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← Return to Managing Hip Bursitis Pain
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@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.
Replies to "@heyjoe415 Thank you for empathizing with me. I think my pain killer restrictions are the same..."
@mnsansei how much colchicine did you take? Newly diagnosed CPPD after over 10 years. I started .6mg daily and it didn’t help my chronic Pseudogout at all after 4 weeks. I asked for increase in dose and doc stopped it and started plaquenil a week ago. It might take 6 months to work. I too can’t take nsaids but I’ve had to sneak 600mg every now and then. It’s the only thing that works. I’m afraid this doc , even though he was the only one that took the time to look at my old X-rays and found the crystals, May not be an expert on treatment.
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I'm very happy to hear you finally got some relief from the pain you've been in and were able to walk 3 miles. That's terrific and good for you!
I'm not sure if the bursa is removed with a total hip replacement. I did just one search and its inconclusive - so your best route is to ask your surgeon. I've had both knees, right hip and left shoulder replaced, and they do remove a number of physical structures - for ex - in a total knee replacement, the ACL and PCL tendons are usually removed, especially for older patients, like me!
As for your final question - a diagnosis of bursitis v arthritis causing pain in the hip is best asked of the surgeon. I do know that when my right hip became very arthritic (and ready for replacement) I had pain in my right groin (the hip joint actually sits under the groin).
The bursa I think you're talking about is on the outside of the hip, if it's still there……
Sorry I can't be of more help. You sound like a persistent person who works very hard to understand and fix any physical problems. There are too few of you in the world!
Again, congrats on finding a solution to your pain (colchicine) and for getting back to hip-replacement rehab. I know you will do very well!
Joe