If you’ve ever been unfortunate enough to have experienced issues with your hip, you certainly won’t need us to tell you how painful these issues can be. While hip pain can be brought on by a number of things, for a variety of different reasons, one of the most painful hip conditions is one known as hip bursitis. For the purpose of today’s article, it is hip bursitis which we will be focussing on. Hip bursitis is a condition affecting the bursae located in the hips, and not only is it painful, it can also affect mobility, and your overall quality of life.
What is hip bursitis?
Before we can get to what hip bursitis is, we first need to bring you up to speed with what bursae are. Bursae are very small sacs with a jelly-like texture, that are filled with fluid. These sacs are located all around the body and they are designed to help to reduce friction between different tissues of the body. Basically, these sacs are located between soft tissues and bones, and they are designed to act as a form of cushioning to reduce friction. Bursitis is a condition whereby these sacs become inflamed. The hip has two bursae located in it. One is located on the inside of the groin, whereas the other is located on the outside, on the pointed part of the hip bone. Now, both of these bursae can become swollen and inflamed, and when they do, hip pain and discomfort will not be far behind.
What causes hip bursitis?
Though bursitis can be caused by a whole variety of different things, one of the most common causes is hip trauma or injury. If you were to slip over and land hard on your hip on a hard surface, the bursae located within the hip could fill up with blood and end up becoming inflamed. This blood would be reabsorbed by the body, but the bursae sac would still remain inflamed. This is known as traumatic bursitis. If the hip is placed under pressure for prolonged periods of time, these mini traumas can also have a very similar affect on the bursae as the more serious trauma like we just looked at. As beneficial as it is, frequent exercise whereby the hips receive a certain degree of punishment, can bring on the condition. Martial artists, gymnasts, runners, and cyclists often experience hip bursitis as a result of their respective sports. Calcium deposits, bone spurs, and even infection of the bursae sacs, can also bring on the condition, though these are much rarer.
What are the symptoms of hip bursitis?
The most common symptom of hip bursitis is tenderness, pain, and discomfort on the outer hip and thigh. This can cause a lot of pain and discomfort when twisting, so laying on your side to sleep can be painful. The outer hip will also experience a mild, tingly, burning sensation, along with pain that gets worse when the affected individual walks of engages in physical activity. A dull pain located in the upper buttock area is also a symptom of Ischial bursitis, and this often manifests itself after a prolonged period of sitting and inactivity.
Treatment Recommended
Products recommended for swelling, redness, pain, and inflammation, and if coolness makes your pain feel better:
Ice Substitute Poultice
Bruise Relief Liniment
Muscle Therapy Massage Oil
Products recommended when swelling and inflammation are gone, but you still feel pain, stiffness, weakness, and/or sensitivity in cold and damp weather, and if heat makes your pain feel better:
Pain Relief Liniment
Muscle Therapy Massage Oil
