After filling the doctor in with all of the specifics of the injury, and having him contort my right leg in all sorts of ways, he decided that it is likely trochanteric bursitis. With the way he was moving my leg around and pressing on the area that hurts during my runs, if it was a tear or fracture, it would like have hurt, and it didn’t hurt at all.

Trochanteric bursitis is the inflammation of the bursa sac that sits between the greater trochanter (bony point at the outside top of the femur bone) and the muscles and tendons that run along the outside of the upper thigh. In runners, it is typically seen in conjunction with ITB syndrome, but not always. However, if it is related, then downhill running and slower running can lead to greater aggravation and inflammation of the trochanteric bursa.

Before leaving the doctor’s office, I got an cortisone injection, and the following instructions:

• Ice the area for 15-20 minutes every hour.
• Take an NSAID, such as Ibuprofen or Aleve regularly.
• Complete rest for at least 3 days. (This is the tough one.):
  • No running (obviously).
  • No cycling.
  • No elliptical machine.
  • No swimming (unless I can do it without using my lower body).
  • No lower body strength training.
• After 3 days, I can ease back into running, and other activities.
• If it’s still not feeling better, then he wants me back for an MRI.

Here are some additional links:

• What Is Trochanteric Bursitis? (University of Buffalo Sports Medicine)
• Trochanteric Bursitis of the Hip (eOrthopod.com)
• Hip Bursitis (Trochanteric Bursitis) in Depth (PhysioRoom.com)
• Hip Stretches (Sports Injury Info)

If any of you have experience with this injury, please feel free to leave a comment with advice, links, etc. Thanks!