What to do about hip bursitis?

[Navion]

I recently tapered down from 15 to 12.5 mg of prednisone and things seemed to be going well. However, on Thursday I went for a hike and I guess it was either too long or too hilly. Since then, I've been plagued with bilateral hip bursitis which I haven't had since going on prednisone nearly 3 months ago. The aching is keeping me awake. Should I kick back up to 15 for a day or two or just hope it goes away? I don't want to jeopardize my tapering.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

You could try 15mg for a couple of days - it may not be bursitis, but not enough Pred fullstop.

15mg - 12.5mg is a recognised taper, but for some it's too big a jump. Combine that with a long and hilly hike could definitely be too little medication.

However, if it is bursitis, then ordinary painkillers may help - we don't recommend using Pred as painkiller per se.

Difficult though it may be, you need to sort out in your mind what its really is, then take the appropriate medication.

[Navion in reply to DorsetLady]

I can't take NSAIDS because of a bleeding disorder and Tylenol doesn't seem to work.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Navion]

Well in that case, Pred seems to be your only solution. That’s not good news really.

Ice packs may help bursitis, but no heat - just increases inflammation.

[piglette in reply to Navion]

You should not take NSAIDs with pred anyway as they are contra indicative.

[GOOD_GRIEF]

Try taking a NSAID, but do it a couple of hours before or after your pred dose. Pred and NSAIDS don't mix.

Also, if it is bursitis, alternating hot and cold patches may help.

Of course, everything feels better after a couple of shots of blackberry brandy. And even if it doesn't, after another couple of shots, you won't care! ;/}

[Navion in reply to GOOD_GRIEF]

I can't take NSAIDS as I have a bleeding disorder. But brandy is another story, but I gave up alcohol when I was diagnosed.

[GOOD_GRIEF in reply to Navion]

Ask you doctor for Lidocaine patches, or try Aspercreme. Asperecreme is my new body lotion.

[Hidden in reply to GOOD_GRIEF]

Doesn't asperecreme contain a form of salicylic acid/aspirin or is it different with lidocaine?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

When I googled aspercreme it suggests it IS lidocaine.

[GOOD_GRIEF in reply to PMRpro]

There is a variant available OTC in the States that has Lidocaine. There are other options here with Lidocaine.

But nothing OTC is as effective as the patches by prescription.

[Barbola in reply to GOOD_GRIEF]

I love ur suggestion! Blackberries ... hm. I went into kidney failure, recivered with slight kidney damage, from too many NSAIDs, especially Meloxicam which could have killed me. Used to love ibuprofen but the Meloxicam did me in. Some days I forego the Tramadol just so i can have a drink or two.....

[PMRpro Ambassador]

That's quite a while for overdoing-it bursitis to persist - mine is usually away in a couple of days though I know my limits and probably don't go anywhere near the distance you did. It may take 15mg for a few days - but as DL says, it is possible that the time on 15mg didn't get rid of all the bursitis - it was probably 4 or 5 months at 15mg before mine had gone. A local steroid injection is far more effective and possibly worth speaking to your doctor about.

[Navion in reply to PMRpro]

I had shots in both hips back in September before I was diagnosed. They didn't help at all. Maybe they would now in conjunction with the prednisone. The bursitis actually disappeared even at my initial dose of 5 mg. This is the first I've seen of it for 3 months but it's also the first time I hiked uphill. It was only for an hour but a lot of up and down. I hadn't planned on going that far but we took a wrong turn. Sigh

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Navion]

Hmmm - or maybe they got it in the wrong place. It can be a bit hit and miss - literally!

[V1a4 in reply to PMRpro]

I agree! I have had many (ultrasound) guided injections for hip bursitis over the years and whilst most have been successful, others have made no difference at all.

[Linny3]

I have had bursitis in my hip for a long while. Ice seems to be the best. If I ice it a few times a day for a few days it feels much better for awhile but then it comes back again. I saw Dr. today and she agreed that it was bursitis. She gave me a cortisone shot into the bursa.She was very thorough in finding just the right spot, so I have high hopes it will relieve the pain. It will take a day or two to kick in. She added some lidocaine in the shot and that really makes it feel almost normal. I dread when the lidocaine wears off.

It is my understanding that there are certain exercises that will help. It was suggested I see a physical therapist.

Good Luck

Lin

[Janstr]

When I got hip bursitis, (diagnosed via an MRI pre PMR diagnosis when Rheumotologist was doing lots of tests to try to find the cause of my pains ), I met someone who cured hers using some very expensive custom made orthotics. I decided to try some of these for 3 months (in preference to the recommended steroid injections), as the diagnosis could well have been correct for my leg & thigh pain, but didn't explain my shoulder, neck & upper arm pain. The orthotics helped a lot & I still use them. I didn't complete my 3 month trial as was diagnosed with PMR/GCA after 2 months & pred took all of the pain away.