Hip bursitis is a fairly common cause of pain over the outside area of the upper thigh. Most commonly hip bursitis is the result of noninfectious inflammation (aseptic bursitis) to the bursae that’s caused by a local trauma to the soft tissue of the hip, such as a strain injury. However, in rare incidents, the causative factor is bacterial infection of the bursae (septic bursitis) or from a bursa having crystal deposited in it during a gout attack.
Hip Bursitis
Hip bursitis is a fairly common cause of pain over the outside area of the upper thigh. Most commonly hip bursitis is the result of noninfectious inflammation (aseptic bursitis) to the bursae that’s caused by a local trauma to the soft tissue of the hip, such as a strain injury. However, in rare incidents, the causative factor is bacterial infection of the bursae (septic bursitis) or from a bursa having crystal deposited in it during a gout attack.
Anatomy As It Relates To Hip Bursitis
A bursa is a tiny closed jelly-like sac with a small amount of fluid. It functions like a gliding layer of bubble wrap to reduce the friction between bone and nearby tissues. In relation to the hip, there are four major bursae near the hip joint:
* trochanteric bursa - one of the larger bursae and is located above the greater trochanter
* ischial bursa - located between the pelvis base and the hamstring tendons
* gluteus medius bursa - a relatively small bursa and is located medial to the trochanteric bursa, between the greater trochanter and gluteus medius
* iliopsoas bursa - on the groin side of the hip and in close proximity to the iliopsoas muscle
What Is Hip Bursitis?
When any of the above bursae become inflamed, it is known as hip bursitis. Of the hip bursae, the most commonly injured is the trochanteric bursa, a condition referred to as trochanteric bursitis.
What Causes Hip Bursitis?
The inflammation of bursae is most often the result of one of two actions: a direct traumatic impact to the hip, such as a fall or sporting injury, or repetitive friction, such as the bursa repeatedly rubbing against nearby tendon or muscle. There are also certain risk factors associated with developing hip bursitis:
* women and elderly are most often affected, with men of any age being the least likely to develop hip bursitis
* bacterial infections
* bone spurs attached to the trichinae or other bursa accompanying structure can irritate the bursa.
* overuse injury (such as bicycling, running, prolonged standing, and incline climbing)
* diseases of the spine (such as scoliosis)
* previous hip injury or surgery
* misalignment that results in leg length inequality
* arthritis (mainly adult rheumatoid and gout types of arthritis)
What Are The Symptoms Of Hip Bursitis?
The primary symptom is sharp, localized, and intense pain in the hip or achy and wide spread pain throughout the hip and outer thigh. Other symptoms may include:
* pain that intensifies at night
* pain that intensifies when pressure is placed on the affected hip, such as with lying down or rising from a seated position
* pain that intensifies after prolonged sitting
* pain that intensifies with walking, climbing, running, or squatting movements
* stiffness around the hip joint
* pain may gradually increase over time
* in severe cases of hip bursitis, swelling over the affected area may be noted and hip range of motion may be limited.
Strengthening Exercises
These Hip Exercises are ideal to build strength and flexibility.
Massage Treatment
These Hip Massage Techniques are of great value in pain relief; circulation stimulation; dispersing blood and fluid accumulations; swelling reduction; and relaxing muscle spasms, especially when used alongside the Sinew Therapeutics liniments and soaks.
ACUTE STAGE SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT
This stage is characterized by swelling, redness, pain, and possibly a local sensation of heat, indicating inflammation. If coolness makes your pain feel better, then the Acute Stage Treatment is recommended.
ACUTE STAGE SYMPTOMS:
The acute stage starts the moment an injury occurs and lasts until the swelling and inflammation are gone. The swelling is the result of the blockage of blood, tissue fluids and circulation in the hip because their normal movement has been disrupted by the force of the injury. Just like cars back up behind a traffic jam, causing congestion, exhaust and overheating; blood and fluids back up behind the injured hip, causing pain, inflammation, lumps and swelling.
The sensation of heat is due to the warming action of the blood and fluids overheating in the injured hip as they back up and accumulate. Stiffness and decreased mobility are due to spasms in tendons and ligaments that have contracted reflexively beyond their normal range from the impact of the injury.
As ligaments and tendons stretch and tear, blood from ruptured blood vessels becomes trapped in the local tissues. As the trapped blood clots up, it sticks the tissues together creating adhesions. Adhesions cause pain, inflammation and restricted movement because the layers of tissue that used to slide smoothly across one another now adhere and snap which interferes with normal functioning. It is essential to break up clotted blood as quickly as possible to prevent adhesions and scar tissue from forming.
