I have been recommended to physical therapy by 3 doctors for the 9th time. I have a history of DJD and bursitis of the hip. I have had steroid shots that last two weeks and my recent treatment at PT was heat and TENS unit which created more pain by the time I got home. Are there any other options?
Bursitis, what are the options?
- Asked
- 21 Apr 2011 by The Mad Man
- Updated
- 23 Mar 2014
- Topics
- bursitis, osteoarthritis, steroid, doctor
Responses (3)
The bursa in the hip joint can be removed by a good orthopaedic surgeon. I would specifacally request this be done. I had never heatd of it until my neighbor said she had 2 steriod injections that didn't help & said her doctor said "well, lets just take it out!" Walla! No more hip pain!
DON'T FORGET TO VOTE!!!
Thanks I will ask my doctor about this.
Good luck, I don't think it's common, but don't know why not!
Well, here's an update from my pain management doctor. We are going to try Radio Frequency Obliteration, I guess something that is rare to my bursa or Trocanter (I think he called it) but this worked on my back (S-1 area) and there was success so now we are going to try it to my bursa area. The last steroid shot did not help ANY so now my pain management doctor is reaching for anything he can but at least he is trying so I give him credit. Let's see... again.
I do get the RF frequency Rhizotemy (which are what mine are called) for my SI joints in my hips and piriformus muscle pain in my hips. They do work wonders! The pain is gone until the nerves grow back - anywhere from 3 to 18 months. The longer I have these the more time I get pain free in these areas - seems the nerves are growing back slower. My pain specialist is a Hopkins Fellow and has been doing them since his Fellowship - some 7 or 8 years. I would definitely give it a try! You do get the twilight sleep anesthesia with this procedure so you shouldn't have any pain, just some soreness from the needles for a few days. Best wishes - EJ
I had the RF to my S-1 area quite some time ago and I do agree, the procedure helped. I am happy with that procedure BUT there is no medical documentation on the books for this procedure on the hip area. My PM doctor explained to me that there is no muscle in the bursa area to 'burn' so he 'stretched' what ever was in this area and it helped for about 1 week and I am back in pain again. I am going to USC and the doctors there have been great. That is where I had the surgery to my back and neck (spinal stenosis) and the results were great. The hip specialist can't seem to think outside the box. I have been to him to see if my hip needs replacing or the DJD/DDD has progressed and according to him, it has not and he refused to do any further treatment. I had my PM doctor do a consult with the hip specialist and the hip specialist says there is nothing more he can do. The two areas I am having pain in are the periformus muscle and the trocanter muscle.
I also have this pain do they think symtoms could be coming from your low back?
This question is from 2011 - don't know that you'll get an answer. EJ23

Search for questions
Still looking for answers? Try searching for what you seek or ask your own question.
Similar Questions
I think I'm having a flare up of "bursitis" in my shoulder. What causes this?
Posted 21 Dec 2012 • 3 answers
Should a nurse or doctor stay with a patient after they administer a steroid shot ?
Posted 23 May 2013 • 1 answer
Can predinisolone or any other steroid drug be used to treat osteoarthritis?
Posted 26 Aug 2016 • 0 answers
Diclofenac - It's helping with all pain but hip bursitis pain. What do you recommend now?
Posted 25 Mar 2017 • 1 answer
I have fibromyalgia and arthritis. I had a steroid injection from my primary care doctor which is?
Posted 24 Feb 2018 • 0 answers
I am taking NSAIDS and pain killers (Norco). Can't say they help much for the bursitis. No chiropractic for me due to fused joints at the L-4 level. Acupuncture doctor refused to see me because he said I was already on pain meds and the acupuncture would not help. Seriously, these are the answers I am getting but I am trying the physical therapy once again recommended by doctors.
Currently my pm doctor put me on Diclofenac 50mg. I am using the Volatren Gel and I like it but once again it is a temporary fix. One doctor told me I am NOT a candidate for acupuncture because of the metal in my back. I think he got all freaked out when he heard about this but that is OK with me, if his medical intelligence can't investigate any further.
Voltaren gel is amazing for my lower back pain (DDD L2-S1 with facet arthropathy) and tennis elbow. It does nothing for the hip bursitis (more fatty tissue here). The gel has the same active ingredient, diclofenac.
I understand what the acupuncturist is saying. After you have pain pills your response to pain if different, and your satisfaction will go down. He is probably trying to prevent poor reviews.