The Problem: Outdated Approaches and Persistent Hip Pain
In many communities—including ours—the default approach to lateral hip pain is a blind injection over the greater trochanter after confirming tenderness on palpation. A quick landmark-based shot of steroid and local anesthetic into the presumed bursa is offered with the hope of relief.
And occasionally, that might help—briefly. Especially if a small amount of local anesthetic with corticosteroid is carefully injected into the bursa under ultrasound guidance, and only if the pain is truly bursal in origin. But the truth is, in the majority of cases, the real issue lies deeper.
What’s often labeled “trochanteric bursitis” is frequently a misdiagnosis—or at best, an incomplete one. The trochanteric bursa is supposed to be there. It becomes inflamed in reaction to underlying dysfunction, not as a primary cause.
The most common underlying issue? Tendinopathy or partial tearing of the gluteus medius or minimus tendons. These critical stabilizers of the hip often degenerate or tear, especially in active adults, those who sit for prolonged periods, or those who’ve ramped up physical activity without proper conditioning.
Guided Precision.
At Pain Experts, we believe in treating the cause—not chasing the symptoms. Our evaluation begins with a detailed musculoskeletal assessment and high-resolution ultrasound imaging to identify whether the gluteal tendons are inflamed, frayed, or torn.
When we confirm tendon involvement, the most effective long-term solution is not cortisone, which may temporarily mask symptoms but offers no repair. Instead, we use Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP)—your body’s own concentrated growth factors—injected directly into the injured tendon under ultrasound guidance.
This regenerative treatment initiates biological repair, encourages collagen remodeling, and restores tendon integrity—without damaging fat cells, without masking pain, and without surgery.
A Word on Steroids: When, If Ever?
There are rare cases where a small amount of corticosteroid, placed precisely into the bursa under ultrasound guidance, may help reduce secondary inflammation and provide short-term relief. But it should never be the first or only treatment—especially when deeper pathology exists. And it should never be done blindly. Landmark injections miss the mark more often than not.
The Ultimate Treatment: Address the Tendons Directly
For patients seeking a real solution—not a band-aid—the answer lies in treating the inflamed or torn tendons themselves. With targeted regenerative treatments like PRP, we help you return to strength, mobility, and confident movement.
Don’t Settle for a Blind Injection
If you’ve been told you have trochanteric bursitis and haven’t had your gluteal tendons properly evaluated under ultrasound, now is the time.
At Pain Experts, we bring precision, clarity, and advanced biologics to the treatment of complex hip pain. You don’t have to settle for temporary relief. Let’s treat the real problem.
Contact us today to schedule a targeted evaluation and find out if PRP is right for you.
Comments