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February 9, 2012

Patient Discussions: Hip Bursitis - Describe Your Experience

Question:Please describe your experience with hip bursitis.

Published: August 01

I am a 66 year old female and have bursitis for approximately 1 1/2 years. I've had physical therapy, cortisone injections, tried heat/ice, and paid meds. I get relief maybe as longs as two weeks, but it comes back. I cannot take anti inflammatory drugs (history of ulcers) and my Arthritis Dr. does not want me to have any more Cortizone due to osteoporosis bone density is -3.2. I've seen an Orthopedic Dr. and he wants to do surgery. I also have a large calcium deposit in the area of the bursa. I'm considering the surgery, if I can get some relief with the surgery, it will be worth it to me.

Related Reading: bursitis | Arthritis | osteoporosis

Published: July 30

I am a 60 yr old female who developed bursitis after a visit to Italy. An eight hour plane ride and walking up hills in Italy gave me a most excruciating unusual pain in my hip that I thought might be apendicitis. It was always worse after sitting for a while and walking made it worse. I have had it now for 3 weeks and the doctors have given me NSAIDS, muscle relaxers and pain meds. The only thing that has alleviated the pain is the pain meds. I am in need of losing at least 100 lbs, but after reading these blogs, it doesn't look like that would even help. My mother had hip bursitis also and hers has not returned. She waited until she felt better and now does daily hip muscle strengthening exercises, which may be the ticket to recovery.

Related Reading: hip bursitis

Published: July 25

I have been having pain in my hip for seven months and the doctor told me it was likely lower back strain. I told her it felt more like a joint. I couldn't sleep at night and couldn't put my foot down in the morning without excruciating pain. Sitting was unbearable. Yesterday, I went to a Chinese Doctor and had acupuncture. I got off the table with no pain. It got a little worse towards the end of the day, but I put heat on it and took ibuprofen and went to bed with no pain, slept right through without pain, woke up without pain, and am just starting midday to get pain again. Second acupuncture treatment this afternoon -- he recommends three in a row, then some maintenance as needed. He is certain he can treat this so I have no pain. I am very hopeful. Sympathize with you all -- have never felt a pain like this. Try to find someone who can do acupuncture. Don't be afraid of needles, they just prick slightly and are nothing like the pain of bursitis.

Related Reading: sleep | acupuncture | ibuprofen

Comment from: Fran, 35-44 Female (Patient) Published: August 11

I've had terrible hip pain for a couple of months now. I thought it was related to my lower back problems, as I've had sciatica affecting the other hip and buttocks, but this pain is very different. It's very sharp, searing, and excruciating. The doctor says it is hip bursitis. I have been taking large amounts of ibuprofen for a long time now, both because of the sciatica and now the hip bursitis, and I'm starting to worry that it may adversely affect my kidneys. I'm 41 and overweight. I joined a gym this summer to try to get some weight off, but the hip bursitis makes it very difficult to exercise. Sleeping is hard because the sciatica hurts one side, the bursitis the other. I have to lie perfectly on my back with no extra pressure on either hip. The worst pain is standing from a sitting position and walking.

Related Reading: sciatica

Published: July 25

I'm a 60-year-old female, average height and weight, non-smoker, do not use illegal drugs, do not use drugs, former runner (seven miles a day for years), and a vegetarian. Suddenly, with no warning at all, (I'm in the middle of a class at the local tech college), I'm unable to stand without severe pain in my right hip. It was horrific pain. I had to leave class sitting in a wheelchair. I thought it was a strained muscle, but it turned out the doctor said (after X-rays) that it was bursitis. I had recently joined the gym and was working out everyday. I was prescribed naproxen and pain medications.

Related Reading: naproxen

Published: July 24

I am 45 and was diagnosed with bursitis six years ago. A recent X-ray revealed that I have "a little bit of arthritis in both hips, but it's not worth mentioning." I thought that was a weird way for the doctor to put it. I'm very active, and I run 12 to 15 miles a week. The only pain I have is when I'm trying to sleep and when I try to sit cross-legged, but the pain is intense and I often can't sleep well. I would love to find relief for the pain, but I'm not willing to endure injections that may or may not work. I take ibuprofen almost every night.


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Hip Bursitis - Treatment Question: What was your hip bursitis treatment?
Hip Bursitis - Symptoms Question: What symptoms did you experience with hip bursitis?

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Suggested Reading on Hip Bursitis by Our Doctors

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      • Bursitis is inflammation of a bursa. A bursa is a tiny fluid-filled sac that functions as a gliding surface to reduce friction between tissues of the body. There are 160 bursae in the body. The major bursae are located adjacent to the tendons near the large joints, such as the shoulders, elbows, hips, and knees.
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      • Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are prescribed medications for the treatment of inflammatory conditions. Examples of NSAIDs include aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, and more. One common side effect of NSAIDs is peptic ulcer (ulcers of the esophagus, stomach, or duodenum). Side effects, drug interactions, warnings and precautions, and patient safety information should be reviewed prior to taking NSAIDs.
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      • Calcific bursitis is the calcification of the bursa caused by chronic inflammation of the bursa. Calcific bursitis most commonly occurs in the shoulder. Calcific bursitis treatment includes medication for inflammation, ice, immobilization, cortisone injections, and occasionally surgical removal of the inflamed bursa.
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Hip Bursitis

What is calcific bursitis?

A bursa is a thin fluid-filled sac that reduces friction forces between tissues of the body. Chronic (repeated or long-standing) inflammation of the bursa (bursitis) can lead to calcification of the bursa. This is referred to as "calcific bursitis." The calcium deposits (calcification) can occur as long as the inflammation is present and remain after it has resolved. Calcific bursitis occurs most commonly at the shoulder (in the bursa adjacent to the rotator cuff tendons) or hip (in the bursa at the greater trochanter).

What are causes and risk factors for calcific bursitis?

Calcific bursitis often has no direct cause that is identified and likely occurs in this setting after unnoticed strain of a joint caused local inflammation of the bursa (bursitis). Risk factors for developing calcific bursitis include joint injury (trauma) and underlying diseases such as ankylosing spondylitis and calcium pyropho...

Read the Calcific Bursitis article »







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