Trochanteric Bursa Injection
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If you suffer from a constant dull ache on the outside of your thigh bone where it joins the hip, a trochanteric bursa injection could relieve your pain.
Bursitis is the inflammation of the bursa—a fluid-filled space which surrounds a prominent bone. The sac that lies over the outside part of your thigh bone, where it joins the hip, can become inflamed, causing greater trochanteric bursitis. Those who have this condition may notice pain with movement, pressure over the area, stiffness in the joint, or a constant dull ache.
If your pain is minor, then resting the area, the application of ice, and taking an OTC anti-inflammatory drug like Advil to relieve the inflammation and pain could be all you need. If, however, you have received no relief from your pain after trying these conservative self-treatment therapies, it could be time to speak to an interventional pain doctor who will administer a trochanteric bursa injection. For most people, the pain of greater trochanteric bursitis can be significantly relieved following such an injection, with relief usually obtained within a week or two.
Contraindications to Trochanteric Bursa Injections
If you have very high blood pressure, are currently taking blood thinners, have a fever or the flu, or any type of active infection, you should wait to receive a trochanteric bursa injection until you are better. Although a trochanteric bursa injection is considered a low-risk procedure, there is always the risk of bleeding, allergic reaction, nerve injury or infection. Some people will also have increased pain for several days after receiving the trochanteric bursa injection, or localized pain at the site of the injection. Those who are particularly prone to fluid retention may notice this for up to a couple of weeks following the injection, and those with diabetes could notice short-term elevation of blood sugar readings.
How is a Trochanteric Bursa Injection Done?
You will be asked to wear loose-fitting clothing the day of the procedure, which will usually take place in an office setting or a procedure room. You will lie on your side on a table, and the skin will be numbed with a small needle. A fluoroscope will then be used to guide the needle into its proper placement. A local anesthetic, along with a corticosteroid medication will be injected, then a bandage will be applied to the area. The entire procedure only lasts 10-20 minutes. Because of the anesthesia in the needle, your pain may subside almost immediately following the injection. After the anesthesia wears off, your pain may actually increase for a day or two, then the corticosteroid medication will kick in, providing a lessening of the inflammation and pain. The peak pain relief usually occurs in a couple of weeks.
Are you suffering from severe hip pain?
Contact Our Seattle Interventional Pain Management Specialists
At Seattle Pain, our primary goal is to relieve your pain and improve your quality of life. We believe in treating the whole patient – and not just the injury. You do not have to live in pain.
