Bursitis / Gluteal Tendinopathy
Gluteal tendinopathy, Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome, and treatment options for hip tendon injuries in Perth.
The most common hip tendonitis
Gluteal tendinopathy occurs when you injure one or all of the gluteal (buttock) tendons. These tendons attach the large gluteal muscles to the femur (upper leg) bone and, when they tear, can cause significant hip pain, weakness, and limping. Gluteal tendinopathy is the most common cause of Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome (GTPS), which causes pain and is characterised by limited use of the gluteal muscles during daily activities.
GTPS in more detail
When a patient has hip joint problems, pain is felt in the groin or on the side of the hip in an area called the trochanter, which is not actually part of the hip joint itself. This pain is termed Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome. The cause of GTPS is often unknown — sometimes a minor accident or fall is linked to its onset, while other times it appears spontaneously.
“The pain you feel may be coming from inflammation of the gluteal tendons, or sometimes there’s a tear associated. It’s my job to ensure the pain is coming from your tendons and then work with you to get you back to pain-free movement,” says Dr Rhys Clark.
What about gluteal tendon tears and bursitis?
Tendon tears usually occur where the muscle joins the bone. These tears can be microscopic but cause inflammation leading to pain, potentially resulting in limping or pain after walking a distance.
If you have a gluteal tear, inflammation occurs in the bursa — the sac of lubricating fluid over the trochanter (the bony part on the side of the hip). This inflammation, called bursitis, causes significant pain.
“There are a lot of conditions that can cause hip pain. No matter what yours is, trying to live a normal, active life with pain and reduced mobility is simply not possible. When you no longer have to think, ‘Will this hurt me?’ ‘Will I be able to do that?’ then I know I’ve made a difference.”
Non-surgical treatment options
Gluteal tendinopathy, GTPS, and bursitis can be difficult to treat. Initially, anti-inflammatories, painkillers, and/or cortisone injections may be prescribed. Physiotherapy plays a large role in recovery, with appropriate treatment slowly building up gluteal muscles and strengthening tendons simultaneously. A majority of patients achieve good success with this approach, though it requires time and patience.
The surgical treatment option
If conservative remedies don’t provide sufficient ongoing relief, surgery may be an option. Surgery can offer a path to pain-free living when there is a larger tendon tear, or when the tendon is of poorer quality and not healing appropriately.