What Is Bursitis Of The Hips? Definition

Bursitis of the hips is the inflammation of the small, fluid-filled sacs called bursae that cushion the bones, tendons, and muscles near your hip joint. When these sacs become irritated, they swell and cause pain, typically on the outer side of the hip or in the groin area. This condition is common and treatable, but understanding what is happening inside your body helps you make better decisions about relief and recovery.

What Is Bursitis Of The Hips? Definition and Anatomy

Your body contains about 160 bursae. These tiny sacs work like ball bearings, reducing friction between moving parts. In the hip, the two most important bursae are the trochanteric bursa and the iliopsoas bursa.

The trochanteric bursa sits over the bony point of your upper thigh bone, called the greater trochanter. When this bursa gets inflamed, you feel pain on the outside of your hip. The iliopsoas bursa sits deeper, near the front of the hip where the hip flexor muscle crosses the joint. Inflammation here causes groin pain.

When a bursa becomes irritated, it fills with extra fluid. This swelling puts pressure on nearby tissues and nerves, which is why the pain can spread down your thigh or make it hard to sleep on the affected side.

What Causes Hip Bursitis?

Hip bursitis usually develops from repetitive motion or prolonged pressure on the bursa. A single injury can cause it, but more often it builds up over time.

Common causes include:

• Repeated activities like running, cycling, or climbing stairs
• Lying on one side for long periods, especially on a hard surface
• Hip muscle weakness or imbalance that changes how you walk
• Leg length differences that alter your gait
• Previous hip surgery or injury
• Bone spurs that rub against the bursa

Certain health conditions raise your risk. Rheumatoid arthritis, gout, and thyroid disease are linked to bursitis. So is being overweight, because extra weight increases pressure on the hip joint. Age matters too — bursitis becomes more common as tendons lose elasticity and become less forgiving.

What Does Hip Bursitis Feel Like?

The pain of hip bursitis is distinctive. It usually starts as a sharp or aching pain on the outside of the hip that may spread down the outer thigh toward the knee. Some people feel it in the buttock area.

The pain is often worse at night. Lying on the affected side puts direct pressure on the inflamed bursa, making sleep uncomfortable. Getting up from a chair, climbing stairs, or standing after sitting for a while can trigger a sharp pain. Walking on flat ground may feel fine, but walking uphill or on uneven surfaces often hurts.

If the iliopsoas bursa is involved, you feel pain in the groin or front of the hip. This is less common but can be mistaken for other hip problems.

Unlike hip arthritis, bursitis pain usually does not limit your range of motion. You can move your leg through its full arc, but certain positions hurt. Pressing on the outside of the hip often reproduces the pain precisely.

How Is Hip Bursitis Diagnosed?

A doctor can usually diagnose hip bursitis from your history and a physical exam. They will press on specific points around your hip to find where the pain originates. They may ask you to move your leg in certain ways to see which motions trigger discomfort.

Imaging is not always necessary. But if the diagnosis is unclear or your pain does not improve with treatment, your doctor may order an ultrasound or MRI. These scans can show fluid buildup in the bursa and rule out other conditions like hip fractures, labral tears, or arthritis.

An X-ray cannot show bursitis itself, but it can reveal bone spurs or arthritis that might be contributing to the problem. In rare cases, a doctor may aspirate fluid from the bursa with a needle to check for infection or gout crystals.

What Are the Treatment Options?

Most cases of hip bursitis improve with conservative care. The goal is to reduce inflammation and correct whatever caused the irritation in the first place.

Rest and activity modification come first. Avoid the activities that worsen your pain, but do not stop moving entirely. Gentle walking and stretching keep the joint mobile without aggravating the bursa.

Ice therapy helps reduce acute inflammation. Apply an ice pack to the painful area for 15 to 20 minutes several times a day during the first few days.

Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen or naproxen can reduce pain and swelling. Use them as directed on the label and talk to your doctor if you have kidney issues, stomach problems, or take blood thinners.

Physical therapy is often the most effective long-term treatment. A therapist can identify muscle weaknesses or imbalances that put stress on the bursa and design exercises to correct them. Strengthening the gluteal muscles and improving hip flexibility typically reduces pressure on the trochanteric bursa.

If conservative treatment does not work after several weeks, a doctor may recommend a corticosteroid injection directly into the bursa. This delivers strong anti-inflammatory medication exactly where it is needed. Many people get significant relief, though the effect can wear off after a few months. Injections are generally limited to a few per year because repeated use can weaken nearby tissues.

Surgery is rarely needed. Only when bursitis persists for months despite all other treatments would a surgeon consider removing the affected bursa. This is called a bursectomy, and it is usually done arthroscopically with small incisions. Most people recover well, but surgery is a last resort.

How Long Does Hip Bursitis Take to Heal?

Recovery time varies widely. With proper treatment, many people notice significant improvement within two to six weeks. Complete resolution can take a few months, especially if the underlying cause — like a muscle imbalance — needs time to correct.

If bursitis has been present for months before treatment starts, it may take longer to resolve. The bursa has been chronically irritated, and that inflammation takes time to settle.

Recurrence is possible. If the original cause is not addressed, the bursa can flare up again. This is why physical therapy and long-term changes to your activity patterns matter more than quick fixes.

Can You Prevent Hip Bursitis?

Prevention focuses on reducing repetitive stress and maintaining strong, balanced hip muscles.

If you run or cycle, pay attention to your form and gradually increase intensity. Sudden jumps in mileage or hill work are common triggers. Stretching your hip flexors and hamstrings regularly keeps tissues flexible.

Strengthening your gluteal muscles is one of the most effective preventive measures. Weak glutes force other muscles to compensate, which changes your gait and increases friction around the bursa.

If you sleep on your side, use a pillow between your knees. This keeps your top hip aligned and reduces pressure on the bursa. If you have a leg length difference, shoe lifts prescribed by a professional can correct your gait.

Maintaining a healthy weight reduces the load on your hips. Every pound of excess weight adds multiple pounds of force across your hip joint during walking.

When Should You See a Doctor?

See a doctor if hip pain lasts more than two weeks despite rest and home care. Also seek medical attention if the pain is severe, follows a fall or injury, or comes with swelling, redness, or warmth in the hip area.

Fever with hip pain is a red flag. It could indicate an infected bursa, which requires prompt medical treatment. This is rare but serious.

If you cannot bear weight on the affected leg, or if the pain wakes you from sleep regularly, get evaluated. These symptoms can point to conditions other than bursitis, including fractures or avascular necrosis, which need different treatment.