Hip bursitis happens when there is an inflammation of one or more of the small sacs of synovial fluid in the body. These sacs are also known as bursae and they are located at body parts where muscles and joints slide across the bone.
In a healthy person, the bursae slide smoothly, creating no pain. However, in a person affected with the ailment, every movement creates excruciating pain that renders even the slightest motion very difficult.
Causes Of Hip Bursitis
Bursitis comes about because of repetitive movements of a certain body part and most especially if the area is subjected to excessive pressure.
As such, elbows and knees are commonly affected. Especially in older people, having bursitis is very painful because of the frequent scraping of the bursae against the bones.
Symptoms: The presence of hip bursitis is usually detected through the presence of pain in the hip areas, especially those surrounding joints. In cases of intense activity, the pain may fade but will be present once the activity ceases. There are also instances when the joints become stiff on the following day.
Natural Remedies For Pain Relief In Hip Bursitis
The treatment generally does not involve surgery.
When this fails to relieve the pain, the surgeon would have to remove the bursa. Nonsurgical treatments would include low-impact movement with the use of crutches or a walking cane, compresses, and proper rest.
- Rest and cold compresses. The cold compress should help reduce the swelling. This only works for the early stage bursitis. Because the disorder has not yet developed that far, topical intervention such as cold compress and resting the affected part will do.
- If cold compress and rest will not do, anti-inflammatory drugs and other pain medications that don’t have steroid content are usually enough to handle the pain and minimize the inflammation. A single dose of corticosteroid drug is usually prescribed by the doctor to immediately relieve the pain.
- A physical therapist can show you how to properly stretch and exercise your muscles.
- If an infection has caused the hip bursitis, your doctor may have to administer antibiotics.
- In rare instances, there may be a need for aspiration of the bursae. This process is done by removing the fluid around the affected area.
As long as the patient takes care of herself even with the home treatments, full recovery will normally take just a couple of weeks.