Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome Trochanteric Bursitis

Last updated by Peer reviewed by Dr Krishna Vakharia
Last updated Meets Patient’s editorial guidelines

Added to Saved items

Greater trochanteric pain syndrome is a condition that causes pain over the outside of your upper thigh (or both thighs). The cause is usually due to inflammation or injury to some of the tissues that lie over the bony prominence (the greater trochanter) at the top of the thigh bone (femur).

Greater trochanteric pain syndrome can sometimes cause a lot of pain and also difficulty with walking. The pain is usually caused by injury, prolonged pressure or repetitive movements. Runners may have this problem. People who have had surgery to their hip can also have this type of pain.

Greater trochanteric pain syndrome affects about 1 in 300 people each year. It is most common in women between 40-60 years of age. It can occur in younger people, especially runners, footballers and dancers.

The most common symptom of greater trochanteric pain syndrome is outer thigh and hip pain. Many people find this pain to be a deep pain which may be aching or burning. The pain may become worse over time.

The pain may be worse when you are lying on your side, especially at night. The pain may also be made worse by doing any exercise. You may find that you walk with a limp.

Greater trochanteric pain syndrome often goes away (resolves) on its own over time.

Do you need a physiotherapist?

Book a private appointment with a local physio today

Book now

Your hip area includes the ball and socket hip joint (you can find out more details in our leaflet called Hip Problems) as well as the muscles, nerves and tough connective tissue around it.

Most cases of greater trochanteric pain syndrome are due to minor injury or inflammation to tissues in your upper, outer thigh area.

Other causes

These may include:

  • Injury such as a fall on to the side of your hip area.
  • Repetitive movements involving your hip area, such as excessive running or walking.
  • Prolonged or excessive pressure to your hip area (for example, sitting in bucket car seats may aggravate the problem).
  • Some infections (for example, tuberculosis) and some diseases (for example, gout and arthritis) can be associated with an inflamed fluid-filled sac (bursa).
  • The presence of surgical wire, implants or scar tissue in the hip area (for example, after hip surgery).
  • Having a difference in your leg length.

Greater trochanteric pain syndrome used to be called trochanteric bursitis. This was because the pain was thought to be due to inflammation of the bursa that lies over the greater trochanter. A bursa is a small sac filled with fluid which helps to allow smooth movement between two uneven surfaces. There are various bursae in the body and they can become inflamed due to various reasons.

However, research suggests that most cases of greater trochanteric pain syndrome are due to minor tendon tears or damage to the nearby muscles or fascia, so that an inflamed bursa is an uncommon cause. So, rather than the term trochanteric bursitis, the more general term, greater trochanteric pain syndrome, is now preferred.

The diagnosis for greater trochanteric pain syndrome is usually made based on your symptoms and an examination by a doctor. Your doctor will usually examine your hip and legs. You may find it be to be very tender when your doctor presses over the area of the greater trochanter.

Tests (investigations) are not normally needed. However, tests might be necessary if your doctor suspects that infection of the fluid-filled sac (bursa) is the cause (but this is rare). Tests may also be necessary if the diagnosis is not clear. For example, an X-ray of your hip or an MRI scan may be needed.

Greater trochanteric pain syndrome will usually resolve without any specific treatment. However, it often takes several weeks or more and for some unlucky people, may last months or even longer.

Reducing or avoiding activity (such as running or excessive walking) for a while, may help to speed recovery. In addition, the following may be useful:

Joint (intra-articular) steroid injection

There is strong evidence of a short-term benefit from peri-trochanteric corticosteroid injections for up to three months with the greatest effect at six weeks; however, pain coming back in the long term is common. Peri-trochanteric corticosteroid injections may be most useful if used for pain relief in the short term to enable physiotherapy which will improve the long-term outlook (prognosis).

Greater trochanteric pain syndrome is usually a self-limiting condition and resolves in over 90% of people with conservative treatment such as rest, analgesia, physiotherapy, and corticosteroid injection.

Risk factors for a poorer outcome include a worse symptom profile, ie greater pain intensity, longer duration of pain, greater limitation of movement, and greater loss of function, and older age.

Further reading and references

  • Greater trochanteric pain syndrome; NICE CKS, April 2021 (UK access only)

  • Speers CJ, Bhogal GS; Greater trochanteric pain syndrome: a review of diagnosis and management in general practice. Br J Gen Pract. 2017 Oct67(663):479-480. doi: 10.3399/bjgp17X693041.

  • Pianka MA, Serino J, DeFroda SF, et al; Greater trochanteric pain syndrome: Evaluation and management of a wide spectrum of pathology. SAGE Open Med. 2021 Jun 39:20503121211022582. doi: 10.1177/20503121211022582. eCollection 2021.

  • Reid D; The management of greater trochanteric pain syndrome: A systematic literature review. J Orthop. 2016 Jan 2213(1):15-28. doi: 10.1016/j.jor.2015.12.006. eCollection 2016 Mar.

  • Bicket L, Cooke J, Knott I, et al; The natural history of greater trochanteric pain syndrome: an 11-year follow-up study. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2021 Dec 2022(1):1048. doi: 10.1186/s12891-021-04935-w.

  • Chamberlain R; Hip Pain in Adults: Evaluation and Differential Diagnosis. Am Fam Physician. 2021 Jan 15103(2):81-89.

newnav-downnewnav-up