Hip bursitis is the painful swelling of bursae, which are fluid-filled sacs that cushion your tendons, ligaments, and muscles. Here are some things you can do to relieve hip bursitis:
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Rest: Avoid activities that put pressure on your hip to give the bursa time to heal.
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Ice: Apply ice packs to your hip every 4 hours for 20 to 30 minutes at a time to reduce pain and swelling.
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Anti-inflammatory medications: Over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve) can reduce pain and swelling. Be sure to check with your doctor before taking them, however.
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Stretching: Many patients with hip bursitis have a tight IT band. A regular routine of stretching the IT band, along with strengthening exercises for the surrounding hip muscles, usually improves symptoms over the course of just a few weeks.
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Physical therapy: Physical therapy or exercises can strengthen the muscles in the affected area to ease pain and prevent recurrence.
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Injections: A corticosteroid drug injected into the bursa can relieve pain and inflammation in your hip.
If conservative measures dont work, you might require medication, therapy, assistive devices, or surgery. Its important to talk to your doctor about the best treatment plan for your specific case.
