Bursitis FAQs

Hip bursa pain is located along the outer aspect of the hip. A bony prominence can be felt on the outer aspect of the hip and in case of inflammation of this bursa, the pain is usually present over it and can be felt while rubbing it or lying over it.

Bursitis means inflammation of the bursa. It is usually caused due to excessive rubbing of the bursa and the structures around it. Bursitis is usually cured by use of RICE (rest, elevation, ice and compression) along with anti-inflammatory medications. Occasionally if the pain is not relieved with these measures, a cortisone injection can be helpful.

Bursitis, as any other inflammation in the body, is a reaction of the body against some persistent injury. They are usually painful and a way of body to inform that something unusual is going on. It is usually treatable with RICE (rest, ice, compression and elevation) along with anti-inflammatory medications, with or without steroid injection.

The bursitis of the shoulder is usually treated with RICE (rest, elevation, compression and ice) along with anti-inflammatory medications. If the patient does not get improvement with this, then a cortisone injection can be given in the shoulder joint which may help recover from the bursitis. The patient may also be asked to start physical therapy and avoid movements which cause persistent bursitis.

Bursitis may be present even in the absence of arthritis and may be caused due to mechanical overuse or rubbing of the surfaces along the bursa. It may occasionally also be associated with arthritis and may be a presentation of that due to mechanical reasons.

Sepsis bursitis means infection in a bursia. It is caused due to organisms like bacteria which may cause inflammation along with collection of pus formation. These patients may present with worsening pain, fever with or without chills, swelling, redness, discharge and inability to move the joint. These patients may need urgent medical supervision and management and should be treated by a physician.

Patients who have pain due to bursitis, may take anti-inflammatory medications like Tylenol, Aleve or Advil. They may also use some local ointment in the area apart from using ice and rest.

Cortisone shot helps in decreasing the inflammation and, hence, decreasing the pain caused by the bursitis. It may give a long enough effect which may be helped with physical therapy or modification in activities to be lasting long enough to not require another form of treatment.

The physicians usually do a physical examination with a special test to find out if the patient has hip arthritis or bursitis. Then they also do x-rays of the hip to rule out hip arthritis. In rare cases, an MRI may be needed to confirm the diagnosis of hip arthritis or bursitis.

Bursitis in the hip should be initially treated with over-the-counter pain medications and possible physical therapy. If the pain is not relieved, a cortisone injection into the bursa of the hip can help resolve the condition. Also, the precipitating conditions of the bursitis should be avoided to prevent future development of bursitis of the hip.