How to Diagnose Hip Bursitis
Hip bursitis is a painful condition in which the bursae that are located near the hip joint become inflamed and sometimes infected. The bursa are small sacs filled with fluid that provide a protective padding between bones and muscles, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Hip bursitis can be the result of overuse of the hip joint from biking or walking, or it can stem from other medical conditions, such as arthritis or a bone spur. Diagnosis comes largely from a physical examination.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Report your hip pain to your doctor so that he can use the information to make his diagnosis. Describe the type of pain you have (sharp, dull, consistent and intermittent), how often you experience hip pain and what you are doing when you feel discomfort.
-
2
Lie down on your "good" side so that your doctor can look for points of tenderness around your hip. The spots in which the bursae are inflamed may be especially painful when touched or palpitated.
-
-
3
Perform any range of motion exercises that your physician may ask you to do. This can be as simple as placing your body in a series of positions so your doctor can see if you have trouble moving your hip to its fullest. People who have hip bursitis often feel stiff and experience limitations of movement in the joint.
-
4
Undergo imaging testing that can confirm a diagnosis of hip bursitis. X-rays can indicate calcifications (small deposits of calcium) or bone spurs near the hip that cause irritation to the nearby bursae. MRI tests can show inflammation of the bursae themselves, which signifies bursitis.
-
1
