What is Hip Bursitis

Hip bursitis is swelling of a fluid-filled sac (bursa) in your hip. This swelling (inflammation) can be painful. This condition may come and go over time.

Follow these instructions at home:

Medicines

• Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your doctor.
• Do not drive or use heavy machinery while taking prescription pain medicine, or as told by your doctor.
• If you were prescribed an antibiotic medicine, take it as told by your doctor. Do not stop taking the antibiotic even if you start to feel better.

Activity

• Return to your normal activities as told by your doctor. Ask your doctor what activities are safe for you.
• Rest and protect your hip until you feel better.

General instructions

• Wear wraps that put pressure on your hip (compression wraps) only as told by your doctor.
• Raise (elevate) your hip above the level of your heart as much as you can. To do this, try putting a pillow under your hips while you lie down. Stop if this causes pain.
• Do not use your hip to support your body weight until your doctor says that you can.
• Use crutches as told by your doctor.
• Gently rub and stretch your injured area as often as is comfortable.
• Keep all follow-up visits as told by your doctor. This is important.

How is this prevented?

• Exercise regularly, as told by your doctor.
• Warm up and stretch before being active.
• Cool down and stretch after being active.
• Avoid activities that bother your hip or cause pain.
• Avoid sitting down for long periods at a time.

Contact a doctor if:

• You have a fever.
• You get new symptoms.
• You have trouble walking.
• You have trouble doing everyday activities.
• You have pain that gets worse.
• You have pain that does not get better with medicine.
• You get red skin on your hip area.
• You get a feeling of warmth in your hip area.

Get help right away if:

• You cannot move your hip.
• You have very bad pain.