Bursitis – Hip
The hip can also be affected by bursitis. Hip bursitis is caused by constant tissue irritation or injury.
What is bursitis – hip?
Inflammatory reactions of the hip bursa are referred to as hip bursitis. Bursae are present in every true joint . They are located between fixed structures that can be moved against each other. The hip bursa is surrounded by the socket of the hip bone and the head of the femoral neck. The bursa has the function of evenly distributing the pressure. It also makes it easier for bones and cartilage to slide over one another.
Bursitis in the hips occurs somewhat less frequently than inflammations in the knees and elbows. It is possible that different bursae are affected. The most common forms of inflammation in the hip include iliopectineal bursitis in the groin and trochanteric bursitis, which appears on the outside of the hip. A bursitis of the hip becomes noticeable through pain after increased loads. The symptoms worsen with movement. Hip bursitis is slightly more common in women than in men. It is not uncommon for the people affected to be overweight .
causes
The hip bursa is surrounded by a membrane and a capsule that is partially permeable. In this way, important nutrients from the bloodstream pass through the lining of the bursa. However, this also gives pathogens the opportunity to penetrate into the hip joint and trigger inflammation there. The germs originate from another part of the body. If this is not treated, viruses or bacteria can migrate from there into the blood and nest elsewhere. If the germs manage to cross the joint capsule of the hip, they settle in the bursa, which leads to inflammation.However, sporting activities that lead to overloading of the hip joint can also be the reason for the development of hip bursitis. This is due to constantly repetitive movements. Hip bursitis is not uncommon in athletes such as cross-country skiers. Another possible cause of hip bursitis is injury. These are mostly triggered by the direct impact of violence such as blows to the hip. The bursa then fills with blood , causing inflammation.
At the beginning of the bursitis, there are hardly any complaints in the hip. Sometimes there is a slight rubbing or burning sensation in the hip area . If the load on the hip continues, the symptoms increase significantly as pressure develops. In addition, the affected hip part heats up noticeably. From the outside, bursitis cannot be recognized by the typical signs of inflammation. Those affected usually only go to the doctor when they are suffering from severe stabbing pain.
Diseases
diagnosis and course
If there is a suspicion of hip bursitis, the doctor treating you first looks at the patient’s medical history. He will also perform a physical exam during which he will feel the hip and check for tenderness . Sometimes you can also feel swelling or overheating. A blood test in the laboratory provides further information . The doctor can determine the presence of an inflammation by determining special parameters. An infection causes a change in the blood values in the body, causing them to increase. However, if the blood values are normal, this indicates an overloaded hip.
The diagnostic procedures also include sonography ( ultrasound examination ), which makes the hip visible. In this way, the doctor has the opportunity to detect the presence of inflammation. Normally, resting the hip joint combined with drug treatment is sufficient for hip bursitis to heal. The healing time varies between a few days and weeks. The course of the disease is considered to be particularly favorable if an overload is the cause of the bursitis. In the case of bacterial infections, on the other hand, complications such as restricted movement, infections or damage to the nerves must be expected.
treatment and therapy
The treatment of a bursitis depends on the triggering cause. If the patient rests their hip joint, the bursitis usually heals without any problems. Cooling gels and ointments, which the patient applies to the affected areas, are used to combat the pain. The use of cooling pads is also considered helpful. Warming agents, on the other hand, should be avoided as they promote inflammation.
It can also be useful to use a splint or bandage to immobilize the hip. Regularly performing physiotherapy exercises also promotes the healing process. If a bacterial infection is responsible for the occurrence of bursitis, it is treated with a suitable antibiotic . If the conservative therapy measures do not show the desired success, a surgical intervention may be necessary. The surgeon removes the inflamed bursa.
prevention
To prevent bursitis in the hip from occurring in the first place, it is recommended not to subject the hip joint to too much mechanical stress. This applies in particular to the practice of certain sports.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.