Yes, hip bursitis can last for months, especially if it's severe, chronic, or aggravated by continued activity, though mild cases often resolve in weeks with rest, ice, and physical therapy. Recovery time varies significantly based on severity, age, overall health, and consistency with treatment, but persistent pain for over six months might warrant stronger interventions like corticosteroid injections or even surgery.
Recovery Time
Recovery from trochanteric bursitis varies depending on the severity of the condition and adherence to treatment. Mild cases may resolve within a few weeks with rest and conservative treatment. However, more often it can take several months to fully heal.
The best treatment for overuse-related bursitis is time off from the activity causing the joint pain. With rest, most cases of bursitis get better quickly. Anti-inflammatory medication like Advil and icing the area for 20 to 30 minutes at a time can reduce swelling and relieve pain.
If bursitis is severe or keeps coming back, the inflamed bursa may need to be surgically drained or even removed (but this is rare).
Let's talk about three of the most common conditions that are confused with hip bursitis.
Medical Imaging to Diagnose Hip Bursitis
MRI scans: An MRI can confirm or rule out other hip pain-related diagnoses by providing a detailed view of the hip's soft tissue. Images from the test can show swollen bursae or damaged tendons.
Hip bursitis feels like a dull ache or sharp pain on the outer side of the hip and upper thigh, often worsening at night, when lying on the affected side, standing up from sitting, or during activities like walking, climbing stairs, or squatting, sometimes accompanied by tenderness, stiffness, swelling, and a burning sensation that can radiate down the thigh.
Trochanteric bursitis is painful swelling near your hip joint. It's a specific type of bursitis. Bursitis is swelling in a small, fluid-filled sac called a bursa. Bursae (the plural of bursa) cushion spaces around bones and other tissue. They're like bubble wrap that protects structures throughout your body.
If symptoms of bursitis or tendinitis persist despite medical treatment and interfere with your everyday activities, NYU Langone doctors may recommend surgery.
Quickest Ways to Heal Hip Bursitis
You'll likely start by seeing your family doctor, who might refer you to a doctor who specializes in joint disorders (rheumatologist).
Vitamin D For Bursitis
Vitamin D, a fat-soluble nutrient essential for immune function, has notable anti-inflammatory effects. Research consistently shows a correlation between low vitamin D levels and increased inflammation.
In most cases of bursitis that are brought for treatment at an urgent care clinic, the healthcare provider will recommend an anti-inflammatory medication such as aspirin or ibuprofen for temporary pain relief and to reduce any swelling, but many patients may also require stronger prescription medication or injections ...
To diagnose hip bursitis, the doctor will perform a comprehensive physical examination, looking for tenderness in the area of the point of the hip. They may also perform additional tests, such as X-rays, bone scans, and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, to rule out other possible injuries or conditions.
The steroid injection eases symptoms of hip bursitis, shoulder bursitis and other types of bursitis. If injections don't relieve symptoms, you may need surgery.
When at-home methods don't work, or if the pain doesn't get better after a week, check in with an orthopedic expert. They may suggest or administer additional bursitis treatments, including: Using a cane or crutches to take some weight off the area. A splint or brace on the affected joint.
Mild cases typically resolve in 2–4 weeks with proper rest and treatment, while moderate cases may take 2–3 months. Severe or chronic bursitis can last 6+ months. Knee and elbow bursitis often heal faster (2–4 weeks), while shoulder and hip bursitis may require 6 weeks to 6 months for full recovery.
Treatment for hip bursitis
Changing activities: By avoiding activities that cause pain, you can give the bursa a chance to recover. Hip support: A walking cane, crutches or a hip brace can take some of the pressure off of the hip that hurts.
Hip bursectomy is usually performed using general anesthesia, meaning you will be asleep throughout the procedure. In some cases, regional or local anesthesia may be employed.
Pain that doesn't go away
Hip bursitis (trochanteric bursitis) may be a sign of a more serious issue. If you continue to have bursitis pain at the hip that has not improved despite extensive treatment, you may have a tear of a muscle located next to the bursa called the gluteus medius.
Fortunately, hip bursitis can be treated in most cases with non-surgical options, like ice therapy, painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs, and physiotherapy. In severe cases corticosteroid injections can be indicated, and only in treatment resistant cases the physician recommends a hip replacement surgery.
Chronic bursitis
The same kind of irritation that caused the original inflammation can trigger a new episode. Repeated flare-ups may damage the bursa and reduce your mobility in that joint.
Surgical Treatment for Bursitis
If you're experiencing intractable hip pain, your orthopedic specialist will usually recommend surgery to remove or drain the affected bursa.
Repetitive stress, overuse, obesity, and weak or tight muscles are the most common causes of bursitis in the hip. Each causes significant strain on the joint, irritating the bursae and increasing the risk of inflammation. Poor posture can also contribute to hip bursitis.
Bursitis pain is usually sharp and worsens with pressure on the affected side, like lying down. Arthritis pain often comes with stiffness and reduced mobility, especially after rest or inactivity.