Trochanteric bursitis can be a painful and long-term condition if not treated correctly. Some of the most common trochanteric bursitis treatment methods include resting the injured area, icing the hip around the site of the bursa, using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and in some cases drainage of the trochanteric bursa. Stretching and other physical therapy exercises are also important to reduce the stress on the bursa and speed recovery.
The most important part of trochanteric bursitis treatment is rest. Initially, the injury is usually caused by overuse meaning that continuing the activity that caused the problem will only make it worse. Many athletes make this mistake and end up with a more serious condition to deal with. As a general rule, any movement that causes pain around the area of the hip should be avoided until treatment has progressed.
The pain caused by trochanteric bursitis is often the result of inflammation of the bursa. For this reason using both ice and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to control the swelling can reduce the time taken for recover. Medication can also help to control the pain, which may make certain rehabilitation exercises more bearable. Some examples of anti-inflammatory medicine than can be used for this purpose are Motrin and Ibuprofen.
Sometimes a patient will suffer from a swollen trochanteric bursa that contains a large amount of fluid. In this situation, the pain is unlikely to diminish naturally within a reasonable time frame and intervention is required. Usually, the bursa will be drained of fluid using a needle. Although this is a common treatment for other types of bursitis, it is a relatively uncommon trochanteric bursitis treatment.
One of the most common trochanteric bursitis treatment methods is stretching. Usually the problem is caused when muscles surrounding the bursa are too tight and placing excess stress on the area. Stretching can loosen the surrounding muscles and hence reduce pain. People with trochanteric bursitis should focus on the IT band for stretching along with the main muscles of the hip. It’s essential that the stretcher maintains the correct form during a stretch.
Aside from stretching, strengthening is also important for trochanteric bursitis treatment. A physical therapist is often used to provide a structured rehabilitation routine. These exercises focus on allowing the initial problem to subside before building up muscle strength to prevent it happening again. A physical therapist may also use ultrasound therapy on the bursa.