Managing Hip Bursitis Pain

I thought I had bursitis in my left hip as I have it in my right hip but I just found out after having an MRI that I have a tear of the gluteus medius tendon. The pain is very specific. Doesn't hurt sitting or laying on my back. But if I try to lay on that side or get up to walk from a sitting position that's when it really hurts. I can't take any NSAIDS as I have a lot of GI issues. Due for a directed cortisone injection. It may take away the pain but doesn't do anything for the tear.

I had bursitis in my right hip for about three weeks. In retrospect, it had been coming along for two years or more - growing discomfort on that side when lying in bed - but after some over-exertion and in particular carrying some heavy slabs up a long flight of steps, it suddenly got a lot worse and then I found out what it was.
Been resting, taking Ibuprofen, 2-4 a day, sleeping with a cushion between my knees, not lying on my right side.
I am due to have an MRI this week to see if there is any underlying problem such as a bone spur, and was set to have some PT.
Then yesterday, the pain is suddenly gone. I can still feel it, but nothing like it was. No more Ibuprofen.
How wonderful when a pain suddenly stops.
Pain pain go away
Don't return another day.

@heyjoe415 My nephrologist say no NSAIDs. Not even topical ones like Voltaren. For pain, I am limited to acetaminophen (or colchicine which is only effective for gout, pseudogout, and Familial Mediterranean Fever). I was given naproxen on the day of hip replacement surgery even though I had told the orthopedist no NSAIDs. I don't seem to have suffered any consequences. (knock on wood).

@gussie My orthopedist told me that the three cortisone shots to the bursa that I had were the limit. He reported that he see patients who have had cortisone shots develop torn tendons. You might want to ask if your other leg's tendon is at risk.

I was disappointed/worried because as a person with chronic kidney disease, the only general pain killer I am allowed to take is acetaminophen which did nothing for the hip pain I had.

It's a long story (which I can share if you are interested) but it turns out that the overarching problem was a combination of severe osteoarthritis in both hips in addition to gout and pseudogout (another form of arthritis), which was most recently diagnosed using Dual Scan CT, scattered throughout my pelvis. In the meantime I have had bilateral total hip replacement. I am also taking a pain killer that only works for gout, pseudogout, and Familial Mediterranean Fever (which I don't have).

Wow you've really been through it. I did get a cortisone this morning in the muscle not the tendon so we'll see how that goes. He asked me if anyone else in my family had osteoarthritis. Yep, my mother. So are I have had a right hip replacement, two toes that were operated on for bone on bone. My left knee is bone on bone from a bad fall off a treadmill over 30 years ago but so far still doesn't hurt except pressure on walking up stairs or curbs and a cervical pinched nerve. At 84 I still walked a couple of miles but now between the torn tendon and the bursitis it's taking away the one thing that I really enjoy. Getting out in the air and walking. I've never been one for the gym. Also I have to try and stay away from a lot of germs as I also have CVID. Which means I don't have a complete working immune system. I look completely normal but my body doesn't fight virus or bacteria. I do weekly infusions of blood plasma of other people's antibodies. I also can't take anything stronger then acetaminophen because of GI issues. Are we having fun yet???

Yikes it has to be rough to have to avoid NSAIDs completely. I'm so sorry for what you have to go through.

Acetominophen works ok, but can only partly help with serious pain. Can you take aspirin?

The only other things I use regularly are ice, and BioFreeze Professional. I had my shoulder replaced last August and was given Toradol (5-day max). But I'm pretty sure Toradol is an NSAID as well. You can ask your Dr but I do think it's a limited-use NSAID. (I can't take opiates after surgery.)

Again, I'm so very sorry about your situation. That doesn't fix anything, I know……

Joe

Geez Gussie and I thought I had problems…….

Thanks very much for sharing what is going on with you. In spite of all the things working against you, you sound upbeat and positive at 84!

As for inheriting osteoarthritis (thanks Mom!), yep same here. (In fairness, I also inherited blue eyes from my Mom.) I did manage to run 25 marathons in my 30s and 40s. But osteoarthritis eventually said no to that. I did have both knees replaced (2022), and my right hip and left shoulder (2025). All due to osteoarthritis eating away the cartilage.

I can't complain at 71. I'm in the gym everyday and I am able to spin 5x/week.

Your very positive and humorous outlook make me feel very good, and for that, thank you Gussie!

Joe

@gussie I have left hip bursitis and also just found out I have a tear in the tendon. The doctor I saw said I might receive occasional steroid shots but not many - as. they are known to damage the tendon further. The singular shot I had (from another physician in another field) gave me no relief anyway. I've been told my circumstance is irreversible and been prescribed cons4rvative PT, which has not yet begun. I wish you good luck.

@heyjoe415 Thank you for empathizing with me. I think my pain killer restrictions are the same as for all of us who have a chronic kidney disease. Aspirin is a NSAID, too.

I think either hip bursitis is in remission or I was wrongly diagnosed. I still have hip pain but a new reason: pseudogout aka chondrocalcinosis. Like gout (which I also have) it's another form of arthritis. I had bilateral total hip replacement for advanced osteoarthritis. After a very long, incomplete convalescence, my nephrologist sent me to have a Dual Scan CT which revealed deposits of pseudogout throughout my pelvis. I was still limping along and unable to take the long walks we enjoyed.

Then I had my second ever gout flare. I have a bottle of the gout painkiller colchicine on hand so I took it even though I wasn't sure it _was_ a gout flare. I was right and the toe stopped hurting within hours. To my complete surprise, my hip pain faded away because colchicine is also effective for pseudogout. I was finally able to do the PT I was supposed to start 17 months earlier on Day 5 after the first hip surgery. I'm about half way through the expected number of PT sessions and am feeling much stronger and more flexible. I was able to walk three miles about a month ago. Hurray!

I do wonder if hip pain, including bursitis, is difficult to diagnose and incorrect diagnoses make for persistent pain.

@bluelizard /The injection I had yesterday was in the muscle surrounding the tendon. So we'll see how that works. I couldn't get a PT appointment until July.