Hip Muscle Injury
Hip Bursitis: Symptoms and Diagnosis
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Hip Bursitis Injection
Not all cases of hip bursitis can be successfully treated and resolved with physical therapy and exercise. In these cases, additional help to reduce the inflammation, such as with injections, may be necessary. Cortisone is a steroid that is often used for musculoskeletal injuries where inflammation is causing pain. A cortisone injection can be guided into the bursa using ultrasound. A cortisone shot for hip bursitis is a very effective way to reduce inflammation and pain.
Pros and Cons of Cortisone Injections
A cortisone shot for hip bursitis can be very painful, as there is a risk of a steroid flare reaction, which affects about 30% of people. A steroid flare reaction is an increase in pain that lasts 1-3, and up to 5 days. The individual will be warned of this and all other side effects to allow them to make an informed decision to consent to the injection or not. The typical hip bursitis injection recovery time is 7-10 days. It is advised to rest following the injection so that the medication can take effect, and physical therapy can resume after 7-10 days.
Effective pain relief can last up to 3-4 months after the injection is administered, providing a window of opportunity for pain-free rehabilitation. During this time of rehabilitation, strength and flexibility issues that may have contributed to the onset of bursitis, can be addressed and improved.
Hip Bursitis Surgery
Surgery for hip bursitis is rarely necessary and should always be considered a last resort. It should only be considered if all other treatment options have been exhausted, including an appropriately long period of effective physical therapy, activity modification, medications, injections and assisted devices such as braces. Surgery to resolve hip bursa pain from greater trochanteric bursitis typically involves bursectomy, the removal of the bursa, and/or iliotibial band release. Most of the time, surgery can be performed arthroscopically.
Hip Bursitis Surgery Recovery Time
Recovery from surgery for hip bursitis is relatively quick, usually taking no more than 6 weeks. Most people will need crutches, at most, for a couple of days while the initial soreness subsides. Following the surgery, rehabilitation with a physical therapist is strongly advised, and they will be able to guide you through the recovery process to get you back to the activities you love. for higher-impact activities such as running and other sports, you may be advised to wait longer than 6 weeks. This will depend on your specific case, type of surgery, pain levels, strength and fitness.
Hip Bursitis Surgery Success Rate
The majority of surgeries are successful and provide the pain relief that they intended to. This is mainly because it is used as a last resort, and only for a small number of individuals. However, as the bursa plays a significant role, removing this part of the anatomy can have negative repercussions.
Physiotherapy with James McCormack
This is not medical advice. We recommend a consultation with a medical professional such as James McCormack. He offers Online Physiotherapy Appointments.