Help me out people what can I do to get rid of the bursitis. I crashed my bike in August causing a left radial shaft fracture and a dislocation of the distal radio-ulnar joint and road rash everywhere. I also ended up with one nasty huge bruise on the side of my left hip which I think is where this partly stems from. I waited for the color and skin to get back to normal on the leg and started running again easing into a half marathon plan to try to get back into the swing of things and start dropping the weight I put on (with much to go). The area was slightly tender but really started acting up a few weeks ago. I stopped running a week ago. Not because of the hip, but because a guy ran a red light and totaled my car causing the footwell airbags to do a number on my shins. This has not been a good year for crashes for me. I how ever did start up the bike again a few weeks ago and did continue with that this week. The hip does not hurt during the bike but after is a different story. So far I have tried Voltaren Gel and Ibuprofin. Has anyone had any luck with a cortisone injection? I wanted to start running again, but I am wondering if I should cease the biking and running altogether for a while? I suppose I could go to physical therapy if that will help (heck I am already there twice a week for my wrist). Any one else get over this and what did you do?
Cortisone is generally a successful treatment of bursitis.
In the meantime, stretching your IT band, glutes, and TFL may provide some relief. As anecdotal evidence, I have a swim friend who swears by fish oil to help treat bursitis. If your injury is trauma from an accident, however, you probably do need something more than stretching.
I have bursitis in my left achillies. The cortisone will mask the pain but will not address the underlying problem. Go to PT. Turns out I have a 1/2" leg length discrepency. Combine that wth flat feet and I have bursitis on one side. My PT an I are working it our and I am improving. SHe found a number of issues including my hip flexors, flexibility and lower leg strength.
A PT can find the issue and help you address it. Go that route. Good luck!
I will take a look at the PT they know me quite well. I have been treated for IT Band, medial epicondylitis, and currently see them for bike crash related issues. I think in addition I will get the cortisone shot even if it is just a mask and will let me sleep better.
if it’s a trauma injury, I don’t think the cortisone would “mask” it, I think it would cure it. (You still probably need IT band and glute strength anyway; most triathletes do). Cortisone masking stuff is for when it’s overuse injuries, this is from your crash, right?
Cortisone shot fixed mine.
I would say that the Bursitis was caused by the trauma, it just was not as full blown as it has been in the last few weeks. I think it got worse once I was back on full duty (a duty belt with taser and other such items pressing down on the spot does not help). It has been painful since the accident on august 5th, I think the running pushed it over the edge.
You can see the area I am talking about in this pic (sorry not the best pic)
For a bursitis caused by trauma and not by biomechanics or other reasons, go for an ultrasound guided cortison injection, take 7 days off then start training again.
I had a sub trochanteric bursitis that hung around for 3 months (which was caused by something in a PT practical class at university of all things- so trauma also) that i tried to get rid of with conservative treatment and rest too no avail. within 7 days of the inject it was gone. As the mechanism is unlikely to occur again(even with your bad luck) then you are not simply masking the cause.
that being said as it has gone on for a while you are likely to have some weakness in your hip musculature especially your hip abductors/glute medius. i found with the pain inhibition and altered running style that my glute medius wasted significantly and when i started back running pain free i had to get rid of the instability caused by it with lots of single leg squats(form not strength focus) and hip abduction exercises.
the cortisone does not pose the same risks as with other things such as rotator cuff or plantar fascia issues as a bursa wont rupture as it is not a load bearing structure like a tendon
Good luck
Ruley
Ruley has given you some excellent guidance. I’ve only a little to add. With trauma, your list of possibilites is obviously different from the overuse athlete. Were you in my office, after a thorough exam, you’d get x-rays (at least) to look for something called heterotopic ossification or abnormal bone formation after an injury. I would also be concerned about a change in the mechanics of your stride/pedal stroke and would ask that a trusted advisor be consulted for his/her opinion/evaluation.
John
The doc can’t get me in for a cortisone shot untill the 13th of January. I did have an x-ray when I had it looked at on the 16th, and at that time he said it looked like bursitis and there was not any calcification. My PT has given me some stretches for my hip and calves and I am icing the area. I have not started back with running or biking and figure it’s probably time to get back in the pool, as I am hoping swimming won’t aggravate it as much especially if I focus more on form and use the pull buoy for a good portion of workout.
Good news about the lack of calcification. I hope you are pain-free swimming.
Sounds like a plan. Keep us informed as to your progress. Happy New Year.
John
How did this work out? I am torn between getting cortisone or continuing to rest. I have not run in months. My PT has been using a Hybresis patch which seems to be slowly helping but I have events looming and I want to be ready to start real training soon.
I got a cortisone shot for trochanteric bursitis several years ago after it developed from an overuse thing running. It did help for about 2 weeks and then the pain came back. The only thing that cured mine was working on abductor and glute strengthening exercises. I can tell you the specific exercises I got from my PT if you are interested.