New reason for pain

Hello Pam,

Ive had trochanteric bursitis for the last couple of years off and on and since my Rt hip replacement in Feb it’s been pretty painful. It’s the same side as surgery. I was in physical therapy for the longest time for this and I’m not sure it did any good.  I agree it’s very painful to lie on or bump into anything like a counter or doorknob. The PT people told me to freeze a little water bottle and roll it over the side of the leg. But I found stretching and heat made it feel better. I did get it injected 2-3 different times with cortisone over a couple of years which was great but very temporary relief.  So for now I’m in the same boat as you, and yes you can’t lie on that side without pain. I can’t take ibuprofen which is what was recommended along with heat and ice.  When my hip precautions are done I will stretch more, but for now it’s heat, stretch, roll, ice.its a very stubborn thing to treat.  Maybe someone else here had had success. Let’s hear it please.

It was around 18 months after my revision before I could spend any appreciable time on both sides, and the opposite to the side I had been able to get on before the revision .

I had posterior Left THR, and revision 10 weeks later due to errors, but luckily had no bursitis or nerve damage that so many seem to suffer from.

I have the same symptoms but find Ice is better than heat. My surgeon now feels it is deep scar tissue I have which is causing the pain. Physio and injections don't seem to help unfortunately. I had THR 22 mths ago

Dear Pam, i develop bursitis after nearly 14 months after op. I could not sleep on op side. I went to my GP ,had ex ray and scan and my Gp send me for injection wich help. . I hope you will feel better soon hug Madla💗

I had this problem too Pam. Even after six months I still was unable to lie on my new hip, despite it looking perfect on the X-rays and CT Scan. A steroid injection was recommended by my surgeon,  but I put it off as I couldn’t believe I needed bursitis treatment after a hip replacement! At eight months now, I can lie and sleep on that side for half the night, but it’s still a bit tender. I use ice alternating with heat depending on how things feel but I will probably have to give in and have a steroid injection in the bursa. Not too happy about that. It’s certainly a lot better than it was at the beginning after my surgery. Hope yours gets better soon ! 

Hope you get some lasting relief, Pam. It's pretty common after a THR, allso in older folks, with or without a THR. I am 70, had my THR three years ago and have had it ever since, and on my other un-operated side, too. My sister, who is 68 with no surgeries has it in both legs also.

There is a good article about it here on Patient.

 https://patient.info/search.asp?searchterm=greater+trochanteric+pain+syndrome&searchcoll=All

I had it too, and was a younger patient. I tried massage every day (and yes it does hurt) but somehow worked for me. I also stretched and moved it, and perhaps by doing so inadvertently fixed it. Resting and then massaging, warm baths and warm packs. Don't do too much exercise, as this seems to aggravate it. Gentle exercise and massaging the area. If you can afford to, or have someone do it for you is best as they can get to the whole area.

Otherwise it can be done yourself. Good luck, it should resolve in time.

That’s interesting. I had bursitis in both knees after my bilateral TKR caused by too much PT. My OS gave me anti-inflammatories and told me to ice and rest. Didn’t get it with my first hip and hope not to get it with this next one.