone material if it were not present. There are many bursa sacs located in the joint area of the body and they are called bursae. When bursae are healthy they glide across the surface of the bone with very little friction but when bursitis occurs movement can become incredibly difficult and painful.

The bursae contain synovial fluid which is a substance that is used to reduce the friction between the articular cartilages of synovial joints during movement. Whenever a person moves their joints the inner membrane secretes the yolk-like synovial fluid into the joint cavity. This fluid contains hyaluronic acid which allows the synovial fluid to flow smoothly as it enters into the joints.

Another substance called the interstitial fluid is also exuded is a part of the synovial fluid and this substance is derived from the plasma that is contained within the blood. The synovial fluid forms a thin layer at the surface of cartilage and it seeps into the microcavities along the surface of the cartilage. Not only does the synovial fluid provide lubrication it is also acts as shock absorption for the joints. It also provides nutrients and removes waste from the cartilage areas. 

Causes of Hip Bursitis
  
Synovial fluid functions are disrupted once a person contracts bursitis. This condition is usually caused by repetitive movement and excessive pressure and it affects most people in the joints located in their hips, elbows and knees. Knees and hips cause most disability and inconvenience because they are in use most of the time and there is very little respite.

Everyday activities such as gardening, scrubbing, raking and sports can lead to this ailment. Incorrect posture and stress of the soft tissues which results from poorly positioned joints or bones can bring about bursitis symptoms as well.

Rheumatoid arthritis and scoliosis have been known to play a role with the cause of bursitis. People who suffer traumatic injury are also candidates for this disorder. Indicators of bursitis include achy or stiff joints, severe pain of a joint area within the body or if the affected area looks swollen or red. Individuals that have disabling joint pain that last for more than one to two weeks might also have bursitis.

Movement occurs in various parts of the human body including the ankles, the wrists and hands, the pelvic area, the sternum, the spine and the shoulder areas. Bursitis has also been known to occur in other parts of the cadaver such as the shoulders, hips, buttocks and feet as well as the knees and elbows. There are cases where bursitis will occur and the reasons as to why it has occurred are unknown. Bursitis usually goes away within a couple of weeks or more with the proper treatment or rest but reoccurrences of this condition are not uncommon.

Hip Bursitis Treatment

Preventing bursitis is the best way to treat this medical condition. Since most cases of bursitis occur from overuse of the joints through physical activity, medical professionals recommend that people limit or modify this type of behavior. It is also recommended that people who are prone to bursitis perform their activities at a slow pace and gradually build up their activity level. They also recommend using limited force and repetition and to stop if unusual pain occurs. Cushions and pads are also advised because they will reduce pressure in situations where people have to bend, stoop or perform extra motion.

Bursitis can also be treated with rest, ice, elevation, physiotherapy, anti-inflammatory drugs and pain medication. Advance message therapy techniques are also used to help relieve the inflammatory aspects of bursitis. Sometimes the joints can become infected once bursitis occurs and it may require antibiotic therapy.

Surgery is another option that is available for treating bursitis and a bursectomy is a surgical procedure that removes the affected bursa from the inflamed area. Once this damaged bursa is removed a new bursa sac will grow back in it place without the bursitis condition. Many cases of bursitis are effectively treated and this medical condition isn’t a major threat to a person’s health unless it is the result of an underlying cause such as a disease.

Champion golfer and superstar Jack Nicklaus suffered with bursitis of the hip for many years and for a time it had a serious effect on his performance on the golf course. He was even forced to modify his swing to cope with the problem and eventually underwent surgery to have the hip replaced. 
Read the full story of Jack's Bursitis Problems and the solution