Greater trochanteric pain syndrome is a condition that causes pain in the outer part of your hip and upper thigh. It is usually caused by injury to or inflammation of the muscles and other tissues that lie over the bony bump (the greater trochanter) on the outer part of your hip.
Greater trochanteric pain syndrome is a common condition that affects around one in 300 people each year. It is more common among women and those aged between 40 and 60, although it can also affect younger people, especially runners, footballers, and dancers.
Most cases of greater trochanteric pain syndrome improve with time, self-care, and physiotherapy. Steroid injections and, in some cases, surgery, may be needed.
Pain over the outer thigh and hip area is the most common symptom of greater trochanteric pain syndrome. The pain may start suddenly or build up more gradually over time.
The pain may also:
You may find that you walk with a limp.
Most cases of greater trochanteric pain syndrome are caused by injury to or inflammation of the muscles, tendons (tough bands of tissue) or connective tissue (fascia) in the upper, outer thigh area.
Exactly how greater trochanteric pain syndrome develops is currently unclear, but it may be caused by damage to and inflammation of the muscles and tissues that lie in and around the hip.
Greater trochanteric pain syndrome may develop from:
There are some medical conditions that are associated with greater trochanteric pain syndrome such as:
Greater trochanteric pain syndrome used to be called trochanteric bursitis. This was because the pain was thought to be caused by inflammation of a fluid-filled sac (called a bursa) that lies over the greater trochanter.
Research now suggests that an inflamed bursa is just one of several causes of greater trochanteric pain syndrome.
It is important to see your doctor if you have pain in your hip, especially if the pain comes on suddenly or if it occurs after a direct injury or a fall. Your doctor may suspect greater trochanteric pain syndrome after asking you about your symptoms, how you injured yourself, and your medical history.
Your doctor is also likely to examine your hips and legs. This usually involves feeling for any tenderness over the greater trochanter (bony prominence) and asking you to make certain movements to help reach a diagnosis.
If the diagnosis is unclear or the pain is not getting better with treatment, your doctor may organise the following tests:
Your doctor will also want to exclude infection of the bursae. If he or she suspects an infection, you may need a minor procedure (aspiration) which involves taking a small sample of the fluid from the bursa with a needle, to send for laboratory testing.
If you have, or suspect you may have, greater trochanteric pain syndrome, see your doctor. They will be able to advise you on the best treatment for your symptoms.
In most cases, greater trochanteric pain syndrome gets better on its own over time. This can take weeks, months, or sometimes years.
You can help to speed up your recovery with the following self-care measures:
Some guidelines suggest you should avoid taking NSAIDs for the first 48 hours after an injury and that you should only take them for a short time period. This is because it is thought that NSAIDs may slow down the healing process. However, this theory needs further research. At present, there is no conclusive evidence that proves that NSAIDs should not be taken soon after an injury.
It may not be safe to take NSAIDs if you have certain conditions (such as asthma, high blood pressure, kidney failure, indigestion or heart failure) or if you are allergic to NSAIDS. Always check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking new medicines after an injury.
If you are in a lot of pain, the pain is keeping you up at night, or the pain does not improve with self-care, your doctor may offer an injection of a steroid into the area that is painful. This can help to relieve the pain, although there is no strong evidence that steroid injections provide better pain relief than NSAIDs in the short term.
While these injections can provide short-term pain relief, it is common for pain to come back in the long term.
If you have greater trochanteric pain syndrome, your doctor may refer you to a physiotherapist. Your physiotherapist will typically be able to teach you an exercise programme to help strengthen your leg hip and leg muscles, and manage your symptoms in the long term. The nature of the exercise programme will depend on how severe your symptoms are and how long you’ve had them for.
Your physiotherapist may also recommend ways to avoid reinjuring yourself in the future.
Not all cases of greater trochanteric pain syndrome need surgery. However, your doctor may refer you to a bone specialist (orthopaedic surgeon) if:
The type of surgery you need will often depend on what caused you to develop greater trochanteric pain syndrome. However, surgery may involve open surgery (open wound) or a keyhole procedure (arthroscopy) to repair any damaged tendons or tissue in your hip.
Greater trochanteric pain syndrome is a common cause of outer hip pain in adults. In the majority of cases, the condition gets better over time with self-care, physiotherapy, and, sometimes, steroid injections.
In a small percentage of people, the symptoms of greater trochanteric pain syndrome can persist after treatment. However, this does not always mean there is a serious ongoing problem or damage in the hip joint.
To find answers to any other health questions you might have, visit our Health A-Z.
Important: Our website provides useful information but is not a substitute for medical advice. You should always seek the advice of your doctor when making decisions about your health.