Could the pain in my hip be caused by bursitis?
Bursitis is diagnosed when the body’s bursae become inflamed. Bursae are fluid-filled sacs located throughout the body. They act to cushion areas like joints where there is movement that results in friction between bone and other types of tissue. While bursitis in the hip is more often found in women than men and the incidence increases with age, anyone can be affected by it at any time.
There are approximately 160 bursae in the body, but the ones in the major joints, hips, knees, shoulders and elbows, account for almost all of the cases of bursitis. Although bursitis is sometimes related to another condition, like arthritis, thyroid issues, tendonitis and gout, it is most often the result of an injury, infection or overuse. Hip bursitis, or trochanteric bursitis, can have the same causes, as well as be due to a spinal abnormality or surgery. In some cases, the cause cannot be determined.
Symptoms of Bursitis
Bursitis symptoms can vary somewhat, depending upon which particular joint is affected and the degree of inflammation. In general, symptoms may include:
- Tender to touch in a particular spot
- Stiffness or ache in a joint
- Greater pain at night, especially if lying on an affected joint
- Swelling or redness
- Movement or pressure causes pain
- Limited mobility
Treatment
As with many issues involving inflammation, with rest and care to not re-injure or exacerbate the condition, bursitis will go likely go away on its own. It may take several weeks, and there are likely to be recurrences unless appropriate lifestyle changes are made. If the symptoms do not diminish or if they get worse, it is important to seek care from your healthcare professional. If initial conservative recommendations of rest, icing the area and over-the-counter pain medications are not sufficient, your physician may advise physical therapy, corticosteroid injections, performed with ultrasound guidance, PRP (platelet rich plasma) injections or, very rarely, surgical intervention.
Can Bursitis Predict the Weather?
You may not hear it as much anymore, other than in old movies, but people used to regularly make weather predictions based on aches and pains in their bodies. A common one was to link impending cold or damp weather to bursitis. A comment would generally run something like, “Must be a storm coming, my bursitis sure is acting up!”
Most people worry that they would be ridiculed for making such a statement in today’s high-tech world. Maybe the potential for being laughed at is true, but it does not mean that weather changes do not effect joint pain. What is measured by barometric changes is weight and sensitive areas of the body, joints in particular that have been affected by conditions like bursitis and arthritis, may well be able to feel this difference in weight. Science has yet to prove or disprove this theory but the barometer measures changes that happen before a storm hits and there are a lot of us with grandparents who were right about bad weather being on the way long before we had the Weather Channel.
At Long Island Spine Rehabilitation Medicine, our physicians are committed to more than just treating your symptoms. We strongly believe that each individual is best served through an integrative treatment plan. We focus on finding the underlying cause and providing non-surgical, evidenced based solutions tailored to your specific condition and needs. If you are experiencing bursitis or have questions about any other condition or service, we invite you to schedule a consultation by using our convenient online form by clicking here.