19 Nov Joint Injections Can Treat Hip Bursitis Pain
Hip bursitis can be a common cause of pain for older individuals as the joints begin to weaken. Medications and physical therapy can stop being effective at treating the pain over time. Steroid injections to the bursa of the hip can treat this joint pain.
What are Joint Injections?
A bursa is a fluid-filled sac that lubricates the motion of muscle over bone. A bursa injection is the injection of a steroid medication into a bursa. The steroid medication is a powerful anti-inflammatory medication. Inflammation of a bursa can lead to a very painful condition called bursitis. An injection of steroid into the inflamed bursa can substantially decrease this inflammation and thereby lead to a significant reduction in pain. The steroid medication begins to take effect in one to two days, at which point you should start to see some benefit. The steroid effect continues to get stronger and stronger such that the peak effect occurs at about two weeks. After that, the effect will stabilize and should last several weeks to months. Typically, the pain relief experienced from this procedure lasts 3-6 months, but there is significant variability from patient to patient and from one procedure to another. If and when the pain starts to return, this procedure can be repeated to try and attain some pain relief once again. Keep in mind that this injection may work very well for pain in certain areas but may not help with others. Areas of pain that do not respond may need other treatments
What is Hip Bursitis?
Trochanteric bursitis occurs when small, fluid-filled sacs in the hip called bursa become irritated. Bursitis is one of the most common causes of hip pain. Bursa is small, fluid-filled sacs found near joints. Bursa allows the joints to move more easily by allowing muscles and tendons to glide over adjacent bones. The human body has over 150 bursae. When the bursa becomes inflamed, they cause a condition known as bursitis. Trochanteric bursitis or greater trochanteric pain syndrome gets its name because it affects an area of the bone called the trochanter. The trochanter is located in a specific area of the hip, at the tip of the thighbone. Trochanteric bursitis is a common cause of outer hip pain in active middle-aged women. Trochanteric bursitis can cause significant hip pain, especially if a person puts pressure on their hip. The pain related to trochanteric bursitis is usually worse at night, especially when a person is lying down or has been lying on their side for some time. If the tendons around the hipbone are also inflamed, symptoms may be worse. The symptoms of trochanteric bursitis can be similar to those caused by a tear of the gluteus medius, which is a muscle that attaches to the same area. However, a tear of the gluteus medius causes weakness when trying to bring the hip or leg away from the body. If symptoms persist and a person suspects a tear of the gluteus medius, they should see a doctor as this injury may require surgery.
How Can Joint Injections Treat Hip Bursitis Pain?
Bursa injections are extremely effective at treating hip bursitis pain. The steroid injection can reduce the inflammation in the hip bursa joint, causing chronic pain. These injections are mildly invasive but an alternative to costly surgical procedures. If your hip bursitis pain is not responding to traditional pain medications and physical therapy, talk with your doctor about bursa steroid injections.