In an effort to battle the middle age spread I decided to make an early start on my new year's resolution to get fit. One week into my walking programme and I've now got a terrible pain at the top of my hip which travels down my leg. What have I done to myself?
Painful inflammation of the outer hip at the top of the thigh is a very common cause of pain in people of a certain age, particularly those who have taken up extra exercise activities. The muscles of the buttock are attached to the bony prominence of the upper thigh by tendons. It and a natural shock absorber called the trochanteric bursa are both prone to inflammation.
When the bursa is affected it is called a bursitis, while inflammation of the tendon is known as a tendonitis. Both can be caused by a friction over the hip area due to excessive walking or other unfamiliar activity. The main symptom is pain, which can be persistent and severe, on the outside of the hip that may be referred down the outside of the leg to the foot.
The pain is affecting every activity, but in particular I cannot sleep with it. What can I do?
One of the main features of a bursitis is that tenderness and discomfort can make it very difficult to lie on the affected side, therefore interfering with sleep. You need is to see your GP who will probably refer you for an X-ray, as this is the only way of differentiating between a tendonitis and a bursitis. Both conditions can occur together or on their own.
Can they be treated?
The first thing you need to do is stop or reduce the activity which has brought on the problem. If you continue to experience pain then an injection of a local anaesthetic along with cortisone into the tender area will help. You should sleep on the unaffected side using a small pillow to support the painful hip.
Exercise to stretch the gluteal muscles will help but it would be wise to consult a physiotherapist before embarking on these.
Marion Kerr