Your hip bursitis isn't going away likely because the underlying cause (like tight muscles, repetitive stress, or poor posture/gait) isn't fully addressed, you're returning to aggravating activities too soon, or there's a related issue like a gluteus medius tendon tear or bone spur, requiring a professional diagnosis for a comprehensive, long-term treatment plan involving targeted physical therapy, activity modification, and potentially injections.
Hip bursitis recovery varies, but most people improve in a few weeks to 2 months (6-8 weeks) with rest, physical therapy, and self-care, with mild cases resolving faster. Severe or chronic cases might take 6 to 12 weeks or longer, especially if untreated or due to other health issues, but consistent physiotherapy can significantly speed recovery by strengthening the area and reducing inflammation.
Apply ice to reduce swelling for the first 48 hours after symptoms occur. Apply dry or moist heat, such as a heating pad or taking a warm bath. Take an over-the-counter medication, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or naproxen sodium (Aleve, others), to relieve pain and reduce inflammation.
The most common causes of bursitis are repetitive motions or positions that put pressure on the bursae around a joint. Examples include: Throwing a baseball or lifting something over your head repeatedly. Leaning on your elbows for long periods.
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.
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.
If you have bursitis, the swollen bursae will show up on an MRI. Musculoskeletal Ultrasound: This special ultrasound uses sound waves to show fluid in swollen bursae.
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.
“Sleeping on your back with a pillow under your knees, or on your side with a pillow between your knees, can help align your hips and reduce pain,” says Dr. Shekhman. Adjusting your position is one of the easiest ways to sleep with hip pain and minimize pressure on the joint overnight.
Climbing stairs or walking on steep inclines involves repetitive hip movement, which can aggravate hip bursitis. The increased pressure on the hip joint from steep inclines may cause pain. Instead, choose flat walking paths or gentle inclines for outdoor exercise.
Two of the most common issues with the hip are bursitis and arthritis. They are completely different conditions with their own unique causes, yet they exhibit extremely similar symptoms, making it difficult to differentiate which is which.
Bursa Drainage and Removal
If the bursa is severely damaged, the surgeon may remove the entire inflamed sac. The incision is closed with stitches. Removal of a bursa does not affect the way the muscles or joints work and can permanently relieve the pain and swelling caused by bursitis.
Stem cell therapy has offered a much better treatment option for patients suffering from hip bursitis. Now, patients can use stem cell therapy when all other therapies have failed as opposed to surgery. Surgery comes with many risks, including the risk that the surgery may not eliminate pain.
Yes, hip bursitis is a treatable condition, and most patients achieve a full recovery without surgery. Non-surgical treatments work. Conservative methods like rest, physical therapy, and anti-inflammatory medication resolve the majority of cases effectively. Early intervention matters.
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.
Outlook / Prognosis
Trochanteric bursitis usually gets better after a few weeks to a few months of rest and treatment. You might have an increased risk of it coming back (recurring) if a repetitive motion or activity caused bursitis. Talk to your healthcare provider about ways to reduce stress on your hips.
It's also really important when suffering this type of pain, to avoid sitting with you legs crossed. At least until your symptoms settle down. It's also important that you sit with your hips a little bit higher than your knees to prevent compression of the hips tendons and bursa.
It can sometimes extend beyond the hip to the outer part of the thigh. Bursitis pain may start out sharp and quite pronounced, then gradually change into a more widespread and persistent ache. Hip bursitis is often worse at night, when lying down puts added pressure on the pelvic area.
Let's talk about three of the most common conditions that are confused with hip bursitis.
See a GP if: your bursitis symptoms have not improved or are getting worse after treating it yourself for 1 to 2 weeks. you have a high temperature, or you feel hot, cold or shivery. you cannot move the affected joint.
We often see cases where tendonitis or rotator cuff injuries are mistaken for bursitis. Also, shoulder impingement and arthritis can look like bursitis. This makes it hard to get a correct diagnosis. It's important to know the differences between these musculoskeletal conditions.
Quickest Ways to Heal Hip Bursitis
Doctors at NYU Langone Orthopedic Center can diagnose bursitis and tendinitis during a physical examination, even soon after an injury. If more detail is needed to confirm a diagnosis, doctors may recommend imaging tests, such as MRI scans and X-rays.
Early-stage inflammation hasn't caused enough tissue changes to show up on imaging yet. Nerve irritation creates real pain without visible structural damage on MRI scans typically. Functional issues like muscle spasms or joint instability don't always produce changes visible on imaging.
They're two of the most common joint problems. They both involve inflammation, cause joint pain, and affect your ability to use the joint. Despite these similarities, arthritis and bursitis are more different than alike. They each have a distinct cause.