Lateral hip pain

Also known as trochanteric bursitis. If your hip is bothering you, it could be a sign of trochanteric bursitis, find out how our orthopaedics specialists can help.

Enquiries & Appointments

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About lateral hip pain

If you're experiencing pain or tenderness in the side of your hip, you may have trochanteric bursitis. It happens when the bursa (sac of fluid) in your hips becomes inflamed. It's more common in women, particularly those who are overweight and menopausal, or in those who have suddenly increased their physical activity.

Need to know

Some of your symptoms may include:

  • pain when climbing the stairs, getting out of a chair or walking
  • swelling or tenderness on the side of your hip
  • pain when lying on the affected hip
  • buttock pain or weakness

Quite often, your symptoms will get better over time. If they don't, our dedicated orthopaedic experts are here to help.

In most cases, your symptoms will go away over time. If they don't, we may be able to carry out tests to get to the root of the problem. Your GP or consultant will discuss these with you and answer any questions you might have.

Your consultant will explain your treatment options when you meet them. These might range from anti-inflammatory medication or injections to sessions with our expert physiotherapy teams.

Lateral hip pain tests & scans

MRI scan

Our consultant radiologists use some of the most technologically advanced MRI scanners to provide accurate examinations of the inside of your body.

Lateral hip pain treatments

Hip arthroscopy

This minimally invasive procedure offers an alternative to open techniques and can evaluate hip conditions such as labral tears, arthritis and chondral injuries.

Direct anterior approach hip replacement surgery

Anterior hip replacement is a minimally invasive and muscle-sparing procedure to replace the hip joint. Our hip experts can provide you with a direct anterior hip replacement surgery (DAA) to relieve your hip pain and restore your mobility. 

Hip revision surgery

If severe pain, stiffness or swelling in your prosthetic hip is causing you pain and discomfort, hip revision surgery can improve your mobility again. 

Hip resurfacing surgery

Hip resurfacing surgery involves replacing the damaged or diseased surface of the hip ball and socket joint with a metal surface. This may be an option and an alternative to a total hip replacement.

Hip impingement surgery

Hip impingement surgery reshapes the bones of the hip joint to correct abnormal bone contact and reduce cartilage damage.

Arthroscopic debridement

The process of washing and removing debris from a damaged joint. This is a minimally invasive procedure typically to remove damaged cartilage, typical in cases of arthritis and joint instability such as knee, hip, ankle or wrist.

Our Lateral hip pain locations

The Harborne Hospital

The Harborne Hospital

Mindelsohn Way B15 2FQ Birmingham
The Lister Hospital

The Lister Hospital

Chelsea Bridge Road, SW1W 8RH London
The Wellington Hospital

The Wellington Hospital

8A Wellington Place NW8 9LE London
London Bridge Hospital

London Bridge Hospital

27 Tooley Street SE1 2PR London
The Princess Grace Hospital

The Princess Grace Hospital

42-52 Nottingham Place W1U 5NY London

Patient stories

Hear from past patients about their experience

This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.