Hip bursitis is inflammation of one of the hip’s bursa, cushions that protect tendons and muscles from rubbing against bone. Hip bursitis is the most common cause of hip pain. Because an adult's body contains 160 bursae (the plural form of bursa), you can also have bursitis in other joints of your body, such as the shoulders, knees or elbows.
From recent injuries to nagging aches and pains, our orthopedic specialists can help. Schedule an appointment in LiveWell, online or by phone.
Hip bursitis can occur in bursae on the outside or inside of your hip. The type of hip bursitis you have depends on where the affected bursa is and if it’s infected. The major types of hip bursitis are:
The trochanter is the bony knob at the top of the thigh bone on the outside of your hip. When trochanteric bursae become inflamed, you may have trochanteric bursitis, or pain on the outside of the hip and the outer thigh.
Sometimes, bursae on the inside of the hip (the groin side) become inflamed, causing pain in the groin or upper buttock.
If your hip bursae become infected, it's called septic hip bursitis. Septic hip bursitis can be serious and causes additional symptoms, like feeling feverish, tired and sick.
Whether you know you have hip bursitis or aren’t sure what’s causing your hip pain, we can help. Our orthopedic team can identify the source of your pain and offer personalized bursitis treatments that will help you find relief.
Our bursitis treatment plans may include integrative therapies like acupuncture, physical therapy and, when necessary, minimally invasive surgery to help you move comfortably again.
If you have bursitis of the hip, Aurora Health Care’s orthopedic team can help you find a bursitis treatment plan to ease the pain.
As one of Wisconsin’s largest regional health care systems, we offer:
Hip bursitis is most common in women and in people who are middle-aged or older – although it can affect anyone.
Some factors increase the likelihood of bursitis, including:
The main symptom of hip bursitis is pain. Other hip bursitis symptoms can include hip swelling.
Pain from bursitis in your hip tends to get worse after you’ve been sitting or lying down. The pain may also increase when you do a repetitive activity, like climbing stairs.
If pain from bursitis lasts longer than one to two weeks, it’s a good idea to see a doctor.
While it isn’t common for the inflamed bursa in your hip to become infected, when it does happen, it’s called septic bursitis – and it can be dangerous. See a doctor right away if you have pain and redness at the hip along with fever, chills or nausea. Septic bursitis requires treatment with antibiotics so the infection does not spread.
Bursitis symptoms include pain that may radiate throughout the hip, thigh and buttock. To confirm that the cause of the pain is bursitis, your doctor will do a complete physical exam and ask you about how and when the pain began.
Your doctor might also ask you to do simple tasks like standing on the affected leg to see how your legs are functioning. Sometimes, your doctor will order an X-ray or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan, too, to verify that the pain is due to bursitis and not a fracture or other problem.
Learn more about other causes of hip pain.
Most hip bursitis gets better with simple lifestyle changes. At Aurora, your doctor will explain these changes and any other bursitis treatments that may help. These lifestyle changes and treatments may include:
Hip and knee pain doesn’t have to interfere with your life. Our hip and knee pain quiz evaluates your knees and hips, gauges the severity of any issues and gives you an idea what to do next based on your results.
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