What should you know about greater trochanter hip bursitis hip swelling?

The greater trochanter is the bony point on the outside of the upper thigh. A nearby bursa reduces rubbing between bone and soft tissues. Irritation may cause pain when lying on that side, walking, climbing stairs, or rising from a chair. The swelling may be subtle because the bursa lies beneath other tissues.

Outer-hip pain can also involve gluteal tendons or the hip joint. A clinician considers the location, movement pattern, recent activity, injury, and examination findings rather than treating every lump as bursitis.

Avoid direct pressure on the painful side and temporarily reduce hills, stairs, and repetitive side-stepping if they worsen symptoms. Keep walking gently if it remains comfortable. A cloth-wrapped cold pack after activity may ease soreness, and a pillow between the knees can reduce compression at night.

Physiotherapy may improve hip strength and movement control through a graded plan. If symptoms continue, a clinician may discuss a cortisone injection after considering the diagnosis and your health history. Shockwave therapy may be discussed in selected persistent tendon-related presentations.

Book an assessment when swelling persists, limits walking, or follows an injury. Seek prompt care for rapidly increasing swelling, marked redness or warmth, fever, feeling unwell, inability to bear weight, or severe pain after a fall.

Is the swelling in the bursa or another tissue? Do I need imaging or fluid assessment? Which activities can I continue, and when would physiotherapy, an injection, or shockwave therapy be reasonable?