During the acute stage it is very important to restore normal circulation to the hip, break up clotted blood and stagnant fluids, reduce swelling, and reduce the redness and heat associated with inflammation. By restoring the flow of blood, fluids, and circulation in the hip, then pain is relieved, damaged tissues can regenerate with healthy functional tissue, and the hip can strengthen and regain it's mobility.
ACUTE STAGE TREATMENT:
1. Apply the Sinew Herbal Ice on your hip to reduce redness, swelling, and inflammation while dispersing accumulated blood and fluids to help restore normal circulation to the hip. This first-aid treatment is used in place of ice to significantly speed up the healing process. It reduces the swelling and inflammation more effectively than ice, allowing you to more quickly regain range of motion. Acute Sinew Liniment can be used in-between applications.
Ice is not recommended because it does not help repair damaged tissues and keeps everything in the injured area frozen, causing the stagnation of blood and fluids and the contraction of muscles, tendons and ligaments. In Chinese sports medicine ice is not used and is considered a culprit in injuries that don’t heal well.
2. Massage your hip with Acute Sinew Liniment to relieve pain, reduce swelling and inflammation, break up clotted blood and stagnant fluids, and stimulate circulation of blood and fluids to help cells quickly repair damaged tissues. Sinew Herbal Ice can be used in-between applications.
3. The Sinew Sports Massage Oil is recommended for use before and after exercise, sports and strenuous activity. It warms and stimulates your muscles, increases circulation and relieves tightness, hence improving your performance and helping to prevent injury.
CHRONIC STAGE SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT
This stage begins once the swelling and inflammation are gone, but you still feel pain, stiffness, weakness, and/or sensitivity in cold and damp weather. If heat makes your pain feel better, then the Chronic Stage Treatment is recommended.
CHRONIC STAGE SYMPTOMS:
The chronic stage begins once the swelling and inflammation are gone, but you still feel aching pain and stiffness. This is because there are still accumulations of stagnant blood and fluids in your hip that are blocking circulation and blood supply to damaged tissues, creating residual pain, stiffness and weakness. You may actually feel hard nodules like sand in the tissue, indicating accumulation, calcification, and adhesions, which all cause pain, stiffness, and joint instability.
Your hip may feel more sensitive to the cold and ache in cold and damp weather due to impaired circulation. These symptoms are often the result of failure to treat the injury properly from the outset and overicing.
Increasing circulation and blood supply to the damaged tissues is very important in treating chronic injuries because tendons and ligaments do not have an extensive direct supply of blood. That is why chronic injuries can be slow to heal. Increasing local circulation also prevents cold and dampness from penetrating the injured area, preventing pain and stiffness.
During the chronic stage it is very important to break up remaining accumulations of blood and fluids, and increase circulation and blood supply to the damaged tissues. By increasing circulation and blood flow in the hip, then pain and stiffness is relieved, and the damaged tissues can strengthen to restore stability.
CHRONIC STAGE TREATMENT:
1. Massage your hip with Chronic Sinew Liniment to relieve pain and stiffness, strongly stimulate circulation and blood supply to damaged tissues, and promote the healing of overstretched tendons and ligaments. The Sinew Relaxing Soak and/or the Sinew Warming Soak can be used in-between applications.
2. Soak your hip with the Sinew Relaxing Soak to relax muscles and tendons that are in spasm, ease joint pain and stiffness, and improve range of motion. The Sinew Relaxing Soak is particularly useful if you feel spasms in your hip. The soak can be used by saturating a towel in the liquid and applying it to your hip. Chronic Sinew Liniment and/or the Sinew Warming Soak can be used in-between applications.
3. Soak your hip with the Sinew Warming Soak to ease joint pain, increase range of motion, and strongly increase local circulation to drive coldness and dampness out of damaged tissues. The Sinew Warming Soak is particularly useful if your hip is more painful and sensitive to cold or hurts more in cold weather. The soak can be used by saturating a towel in the liquid and applying it to your hip. Chronic Sinew Liniment and/or the Sinew Relaxing Soak can be used in-between applications.
4. The Sinew Sports Massage Oil is recommended for use before and after exercise, sports and strenuous activity. It warms and stimulates your muscles, increases circulation and relieves tightness, hence improving your performance and helping to prevent injury.
